A team of two University of Central Missouri students represented UCM’s Harmon College of Business Administration and Department of Economics, Finance and Marketing at the 15th annual National Collegiate Sales Competition March 1-4 at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga.
Eli Clark, a senior marketing major from Cleveland, Mo., and Kelli Morford, a senior fashion merchandising major from Lee’s Summit, Mo., represented the university at the competition, accompanied by their coaches, Charlie Schwepker and Cheryl Shattuck, professors of marketing.
NCSC, the world’s largest collegiate sales competition, pits top sales students in a test of live role-play, one-on-one sales call challenges. The UCM team of Clark and Morford finished ranked 17th in the nation in overall team competition, with Clark placing 17th overall and Morford ranking 55th. The 2013 competition included 134 students comprising teams from 67 universities from throughout the United States.
Preparation normally begins months prior to the national competition. Clark and Morford utilized knowledge acquired from their personal selling, advanced professional sales, and other marketing courses, working closely for several months with their coaches. A significant amount of research was done on the product Run Mobile by ADP in preparation for the presentations.
The annual competition attracts CEOs, sales managers, and human resource directors from major corporations throughout the United States who are looking for today’s best in the sales and marketing profession. Many of these professionals serve as buyers and/or judges, evaluating 20-minute sales presentations prepared by each student. Numerous corporate sponsors contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to support this event.
UCM has a rich tradition of success in this competition. In 2003, the first year UCM competed in the NCSC, there were 28 universities represented by 55 students majoring in professional sales or marketing competing for trophies and cash prizes.
The 2003 UCM Sales Team came home with the Third Place Trophy in product sales. In 2006, UCM student Steven Olsen won the overall national championship in the competition, and the two-member team of Olsen and Ryan Leach was ranked third in the nation. Olsen returned to campus with the trophy and a $1,500 check for his achievement, and the team received the third place trophy for the overall team competition and a $500 scholarship.
The 2007 team of Mark Schuermann and Serenity Nelson placed seventh in the nation competing with 44 other university teams. In 2008, the team of Chelsea Miller and Melissa Richards finished fourth competing nationally amongst 50 university teams and the 2009 team comprised of Julie Lorkowski and Allison Pickett finished third in the nation amongst 53 teams. Last year’s team of Brett Eiskina and Kylie Weaver placed 6th in the nation amongst 64 teams.