Baylor ProSales Takes Four of the Top 20 Finalist Positions in National Sales Decathlon
(Front Row – from left to right) Cole Hansen, Lindsey Regan, Katie Simutis, and Collin Brence
Four students representing Baylor University’s Center for Professional Selling have made it to the finals of the Sales Decathlon, a competition hosted by Northern Illinois University (NIU). As the name suggests, the Sales Decathlon comprises ten competitions where the first three events served to trim the field from 130 to the top 20 competitors.
ProSales students Collin Brence, Cole Hansen, Lindsey Regan and Katie Simutis are invited to NIU to compete in the Sales Decathlon finals in October 2014.
The first two competitions involved the sales call planning strategy and making a first connection. Round three of the Sales Decathlon was an evaluation of how well the students handled objections and how quickly they proactively respond with a solution.
“I had a good attitude throughout the preparation process, which enabled me to accept constructive criticism from peers and coaches which allowed me to improve,” said Katie Simutis, a ProSales junior from The Woodlands, TX. “Making it to the final round of the Sales Decathlon not only highlights my hard work, but it also shows that I am capable of going the extra mile in preparation so I can finish strong.”
“I attribute my success in the Sales Decathlon to strong preparation through various meetings with the team and coaches, as well as individual help from Dr. Dixon and other ProSales students,” said Collin Brence, a ProSales junior and Baylor football player from Plano, TX. “It means a lot to make it to the final round of the Sales Decathlon, because it means that all the hard work I am putting into the ProSales program is truly paying off. I believe experiences like these gives me confidence that I will be successful in business and sales for many years to come.”
“The ProSales curriculum really pushes you and gets you out of your comfort zone in order to make you a better businessperson,” said Brence. “Its classes are set up to not just help you succeed here at Baylor, but to force you to grow and be prepared for success after you graduate.”
This year’s competitors also had high praise for student coaches Simeon Brown, Tyler Kopas and Olivia Offringa. Last year, these three Baylor ProSales students made it into the Sales Decathlon finals.
“Every one of the student coaches provided valuable insight based on their experiences in the previous Sales Decathlon and other competitions,” said Brence. “They really helped me build in more concise power phrases that would help me be successful.”
“I would like to thank Dr. Dixon and our outstanding student coaches for the constant support and guidance,” said Simutis.
According to Dr. Robert Peterson, the Sales Decathlon director at NIU, “The Sales Decathlon is similar, and different, from other competitions. The events cover the entire sales process from voicemail to a signed agreement.” “We believe that the Sales Decathlon is one of the most robust training and competition experiences available to sales students,” said Dr. Andrea Dixon, executive director of Baylor’s Center for Professional Selling. “We are pleased to see that Baylor continuously does well in this setting which tests student preparation for sales roles in corporate America.”
About the Center for Professional Selling
Dedicated to excellence in sales education and based in the university’s Hankamer School of Business, the Center for Professional Selling is recognized as one of the premier global information resources for the sales profession. For more information on the Center for Professional Selling, visit https://hankamer.baylor.edu/prosales.