BGSU Students Excel at Regional Sales Competition; Impress Employers

Through the College of Business students have great opportunities to prepare for their business careers.  One of those opportunities is competing in sales competitions. These competitions not only help students sharpen their sales skills, but it also helps provide them with employment possibilities after graduation.

Three BGSU students - Jane Swartz, Ashley Holzwart, and Andrew Kahl - competed in the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up. Swartz (in the center of photo right) was the BGSU School Champion and finished #10 out of 60 students from 20 universities who competed.

During the event, students participated in two sales role-plays. In the first one, students sold Hormel's Fire-Braised Pork Shoulder to a restaurant owner/chef, and in the second, they sold Hormel's Fire-Braised Pork Ribs to a regional grocery store catering manager who would be using them at a major football tailgate event.

Because of their performances at the competition, Swartz has been invited to continue the job interviewing process with Graybar in St Louis, and Holzwart has been invited to fly out to Hormel's headquarters in Austin, Texas, for more interviews.

The BGSU sales coach is Ms. Christine Seiler, marketing department instructor, who helps prepare students to participate in regional and national sales competitions.  She praises the three BGSU students for their performances at Wisconsin Eau Claire.  “It was a great experience and the students represented themselves and BGSU extremely well!”