BGSU students outsell competition

BGSU President Carol Cartwright congratulates Matthew Vasko and Abby Brown on their win at the national sales competition held at Kennesaw State University.

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Bowling Green State University students Abby Brown and Matthew Vasko captured first place in the team category at the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC) held in Atlanta March 5-8. The duo collectively bested some of the top universities from across the country to take the top spot. Both are seniors majoring in marketing; Vasko is from Strongsville and Brown from New Philadelphia.

In a series of 20-minute “role-plays,” Vasko and Brown each had to pitch the product (this year it was NetSuite software) to buyers. Success depends on becoming familiar with the product and the buyers, assessing the buyers’ needs through a number of questions and then demonstrating how the product can meet those needs, explained Dr. Gregory Rich, an associate professor and chair of the marketing department.

Rich said, “NCSC is intense, highly competitive and the premier event of its kind. BGSU beat out 60 universities from all over the country—very impressive!”
 
He also congratulated the team’s adviser, Christine Seiler, an instructor in marketing, noting that the win was the highest finish yet for a BGSU team. “She did a great job with them,” Rich said.

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(Posted March 17, 2010 )