Missouri State sales students Sam Bromley and W. Russell Wood demonstrated their selling prowess at the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC), held Nov. 8-10, 2013 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. The duo competed against 80 sales students from 40 of the nation’s top sales programs, including Baylor, Florida State, Kennesaw State, Illinois State, Kansas State, Texas State and Akron. Bromley placed in the top eight of 80 students by making it to the semi-finals and narrowly missed advancing to the finals.  “It was an unbelievable experience competing against the best sales talent in the nation in MSU’s first-ever intercollegiate sales competition appearance,” stated Bromley. Wood performed admirably in the competition, but was unable to advance past a very competitive wild card round.

While MSU sales students have competed against each other in advanced selling class competitions sponsored by companies such as Cintas, Frito Lay and Northwestern Mutual, this was the first time MSU has taken its nationally-ranked sales program on the road to an elite sales competition.

Bromley, senior marketing major with a sales and sales management emphasis, and Wood, senior technology management major with a sales minor and a logistics/supply chain management minor, were selected to represent MSU based on their outstanding performances in their sales class competitions. Beginning early in the fall semester, the pair trained with MSU sales faculty coaches Dr. Alex Hamwi, who travelled with the students to Florida, and Dr. Allen Schaefer. According to Hamwi, “They really outperformed what was expected of a rookie school in a sales competition.”  Schaefer added, “Such an impressive showing by Sam and Russell in this premier sales competition will serve to bolster our sales program’s reputation among sales recruiters, leading to enhanced career opportunities for our sales students.” With three sales courses, MSU is one of the few universities in the country offering an emphasis as well as a minor in sales.

Last week, Hamwi received a trophy in the mail from ICSC. Based on the two students’ success in the competition held in Florida, Missouri State University has been recognized by the organization as a Rising Star.  The ICSC is supported by approximately 30 national companies hoping to recruit students from the nation’s most accomplished sales programs in an exclusive job fair.