Forty-seven University of Nebraska–Lincoln students have been selected for the Undergraduate Certificate of Sales Excellence Program in the College of Business. With the special professional selling credential from the Center for Sales Excellence, students hone the communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills that employers seek.
“Well-known national companies in multiple industries recruit from our sales program and come back on a regular basis because they are pleased with the students they hired,” said Ravi Sohi, professor of marketing, Robert D. Hays Distinguished Chair of Sales Excellence and executive director of the Center for Sales Excellence. “They value the skills we help our students develop in the program — skills that are relevant not only to sales, but to any job that requires building relationships with people.”
Sohi added that nearly all the program’s students have a job upon graduation. Companies that recently hired sales students include Dell, Deloitte, Gallup, Hubspot, Mutual of Omaha, NRC Health, Oracle, Sandhills Global, Union Pacific and Walt Disney Company. Six employers — Assurity, LRS Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual, NRC Health, Pacific Life and Workforce Science Associates — networked with the new inductees to discuss opportunities and internships before the induction ceremony in September.
“These students are the 20th group of students selected into this program,” Sohi said. “They are very motivated and willing to put in the extra work that is required for all the sales courses they’ll take. They are interested in earning the extra credential provided by the certificate and are aware of its value to potential employers.”
Founded in 2013, the Center for Sales Excellence has been named a top university program for professional sales education by the Sales Education Foundation every year since 2014-15. Students in the center connect with corporate partners and have opportunities to compete at national and international sales competitions.
The program’s new students represent 12 majors and four colleges. The application process for the program, open to all students at the university, includes submitting a resume and statement of interest. Once selected, students begin taking courses taught by sales and marketing faculty in the College of Business the following semester.
“Students love the program and the faculty who teach their classes,” Sohi said. “We don’t just teach them but help them develop as individuals with job skills that give them an edge in the marketplace. Companies love our students. It’s a winning combination.”
The students pursuing their undergraduate certificate of sales excellence are listed below by hometown, with their year in school and academic major(s).
Nebraska
- Elkhorn: Jacob Austin, sophomore, accounting; Maddie Epp, junior, marketing; Gigi Salerno, junior, advertising and public relations
- Falls City: Laura Waggoner, sophomore, marketing
- Fremont: Jordan Baumert, sophomore, marketing
- Hastings: Charli Coil, sophomore, business administration
- Kearney: Hudson Bertrand, sophomore, marketing
- Lincoln: Joseph Cockerill, sophomore, supply chain management; Austin Herman, junior, marketing; Megan McCormick, sophomore, finance and marketing; Charlie McCown, junior, marketing; Henry Moberly, junior, management; Faith Ottersberg, sophomore, marketing; Conner Reinmiller, sophomore, finance; Joshua Richardson, sophomore, business administration; Caleb Sajevic, sophomore, management; Luke Schlegelmilch, sophomore, accounting and finance; Ryschelle Trejo, junior, management
- Omaha: Thomas Dickmeyer, junior, plant and landscape systems; Caroline Granger, sophomore, accounting; Aidan Kelch, sophomore, marketing; Cassy Limley, sophomore, business administration; Stella Minge, junior, advertising and public relations; Cohen Munson, junior, business administration; Regino Pineda, sophomore, business administration; Carson Protasakey, junior, finance; Josh Rohrig, sophomore, finance; James Taylor, junior, marketing, and sports media and communication
- Papillion: Carson Ahlers, junior, management; Charlie Pile, sophomore, finance and management
- Plattsmouth: Kylie Cooke, sophomore, marketing
- Valley: Ryan Zavadil, senior, finance
Elsewhere in the U.S.
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: Alanna Wilson, sophomore, marketing
- Arlington Heights, Illinois: Andrew Littman, junior, economics and finance; Sean Safford, junior, finance
- Aurora, Illinois: Matthew Crerand, sophomore, accounting and finance
- Crystal Lake, Illinois: Benjamin Siegmeier, junior, management
- Lake Villa, Illinois: Chase Bollinger, sophomore, finance
- Lisle, Illinois: Kylie Russell, junior, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
- Urbandale, Illinois: Averie Pistillo, junior, marketing
- Brownsburg, Indiana: Brynna Baker, senior, nutrition and health sciences
- Olathe, Kansas: Hank Phillips, sophomore, management and marketing
- Victoria, Minnesota: Emily Fornetti, junior, management and marketing
- Wayzata, Minnesota: Ryan Leary, senior, agribusiness
- Horace, North Dakota: Kennedy Colter, sophomore, marketing
- Dakota Dunes, South Dakota: Tyler Schutte, sophomore, marketing
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Brooke Harvison, junior, accounting
