Baylor ProSales in Top Four for Ohio-based Competition
Baylor’s ProSales was well represented at the 2022 University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC) hosted by the University of Toledo and the 3M Corporation. This hybrid competition provided for both in-person and virtual participation, which was helpful for the Baylor team as weather and flight cancellations required the team to compete virtually at the last minute. The UTISC competition involved multiple rounds of role plays.
The Baylor ProSales team included Grace Bass (Junior division), Aly Mikesell (Sophomore division), as well as student coaches Mason Pound and Cullen Slattery. The Baylor team was coached by Dr. Keith Richards. Students from 36 universities participated in the role play competition.
2022 UTISC Team
Students competed in either the Junior or Sophomore division. After four rounds of role plays, Grace Bass finished third overall in the Junior division driving the Baylor ProSales team to a top 8 team finish. Grace Bass notes, “This competition enabled me to grow personally and professionally. Last minute, we pivoted to competing in an online format instead of in-person as we had planned. In that moment, I understood the importance of flexibility and resilience in the business world. My team did a great job of giving me the support and advice needed during the competition!”
The team’s ability to adapt and compete virtually when the team had practiced for an in-person competition represents an important skill needed in the business world. Today’s professional sales organizations adapt and connect with customers where and how customers prefer. The team’s coach, Dr. Keith Richards, applauded to team, “We are so proud of the work that Grace Bass and Aly Mikesell did in the UTISC sales competition! We had to pivot at the last minute due to bad weather and a cancelled flight. This required both competitors to switch to a virtual sales environment and both of them did a great job! Our team included our two student coaches -- Mason Pound and Cullen Slattery – and this was a complete team effort. Mason and Cullen helped coach and research solutions. It’s a joy to work with such talented students, I loved working with the team! Grace did an excellent job of handling the tough finals round and she was the top virtual competitor in her division!”
Participating universities included Baylor University, Asbury University, Aurora University, Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, Clemson University, Eastern Michigan University, Florida State University, Georgia Southern University, Indiana State University, James Madison University, Kansas State University, Kent State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, St. Catherine University, Temple University, Tuskegee University, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of North Alabama, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Toledo, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wyoming, Utah State University, West Virginia University, Western Michigan University, and Winona State University.
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://www.baylor.edu/business/selling.
