45 Huskers Begin Sales Excellence Program

Sales Program Leads to In-Demand Skill Development and Job Offers

The Center for Sales Excellence at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln welcomed 45 students into the Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence Program at an induction ceremony in February.

Forty-five University of Nebraska–Lincoln students have been selected for the Undergraduate Certificate in 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.

The program’s new students represent 11 majors and four colleges on campus. 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.

"This group of students is 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," said Ravi Sohi, professor of marketing, Robert D. Hays Distinguished Chair of Sales Excellence and executive director of the Center for Sales Excellence. “These students will benefit from all the interactions they will have with our corporate partners in the classroom and special events."

Sohi added that nearly all the program’s students have a job upon graduation. Companies that have recently hired sales students include Dell, Deloitte, Gallup, Hubspot, Mutual of Omaha, Oracle, Union Pacific and Walt Disney Company. Seven of the center's corporate partners — Assurity, LRS Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual, NRC Health, Pacific Life, Sandhills Global and Workforce Science Associates — networked with the new inductees to discuss opportunities and internships before the ceremony.

“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 Sohi. “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.”

Founded in 2013, the Center for Sales Excellence has been named a top university 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 students pursuing their Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence are listed below by hometown, with their current class standing in school and academic major(s).

NEBRASKA

Columbus: Nicholas Zoucha, junior marketing

David City: Jordyn Bohuslavsky, sophomore marketing

Elkhorn: Mia Deleidi, freshman finance, marketing; Gabe Edstrand, junior accounting, management

Fullerton: Jaxson Sullivan, junior marketing

Gretna: Tyler Hill, junior finance, marketing

Holdrege: Matthew Janssen, junior business administration

Lawrence: Krayton Kucera, junior marketing

Lincoln: Graham Carmichael, sophomore business administration; Jessica Nelson, sophomore management; Joseph Zabawa, junior management

North Platte: Ellie Blakely, junior business law, finance

Omaha: Noah Dameier, junior finance; Sam Dameier, sophomore finance; Westby Dunn, junior advertising and public relations; Blake Johnson, freshman finance; Brandt Munson, junior management; Sophia Rife, junior management, marketing; Elijah Shaul, sophomore finance, accounting; Sienna Stone, freshman marketing; Peyton Strong, senior marketing; Maddy Wallor, junior marketing

Plattsmouth: Brody McClatchey, sophomore marketing

Raymond: Larkin Barry, junior marketing

Rising City: Aiden Zimmerman, sophomore finance

Roca: Joseph Patera, junior accounting

Seward: Crayton Koranda, junior agronomy

Valley: Cadence McCollister, senior advertising and public relations

Wahoo: Karley Golladay, junior marketing