2025
Thank you to our presenting partner and summit sponsors!
On behalf of the David Eccles School of Business, I sincerely appreciate and thank you for your support of the 2025 Sales Innovation Summit. Your generosity underscores your commitment to the future of sales and the transformative impact it has on students, businesses, industries, and society as a whole.
As highlighted at the Sales Innovation Summit, the value of specialized sales education continues to grow, shaping the next generation of professionals who will drive innovation and success. Your support plays a vital role in ensuring our students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and ethical foundation needed to excel in dynamic sales careers. Together, we are creating opportunities for students to secure impactful roles, contribute meaningfully to their organizations, and strengthen the broader business community.
Your partnership is instrumental in building a thriving sales community that empowers students and elevates the profession. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support and look forward to continuing this journey together.
With immense gratitude, Rita
Schwisow
Rita Schwisow
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Marketing
Associate
Director, Business Development and Sales Program
David
Eccles School of Business
STUDENTS FROM 11 UNIVERSITIES IN ATTENDANCE
27 COMPANIES TABLING AT JOB FAIR
12 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
275+ ATTENDEES
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT | 2025
How to Bridge the AI Gap: From Artificial to Authentic
University
Navigating the Big Leagues: Learnings from Negotiating with the Giants of Retail
Michelle Ulmer
University of Utah Alum
People-First Sales: The Power of Investing in Client and Colleague Growth
Jason Beardall Weber State University Alum
From Retail to Tech: A Woman’s Journey to Sales Success
Steffanie Sadler
Oklahoma State University Alum
Master Your Industry: Finding Success through Specialization
Jordan Farrer
Utah Tech University Alum
Passion Meets Profit: Leveraging Personal Interests to Drive Client Engagement and Sales
Jeffery Gelder Lewis
University of Utah Alum
Unlocking Growth: Leveraging Sales Skills to Drive Innovation and Leadership
Shawn Adamson
University of Utah Alum
Choosing Your Path: Career Growth Opportunities in SaaS
Sterling Frandsen
Utah State University Alum
Shari Levitin
of Colorado Boulder Alum
“As a first-generation student, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to attend this year’s Sales Innovation Summit. This event was more than just a conference, it was a gateway to growth, learning, and invaluable connections. I had the privilege of sharpening my professional skills, gaining insights from industry leaders with decades of experience, and engaging with recruiters from a diverse range of industries. Connecting with peers from universities across Utah further enriched the experience, broadening my perspective and expanding my network. The opportunities I discovered at the Sales Summit would not have been possible without this event. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our amazing University, the incredible guest speakers, and the Alumni Relations & Development department for making resources like this accessible to business students like myself.”
-Miguel Angel Pina Marketing | Class of 2026
“I had the incredible opportunity to attend the University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business 2025 Sales Innovation Summit— a premier event for students, alumni, and industry professionals focused on learning, networking, and advancing careers in sales.
The keynote and breakout sessions were packed with valuable insights from top executives in CPG, telecommunications, entertainment media, and wealth management. Topics covered included negotiating in big-box retail, how sales skills can drive leadership and innovation, and leveraging personal interests to enhance client engagement.
A few key takeaways for me included how resilience, customer-centric thinking, and transparency are all fundamental to driving winwin sales outcomes. It was refreshing to see how these concepts are being successfully applied in real-world situations to nurture trusting and longterm customer relationships.
Finally, a shameless plug and huge shoutout to U Career Success | University of Utah, for organizing an outstanding career fair to close out the Summit! With around 30 different companies from diverse industries, it was a fantastic chance for employers to connect with top talent from across the state of Utah.
I’m very glad that I had the chance to be part of such an engaging and insightful event!”
Alex Beckstead
Marketing, Professional Selling and Business Development emphasis, Class of 2025
alex-beckstead
“The Sales Innovation Summit was a powerful event that brought together students, and industry leaders to share insights on sales, strategy, and relationship-building.
As an entrepreneurship student, I found the sessions especially valuable, particularly Michelle Ulmer’s talk on negotiating with major retailers in ‘Navigating the Big Leagues: Learnings from Negotiating with the Giants of Retail,’ and Shari Levitin’s discussion on balancing AI and human connection in ‘How to Bridge the AI Gap: From Artificial to Authentic.’
Some of my biggest takeaways included the importance of connecting with others through competence and empathy, learning to be a creative connector, and understanding the distinction between sales and long-term customer relationship development. These skills are just as crucial for me as an entrepreneur as they are for sales professionals because building trust and meaningful connections is at the heart of both.
A huge shoutout to U Career Success | University of Utah for putting together an incredible career fair to close out the event!
A special thank you to Glenn Seninger for telling me about this opportunity!
Grateful to have been part of such an inspiring experience!”
Tiffany Lahey
Entrepreneurship,
Class of 2026 tiffany-lahey
“You can’t be what you can’t see.” – Marian Wright Edelman
Sales professionals are dreamers, seekers, and often those who reach the highest heights. But without learning what’s possible, students may not know how or where to direct their energy and can’t know the wide world of possibility that comes from learning how to connect with people and meet their very real needs.
Sales career education bridges the gap between potential and intention. It links inspiration to the nuts-and-bolts needed to get the job done well. So, I extend a huge thank you to the sponsors, speakers, and professionals who bring visions of the possible to our students, alumni, and guests each year at the Sales Innovation Summit.
This year, we were inspired by an invigorating keynote, taught in workshops by outstanding professionals who walk the talk, and jumped feet first into a free-flowing job fair featuring key companies with opportunities to share. Sales Innovation Summit participants quickly catch the vision and learn of so many paths to that lead to fulfilling careers of service and distinction.
The skills students learn in sales apply to every field and every endeavor. Understanding and meeting human needs is fundamental to relationships and society.
Our state and the University are known for an entrepreneurial mindset and the inexhaustible, creative spark of students, researchers, and citizens who start and sustain ventures that bring us good health, practical solutions, new products, and new ways to adventure. Each of these efforts is made possible by sales professionals, and each sales professional starts somewhere – as a student, an intern, a trainee, or an early-career professional.
U Career Success is pleased to partner closely with the David Eccles School Business in this year’s endeavor, and we are eager to advance the vision of the Sales Innovation Summit for each student as they power their growth with us.
Katie Hoffman-Abby Vice President, U Career Success Assistant Dean, David Eccles School of Business
David Eccles School of Business
