Southeastern Professional Sales Newsletter V1.I1

JANUARY 2019

I S S U E 1 VO L . 1

SOUTHEASTERN

SALES INSIDER Newsletter of Southeastern’s Professional Sales Program The Southeastern Professional Sales Program gives students hands-on sales experiences and prepares the next generation of sales leaders.

COMING SOON: NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL SALES TRAINING ROOM We are excited to share that Northwestern Mutual has made a commitment to sponsor a Sales Training Room on Southeastern’s campus. The initiative is led by Steven Dugal, managing partner of Louisiana and Mississippi, and Paul Hodge, managing director.

Stay tuned for an official release in the coming weeks.

Northwestern Mutual has over 100 financial representatives and their teams and offices in New Orleans, Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport, Jackson, and Gulfport areas, where they serve clients across Louisiana, Mississippi and the United States with financial planning, insurance and investments.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1 2 3 3

Professional Sales Program

4

Northwestern Mutual Sponsors Sales Training Room

Welcoming New Sales Program Partners

Fall Competition Recap

Student Spotlight, Connor Raiford

Spring 2019 Sales Program Information

Special thanks to our first Sales Program sponsor, United Rentals.

Pictured from left are: April Kemp, Sales Program faculty; Jay Johnson, assistant dean of the College of Business; Eric Mahoney, Southeastern graduate and HR generalist for United Rentals, Tará Lopez, Sales Program faculty; Colby Freneaux, Southeastern student and United Rentals ambassador. Not pictured: Kenny Kirby.

WELCOMING NEW SALES PROGRAM PARTNERS

Northwestern Mutual (Gold Level Sponsor) is a financial security company that provides consultation on wealth and asset income protection, education planning, retirement planning, investment advisory services, trust and private client services, estate planning and business planning. Northwestern Mutual ranked No. 104 in the 2018 Fortune 500 list.

United Rentals (Gold Level Sponsor) is a Fortune 500 Company and the largest rental equipment company in North America. They own the largest rental fleet in the world and have over 880 locations worldwide.

Fastenal (Silver Level Sponsor) is the largest fastener distributor in North America and provides companies with the tools and supplies they need to manufacture products, build structures, protect personnel, and maintain facilities and equipment.

With roots extending before Prohibition, Republic National Distributing Company (Sales Competition Sponsor) is a family-owned business that has evolved into the nation’s second largest wholesale wine and spirits distributor, employing more than 9,500 associates across 22 states and D.C.

Alexis Ducorbier, State Farm Agent, funded the Alexis & Todd Ducorbier Family scholarship for sales students.

State Farm helps protect the people and property that matter most with auto insurance, checking and savings accounts, loans, and more.

Louisiana Cat (Bronze Level Sponsor) is an official Cat® dealer for new, used, and rental equipment. Caterpillar Inc. is an American Fortune 100 corporation which designs, develops, engineers, manufactures, markets and sells machinery, engines, financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network.

It is the world's largest construction equipment manufacturer.

BRONZE LEVEL

SPONSORS

SILVER LEVEL

GOLD LEVEL

We are excited to share our new sales program partners.

Thank you for your support of Southeastern’s Professional Sales Program!

Republic Finance (Bronze Level Sponsor) specializes in providing a variety of consumer loans, flexible lending options and incomparable customer service, and has assisted its customers in meeting their personal finance goals. RF is proud to serve nearly 300,000 customers in almost 200 communities throughout the United States in eight states and growing.

Rite-Hite (Bronze Level Sponsor) is a world leader in the manufacture, sale, and service of loading dock equipment, industrial doors, safety barriers, HVLS fans, industrial curtain walls, and more - all designed to improve safety, security, productivity, energy savings, and environmental control.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW: CONNOR RAIFORD Winner of the Fall 2018 Southeastern Sales Competition and Cajun Competition Sales Team Captain Why did you choose the Sales Concentration?

“During my junior year I started to get more involved in the College of Business, and I met alumni and guest speakers that were doing awesome things in the professional world. A large majority of them started in business-to-business sales after college. At that point in my life, I thought that all ‘salespeople’ were the unsavory used-car salesman stereotypes. After I did some research, I realized that it is about a lot more than just profit. A career in sales involves solving problems and helping other businesses overcome their own obstacles.

That semester, my advisor told me that Southeastern was beginning a sales concentration for marketing majors, and I signed up immediately.”

Special thanks to our Internal Competition judges and buyer: Michael Goodrich, Ashley O’Quin, and Keith Chulick of Republic Finance, Kyle Kempff and Megan Harkless of Republic National Distributing, and Kenny Kirby and Eric Mahoney of United Rentals.

What was your favorite part about being a student in the Professional Sales Program?

“My favorite part was the networking opportunities. I was able to meet a lot of like-minded students that are now blazing their way through the corporate world, as well as employers that offered me more interviews and internships than I can count.”

Why did you choose United Rentals for your Career?

“When I started interviewing for post-college jobs, I was more focused on company culture than I was on the industry my potential employers were in. United Rentals is a large company that has overwhelming opportunities for promotion and growth but more importantly, it is a company that thrives on teamwork and helping those around you.”

What is your advice for future sales students?

“I think the most important thing that future sales students should know is the importance of listening before speaking. You won’t be able to find solutions for a buyer unless you know what problems they are experiencing. If you’re ever stuck, just ask more questions.”

Connor Raiford is a December 2018 graduate, marketing major with a concentration in sales from Baton Rouge, LA.

FALL 2018 COMPETITION RECAP Southeastern’s Internal Sales Competition this semester was held on Friday, October 19. Representatives from United Rentals, Republic National Distributing Co., and Republic Finance volunteered their time to assist in judging and playing a buyer role for the competition.

Republic National Distributing was the competition sponsor.

Students who participated included: Abigail Benson, William Busby, Sierra Marchand, Mitchell Cole McHugh, Karlie McDonald, and Douglas Raiford. The top performer was Senior, Douglas Connor Raiford, who was also named Team Captain.

2019 SPRING INFORMATION We had an awesome pre-semester kick-off meeting on December 14, 2018.

Advanced professional sales students and their potential sales coaches and mentors were able to network and start planning for the upcoming Sales Pro Draft Day in which the coaches “draft” the students they hope to work with.

Thanks to those who were able to attend!

2019 is going to be a great year for the Sales Program. Stay tuned...

IMPORTANT DATES: February 22 SOUTHEASTERN SALES CHALLENGE Internal sales competition, winners proceed to Bayou Sales Challenge at Nicholls State University.

Event sponsored by the Sales Program Partners and Republic National Distributing.

February 22 SALES PARTNER PRO SALES CAREER FAIR High-engagement mini career fair for business partners to interact with professional sales and MBA students.

March 14 BIZ-CONNECT College of Business Career Fair

For more information about the Southeastern Professional Sales Program, contact: April Kemp at april.kemp@southeastern.edu or Tará Lopez at tara.lopez@southeastern.edu (985) 549-2277

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