Mission
We provide our students with the knowledge, training, and tools they will need to succeed in their future careers as sales professionals. The Vision for the Penn State Professional Sales Education Center (PSEC) is to serve the region as a resource for professional sales education, leadership development, and research/scholarship with support from our Marketing Faculty, Sales Lab, Corporate Partners, and Alumni.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Pro Sales Team
Join our student-led organization and compete in local and national sales competitions. Being a member of the Pro Sales Team will help you connect with your peers, network with local, national, and international companies, and compete against other university sales teams in local and national sales competitions (National Sales Challenge and the D&H Distributing Penn State Sales Competition).
Pro Sales is open to all majors.
Sales Lab
To learn how to be the best in sales it requires practice and training. Our Sales Lab is located on the third Floor/East Side in Olmsted E335J with a professional office setting where students can use our conference room space and adjacent interview room space. This lab facility is equipped with recording equipment and is available for students to use to conduct and record sales role-plays to improve their sales presentations.
Students involved in the Pro Sales Team regularly use this facility as a dedicated space to prepare for these sales competitions.
Industry Insights
The PSEC hosts student members of our Pro Sales Team who enjoy participating and working with our corporate partners by attending our industry insights. These networking and professional sales development opportunities take place throughout the semester and involve skill development, professional sales training, role-plays, and job talks with our industry partners.
PROFESSIONAL EVENTS
D&H Distributing Penn State Sales Competition
In the Fall in conjunction with Penn State’s Fall Career Fair, elevator pitch competition. Corporate partners work with our marketing faculty and the Penn State Sales Education Center to put on this elevator pitch competition as part of our local sales competition. A separate role-play competition is also held for this competition and is provided by our premier corporate partner, D&H Distributing, which provides sales talent to serve as buyers for this B2B case role-play that places the student in the role of the distributor who sits behind the seller to provide products and services to other businesses. Corporate partners act as judges for both of these events.
Penn State Sales Symposium
During the Spring sales leaders from small and medium-sized businesses are invited to learn from industry experts and faculty researchers regarding innovations and research in the sales industry that impact the sales industry and professional selling technologies. Students help to put on this event and participate in these discussions as well as networking with companies in attendance.
Corporate Partners
Consider sponsoring students in their pursuit of sales knowledge and skills by choosing from our three partnership tiers. Each tier confers benefits on the sponsor company, including invitations to networking events, job postings, and sales competitions.
Sales Center Team
The Penn State Sales Education Center is led by expert faculty in the School of Business Affairs with experience in marketing, consumer behavior, advertising, and sales management. Their teaching and research help guide students toward fulfilling careers in sales and marketing.
Dr. Darrell Bartholomew
Sales Center Faculty Director, Associate Professor of Marketing
Dr. Hossein Hashemi
Sales Researcher, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Dr. Ozge Aybat
Marketing Program Chair
Dr. Stephen Hampton
Pro Sales Faculty Advisor, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Dr. Sidd Bhatt
Sales Center Research Director, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Testimonials
Having the opportunity to work with Professor Bartholomew and the students at Penn State Harrisburg Pro Sales Club has provided me the opportunity to see the tremendous benefit this Program offers the participants. Sales is a critical role in any organization and preparing them with the proper selling skills gives them a jump start to successful careers.
— Brian Bucciarelli, Managing Director Entertainment Sales & Partnerships, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
The sales program at Penn State Harrisburg is a game changer for both the students who participate in it and area employers who are seeking employees with leading edge sales training. The curriculum teaches students to follow a process for effectively solving prospect and customer issues. Employers will benefit from hiring students who have the foundational skills to make an immediate impact to their business.
— John Hubley, CEO, Hubley Group, LLC
Working with the students and sales program at Penn State Harrisburg continues to be an incredible experience. The students are highly motivated and eager to learn. We are proud to be able to partner with a program that provides students with the necessary skills to be successful in sales-related roles as these are vital to an organization’s success.
— Ryann Dunmire, Workforce Development and Talent Acquisition Manager, Phoenix Contact
Having the opportunity to work with Professor Bartholomew and the students at Penn State Harrisburg Pro Sales Club has provided me the opportunity to see the tremendous benefit this Program offers the participants. Sales is a critical role in any organization and preparing them with the proper selling skills gives them a jump start to successful careers.
— Brian Bucciarelli, Managing Director Entertainment Sales & Partnerships, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
The sales program at Penn State Harrisburg is a game changer for both the students who participate in it and area employers who are seeking employees with leading edge sales training. The curriculum teaches students to follow a process for effectively solving prospect and customer issues. Employers will benefit from hiring students who have the foundational skills to make an immediate impact to their business.
— John Hubley, CEO, Hubley Group, LLC
Working with the students and sales program at Penn State Harrisburg continues to be an incredible experience. The students are highly motivated and eager to learn. We are proud to be able to partner with a program that provides students with the necessary skills to be successful in sales-related roles as these are vital to an organization’s success.
— Ryann Dunmire, Workforce Development and Talent Acquisition Manager, Phoenix Contact