Program Overview

Center for Sales Excellence

The Center for Sales Excellence at Robert Morris University is dedicated to preparing students for successful careers in sales. The center offers a comprehensive sales education program, including a Sales Certificate program, which is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in sales and sales management positions.

Sales Certificate Program

The Sales Certificate program is a 15-credit program that exposes students to various aspects of sales, including sales terminology, the psychology behind sales, management of brands and products, sales analytics, consultation and relationship building, and entrepreneurial thinking. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the sales process and to prepare them for entry-level sales positions in a variety of industries.

Program Details

• The program is open to students from all majors
• The program consists of 15 credits of coursework
• Courses include sales terminology, sales psychology, brand management, sales analytics, and entrepreneurial thinking
• The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the sales process
• The program prepares students for entry-level sales positions in a variety of industries

Faculty and Staff

The Center for Sales Excellence is led by a team of experienced faculty and staff, including:

• Dr. Jill Kurp, Director of the Center for Sales Excellence
• Dr. James R. Shock, Professor of Marketing
• Dr. Gabriel Moreno, Professor of Marketing
• Dr. Artemisia Apostolopoulou, Professor of Sport Management and Marketing

Advisory Board

The Center for Sales Excellence has an external advisory board consisting of 14 members, including:

• Sharjeel Farooq, Regional Vice President, Oracle Cloud Sales
• Kevin F. Bove, Financial Advisor, HB Retirement
• Paul Trunzo, Senior VP Sales, Hussey Copper
• Chris D. Manna, Account Executive, West PA/NY Konica Minolta Healthcare
• Charlie Foy, President/Sales Director, Hytorc Penn Ohio
• Mike Cunningham, Customer Solutions Manager, Fastenal Co.
• Scott King, District Manager, Western PA/Eastern OH Fastenal
• Samantha Blandina, FSOP Area Sales Manager, ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages
• Rachel Rzymek, Business Development Associate, AE Works
• Natalie Miller, Group Talent Acquisition Manager, Enterprise Holdings
• Michael J. Ceravolo, Chief Commercial Officer, Beemac Logistics, LLC
• Gregory McDonald, Sales Director, Business Sales FedEx Services
• Mark Carlisle, Industry Marketing Manager Construction Products, United States Steel Corporation
• Dean Manna, Ph.D., Robert Morris University, Retired, Former Director, RMU Center for Sales Excellence

Sponsors

The Center for Sales Excellence has several sponsors, including:

• Gold Plus Sponsor: Thermo Fisher Scientific
• Gold Sponsor: Fastenal
• Silver Sponsor: ABARTA Coca-Cola Beverages
• Bronze Sponsor: AE Works
• Research and Sales Training Sponsor: Oracle Cloud Sales

Events

The Center for Sales Excellence hosts several events throughout the year, including:

• Sales Challenge: a one-day, two-round sales role-play competition
• Celebration of Sales Week: a week-long event featuring sales professionals and industry experts
• Sales Symposium: a conference featuring sales professionals and industry experts

Research Areas

The Center for Sales Excellence is involved in several research areas, including:

• Sales performance and efficiency
• Salespeople's behaviors
• Marketing strategy in the business-to-business segment
• Measurement theory and multivariate data analyses

Student Opportunities

The Center for Sales Excellence provides several opportunities for students, including:

• Sales competitions and role-play events
• Networking events with sales professionals and industry experts
• Internships and job placement assistance
• Sales training and development programs

Alumni Success

The Center for Sales Excellence has a strong track record of alumni success, with graduates going on to work in a variety of sales and marketing roles. Some notable alumni include:

• Andrew Arrigo, New Business Consultant, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Danny Ritchie, Inside Sales Representative, ADP
• Alyssa Hudak, Salesforce and Program Data Associate, BUILD
• Jared Delauter, Financial Representative, Lifetime Financial Growth
• Anthony Locante, SDR, Net Health
• Noah Meyer, Sales Associate, Fastenal
• Tyler Gierl, Producer Associate, Gallagher
• Jeffrey Remark, Federal Sales Specialist, Wesco
• Joshua Dahl, Sales Representative, Thermo Fisher Scientific
• Luke Hansberry, Business Development Representative, MiCORE Solutions
• Isaac Dechant, Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual
• Chase Jacobs, Sales Representative, State Farm
• Parker Johnson, Golf Club Sales, TaylorMade Golf Company
• Adrianna Juergen, Digital Sales Representative, FedEx
• Mia Laurenzi, Digital Sales Representative, ADP
• Miyu Kojima, International Sales Representative, Wismettac Asian Foods, Inc.
• Brandon West, Account Executive, PLS Logistics