Elon senior finishes top 10 in Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up

Sharin Gerstenberger competed against more than 60 students, earning eighth place in the national sales competition.

Sharin Gerstenberger ’16 placed eighth in the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

The Sales Warm-Up, held Oct. 22-24, brought together more than 60 students from 22 universities, who are interested in sales as a profession. Competitors were scored on two rounds of 20-minute sales presentations. A panel of sales managers from sponsoring companies evaluated competitors on all aspects of the sales call, including their ability to communicate effectively and professionally. Gerstenberger, an international business major from Niedersachsen, Germany, earned the top score in the second round.

Teresa Kuhns ’16, a strategic communications major and professional sales minor, and Kelley Hill ’16, a marketing major and economics minor, also represented Elon in the competition. The Elon Sales Team was coached by Assistant Professor of Marketing Erin Gillespie and senior marketing major Jack Hardy.

“The Great Northwoods Sales Warm-up was an eye-opening experience,” said Gerstenberger. “The competition gave me the opportunity to refine, develop and share my skills in a real-world sales context.”