UCM Students Take First Place at University of Kansas Sales Competition

Shown with their coaches, Tyler Hirlinger, left, and Charles Schwepker, right, the University of Central Missouri sales team, represented by students, from left, Michael Cadwell, Josie Phillips, Mayce Axtell, and Gabe Combs, captured first place in the King’s Hawaiian Professional Selling Competition at the University of Kansas.

 

WARRENSBURG, MO – Continuing to have a successful spring 2022 semester, the University of Central Missouri sales team took first place in the King’s Hawaiian Professional Selling Competition hosted by the University of Kansas School of Business April 8-9 in Lawrence.

The UCM competitors represented the only Missouri team in the event that included 47 students comprising 12 teams from across the nation. UCM was represented by students who are all from Missouri, Mayce Axtell, a senior from Laredo majoring in management; Michael Cadwell, a junior from Lee’s Summit majoring in marketing; Gabe Combs, a senior from Lee’s Summit majoring in psychology and minoring in marketing and communications; and Josie Phillips, a junior from Kansas City with a double major in marketing and psychology. 

The team’s successful finish paid off with a $3,000 prize awarded for finishing first.  In addition, Axtell qualified for the finals in the individual speed selling competition and finished in the top six.

Tyler Hirlinger, associate instructor of marketing, and Charles Schwepker, Randall and Kelly Harbert Marketing Professor in the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies coach the sales team. Under their mentorship this spring UCM students have also earned high rankings in prestigious events such as the National Collegiate Sales Competition at Kennesaw State University in Georgia, and the Redbird National Sales Competition at Illinois State University. Participation in such events has provided UCM students an opportunity to demonstrate their skills against the top competitors representing teams from public and private institutions at the largest and most competitive events in the nation.