40 Huskers begin sales excellence program

Forty University of Nebraska–Lincoln students have been selected for the Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence Program in the College of Business. With the credential offered by the Center for Sales Excellence, students sharpen communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills sought by employers.

The group represents 11 majors and three colleges. The application process for the program, open to all students at the university, includes submitting a resume and statement of interest and earning a minimum GPA. Once admitted, students begin courses taught by sales and marketing faculty in the College of Business the following semester.

“We’re excited to welcome these students into the program and know they are bound to do great things,” said Chad Mardesen, interim director of the Center for Sales Excellence and associate professor of practice in marketing. “Companies recruit here because they know our students have the skills to succeed, and many of these students are sophomores, giving them time to fully engage in internships, competitions and networking."

Kimberly Smith | Business

Nearly all participants secure full-time positions before graduation, with recent employers including Dell, Deloitte, Gallup, HubSpot, Mutual of Omaha, Oracle, Union Pacific and the Walt Disney Company. Corporate partners regularly engage with students through networking events, internships and hands-on learning experiences.

Founded in 2013, the Center for Sales Excellence has been named a top university program for professional sales education by the Sales Education Foundation every year since 2014. Learn more.

Students pursuing the undergraduate certificate in sales excellence are listed below by hometown, with their class standing and academic major(s).

Nebraska

Aurora:

• Aiden Bish, sophomore, marketing

Bennington:

• John Skahan, junior, accounting

Columbus:

• Taina Davis, sophomore, marketing

Elkhorn:

• Aboud Abdalhamid, junior, marketing
• Brady Brau, senior, marketing

Grand Island:

• Dane Martin, sophomore, marketing
• Thomas Umme, sophomore, business and law

Holstein:

• Briley Nienhueser, sophomore, business administration

Lincoln:

• Claire Andrews, sophomore, marketing
• Jackson Figard, sophomore, management and marketing
• Claire Griffin, junior, marketing
• Helen Jamison, junior, marketing
• George Kane, junior, finance
• Faith McCullough, senior, broadcasting
• Jake Thompson, sophomore, finance and pre-veterinary medicine

North Platte:

• Callie McClain, sophomore, marketing

Omaha:

• Shane Borman, sophomore, finance
• J.T. Evans, junior, marketing
• Izzy Germany, sophomore, business administration
• Ridge Jackson, sophomore, PGA golf management
• Brendan Kenney, sophomore, business administration
• Trevor Langel, junior, finance
• Dane Mosser, junior, management
• Spencer Phillips, junior, supply chain management
• Jack Rhoads, sophomore, marketing
• Joseph Simon, sophomore, finance
• Dave Sullivan, junior, marketing
• Caitlin Wilson, senior, marketing

Elsewhere in the U.S.

Castle Pines, Colorado:

• Danielle Zappavigna, senior, management

Littleton, Colorado:

• Hope Linesman, senior, marketing

Chicago, Illinois:

• Emily Rue, sophomore, marketing

Winfield, Illinois:

• Emilia Lee, sophomore, marketing

Leawood, Kansas:

• Nick Koca, junior, marketing

Eagan, Minnesota:

• Nathan Mckinnon, senior, marketing

Hugo, Minnesota:

• Ally Munyer, junior, business administration

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

• Bella Borgen, junior, finance

Minnetonka, Minnesota:

• Charlie Evenrud, junior, finance

St. Paul, Minnesota:

• Caitlin Kovacich, sophomore, finance and marketing

Philomath, Oregon:

• Dylan Smith, sophomore, agricultural economics

San Antonio, Texas:

• Noah Beninato, junior, finance and management