SUNY Oswego’s School of Business put on a unique friendly competition testing students’ various skills during the fourth annual Sales Triathlon on April 7 and 8. 

Students participated in sales roleplay, mock interviews and a speed-selling competition during two days that made them draw on their knowledge, think quickly and grow. 

The event ended with awards for students who did the best in each category, and one for overall. Isabela Garcia won for best overall, Connor Vignona placed first in mock interviews and sales roleplay and Beau Haubeil won speed selling. Maureen Melville, recently named director of theCcenter for Business Excellence and Transformation, hosted the event. 

“I work full-time in sales right now so this competition involved something I do multiple times a day. During that time I have picked up on plenty of good sales tactics and strategies,” said Vignona, a senior marketing major. 

“Preparation is key in any sort of sales situation,” Vignona added. “I have to give a shoutout to my amazing professors, specifically Maureen Melville and Jacqueline Hannon, as they have both been great at helping me develop my skills during my classes here at SUNY Oswego.”

Garcia also noted coursework as a key to success.

“My sales minor and communications major played a huge role in my win, especially the hands-on classes like ‘Negotiation’ and ‘Professional Selling,’” Garcia said. “In my sales classes, I had the chance to do real-time sales role plays with classmates, mock interviews, work on group projects and dive deep into different sales strategies. Those experiences really pushed me to think critically and adapt quickly.”

For sales roleplay, students participated in a 12-minute simulated scenario with executives from sponsoring companies. They were evaluated on their opening, gathering information, resolving concerns and more. 

During the mock interviews, students sold themselves through 15-minute professional interviews with executives followed by feedback. 

In the speed-selling competition, students attended timed sessions with executives who listened to their two-minute “elevator pitch,” to sell themselves, with one minute to ask questions. 

Organizers note the event is a great opportunity for students to be exposed to alumni and business partners and set themselves up for their future careers. 

Greatly boosted by the participation of alumni and business partners, the event lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on day one, and from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on day two, with the first parts of the competitions in Rich Hall, and the finale and awards culminating in a well-attended event in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall. 

–- Written by Gianna Cowell of the Class of 2026