Pi Sigma Epsilon takes first place at national sales competition


Zeta Nu wins first place in national sales competition


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For the first time in history, a chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon won first place in a national sales competition for the third time in a row, and that chapter was Central Michigan University's Zeta Nu. 

Beating 139 other students from chapters around the US on Friday, Romeo senior Ben Devereaux took first place in the Pro-Am Sell-A-Thon sales competition and became the top salesperson in the U.S. in announcements Sunday. Four other CMU students placed in the top 25 finalists.

"Everybody piled onto Ben and started chanting Fire up Chips," said Ken Cherry, fraternity adviser and assistant professor of marketing. "It was very cool."

The competition began Tuesday and finished Sunday as part of the week-long Pi Sigma Epsilon National Sales and Marketing Convention. The eight Pi Sigma Epsilon members who participated were chosen by a panel of outside sales recruiters and managers through a "sell yourself" audition.

The competition consisted of two rounds in which the students are filmed trying to sell a real commercial product to experienced managers and buyers. This year's product was Cutco Knives.

"Basically the whole competition is you walk into a room, sit down with the buyer for 12 minutes and try to explain to them (that) you understand where they are in their company, and what we can provide will get (them) past that," said Jacob Mitchell, president of Pi Sigma Epsilon and a sophomore from Alto.

Results from regionals, which took place in the fall, were also factored into the ultimate placement decisions. Member's training included filming themselves during practice interviews at least three times.

Devereaux said the main thing he and his colleagues get out of the competition is teamwork.

"It isn't really me trying to bring home the trophy; it is CMU trying to bring home the trophy," Devereaux said. "If you teach people, then you help your team and learn the information better yourself."

Devereaux won $1,500 as first salesperson in the nation for the Pro-Am Sell-a-Thon, a $1,000 Tom James suit as top sales person of the day and two trophies. He said having won the competition for top salesperson in the U.S. feels "surreal."

"I have laid in bed for multiple years wanting this extremely bad, staring at the ceiling unable to sleep because I just wanted it so bad," Devereaux said.

Job placement statistics for CMU's chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon are 90 percent by graduation and 100 percent within three months, according to Cherry. He said a common characteristic seen in fraternity members chosen for the conference is competitiveness.

"I went into this wanting it extremely bad, but mostly just wanting to know that I could bring it home for CMU," Devereaux said. "If you worry about your team, then success will come with it."

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