Chico State’s College of Business to Host University Sales Center Alliance Annual Fall Conference

  Faculty from nearly 50 USCA-Accredited Universities Will Descend on Chico State to Discuss Industry Best Practices and Name a New President

The Chico State College of Business’ renowned Seufferlein Sales Program (SSP) will host the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) Annual Fall Conference from October 5-7, 2023 in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium. USCA is a consortium of faculty members with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise from universities with accredited sales centers that work together to shape the future of sales education.

The event, which is coming to Chico State for the first time, serves as a gathering for nearly 50 faculty who run collegiate sales programs across the country to discuss best practices, sales center growth strategies and engage in networking opportunities. The goal is for attendees to learn from each other’s experiences and gain insights into innovative approaches to sales education they can take back to their universities to educate the next generation of sales professionals.

Keynotes will be delivered by:

• Terence Lau, Interim Provost and former College of Business Dean at Chico State
• Danielle Holmes, Campus Talent Acquisition Manager at Cintas
• Eli Foster, Chief Talent Officer at Insight Global

During the conference, Lenita Davis will be named as the president of the 2023-2024 USCA Board. Davis is an associate professor of management and marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Eau and the director of the university’s Claire Center Sales and Sales Management.

“It’s fitting that I get to take the gavel during the conference at Chico State,” said Davis, who becomes the organization’s first African-American President. “The program at Chico State is known for its prowess in nationwide competitions, but also for its commitment to diversifying the sales program to include students from all genders and backgrounds.”

SSP at Chico State currently has nearly 500 students from 60 majors. It prepares students for dynamic careers by teaching them how to communicate with others and sell their ideas, projects and proposals in today’s global business environment. Students in the program regularly compete in national and international sales competitions in order to gain skills in a real-world environment. In the 2023-24 academic year, the team will compete everywhere from Hawaii to Finland.

The event is sponsored by E&J Gallo Winery and produced by a staff of nine Chico State students under the guidance of SSP executive director Thomas Villa. Approximately 20 sales ambassadors from Chico State’s College of Business have been invited to the evening’s formal dinner to network with the 100 industry partners and faculty in attendance.

“SSP has grown from 90 students in 2019 to one of largest and one most lucrative sales programs in the country,” said Villa. “The opportunity to host this event showcases our students’ acumen and is a validation of what they have built at Chico State.”

To view the entire schedule, please visit the event’s Webpage.

About Chico State

At Chico State, we empower students to Do and Dare in their careers and lives. Founded in 1887, Chico State is the second-oldest institution in the 23-campus CSU, the nation’s largest public university system. Chico State enrolls approximately 14,000 students and serves as the comprehensive university of the North State, the 12-county region where the campus is located. A 21-time US News & World Report “Top Public School in the West,” Chico State prides itself on its high-quality, high-value education, an active and engaged student body, and strong connection with the local community and state of California. Recognized for its focus on sustainability and community involvement, students expand their possibilities through more than 390 academic offerings and co-curricular programs, and work closely with expert faculty to devise solutions for the unprecedented global challenges of the 21st century.