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There was a time when Katie Hawkinson 鈥�22 never imagined herself in sales. Shy and soft-spoken, she sometimes wouldn鈥檛 even engage over the phone.听

That changed when she joined UNH鈥檚 Professional Sales Group (PSG) in her junior year. Through immersive coursework, sales competitions, and mentorship from professionals, Hawkinson developed the confidence to pitch, negotiate, and close 鈥� skills that led to an internship at BitSight, a Boston-based cybersecurity firm, and ultimately to her current role as an account executive.听

鈥淢y parents used to say I was the kid too scared to order pizza over the phone, and now I talk to strangers for a living,鈥� Hawkinson says. 鈥淚t was a little shocking for them that I went into this career path, but PSG gave me the confidence to connect with people, and that鈥檚 what sales is all about.鈥澨�

This transformation is exactly what James McIlroy, director of the , envisioned when he launched the program. His goal: to create an environment where students learn sales theory in the classroom and immediately apply it through real-world practice.听

鈥淲e want students to 鈥榞et in the arena鈥� early,鈥� McIlroy explains. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where confidence, adaptability, and communication skills grow.鈥澨�

From Classroom to Sales Arena听

Students can enter the program through multiple pathways, from the Sales Club to the foundational course of Personal Selling, and quickly find themselves engaging with industry professionals.听

The Sales Club provides a low-pressure way to build skills, connect with employers, and compete in on-campus events like Speed Sell, where students have just 90 seconds to pitch themselves. Coursework complements these experiences with lessons in prospecting, client engagement, and negotiation.

Signature events such as Women in Sales, Networking Night, and the Sales Competitions and Career Fairs connect students directly with the program鈥檚 20鈥�25 corporate partners, offering unparalleled access to potential employers.听

Professional Sales Group: The Elite Experience听

Students who wish to advance in sales can pursue a minor and apply to join The Sales Center鈥檚 Professional Sales Group (PSG). With 100% job placement, this is where aspiring salespeople aim to land. 听

PSG students participate in the Elite Series, a signature program where teams partner with corporate sponsors to tackle live sales cases. Students spend two weeks mastering a company鈥檚 product and client scenario before role-playing their pitches with industry professionals.听

鈥淲e work with top partner companies to build a case, and our students sell the company鈥檚 product or service to them,鈥� McIlroy said. 鈥淭hey dress the part, travel to company offices, and pitch to executives. By the end of the day they鈥檝e had a real-world sales experience, meeting the people they鈥檇 be working for.鈥澨�

Participants have sold everything from cybersecurity software to waste management services, sharpening their ability to uncover client needs and tailor solutions. Leadership opportunities abound, as PSG members can serve as team leads or executives, managing peers while refining their own skills.听

Travis Kierstead 鈥�26, a business administration finance major and president of PSG, embodies the program鈥檚 progression. He started competing as a first-year student and now leads the organization, mentoring others while interning with SportsVisio, a sports AI technology company.听

鈥淧SG taught me to get comfortable in uncomfortable situations,鈥� Kierstead says. "Whether it's walking into a room, talking to someone I don't know, or pitching an idea, every time I do it, whether I win or lose, I learn something and get better for the next time." 听听

Natalie Ferland 鈥�26, a communications major and PSG executive vice president, echoes the sentiment.听

鈥淢y first event was the Speed Sell, and it was a little scary. But once I started making finals, I thought I could do this and be good at it. That鈥檚 when I got hooked. I hadn鈥檛 found something at school that I truly loved until then,鈥� says Ferland, who serves as executive vice president of PSG and recently completed an internship at BitSight. 听 听

Ella Novak 鈥�26, a business administration marketing major and sales minor, says she鈥檚 already applying lessons from the program at her internship with John Galt Staffing 鈥� and even in her part-time restaurant job.听

鈥淲hen I joined PSG, I learned different selling techniques and how to build rapport,鈥� says Novak, who serves as vice president of marketing for PSG. 鈥淚 found myself upselling more at work and thought, 鈥榃ait 鈥� I learned that in class!鈥欌�澨�

Building for the Future听

The UNH Sales Center recently attained full membership in the University Sales Center Alliance (USCA), strengthening its national profile. Theis the top-ranked minor at Paul College and consistently ranks among the top five minors at UNH, McIlroy notes. While many participants are business students, the program attracts students from communications, sports management, health management and policy, English, and psychology 鈥� reflecting its interdisciplinary appeal.听

The program鈥檚 continued success relies heavily on its alumni network, with graduates returning to campus to sponsor competitions, mentor current students, and share their experiences, creating a powerful cycle of support that extends well beyond graduation.听

For Hawkinson, those lessons endure both professionally and personally.听

鈥淪ales teaches you how to connect with people, and it starts with asking open-ended questions,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something drilled into us in PSG, and I even use it socially 鈥� just asking about someone鈥檚 life and getting them talking. People always say I鈥檓 easy to talk to, but really, I just enjoy getting to know them.鈥澨�

Those interested in learning more or getting involved with UNH Sales can visit for more information.