Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, continuing its support of Arizona State University by serving as a sponsor of the school’s annual Arizona Collegiate Sales Competition. The exclusive sales competition, featuring students from 14 universities, saw Canon executives meet with students to impart knowledge and expertise before participating as judges for the event that took place Feb. 20-22.
Peter P. Kowalczuk, Canon U.S.A., Inc.’s executive vice president and Client Services Group president, provided the keynote address for the event and was engaged as an evaluator for the contest. Representatives from Canon’s sales, human resources, sales training, business development, managed services, and business process services groups also served as judges.
Students were grouped into teams to create marketing presentations based on a real-world example of a large organization undergoing a restructuring, with a focus on a few key divisions within the company. Additionally, the competition featured a sales role-playing scenario in which the names of real companies and colleges were used, but the information provided was fictitious for the purposes of the exercise.
“The annual sales competition at Arizona State University serves as an excellent avenue for students to learn from industry professionals, hone their skills, and build on their educational experience,” Kowalczuk said. “We appreciate the opportunity the university has afforded Canon to share our expertise and knowledge with the next generation of sales professionals, and we’re looking forward to further collaboration in the future.”
Canon executives, including Masato Mori, senior vice president, Business Innovation Group, were provided a tour of the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in Mesa, Arizona. The MIX Center is a laboratory for advanced media technologies and media production, a platform for game development, and a driving force for entrepreneurial solutions.
“I appreciated the opportunity to tour the MIX Center and speak with the Arizona State representatives,” Mori said. “The university continues to play a vital role in developing future sales and marketing leaders, and it was a valuable experience to see the resources ASU is providing to prepare students for a rapidly changing future.”
Molly Chrisman, a marketing major with a concentration in professional sales at Arizona State, said the event provided a unique way to gain practical experience.
“The Arizona Collegiate Sales Competition was an incredible opportunity for me,” Chrisman said. “ACSC was a very rewarding experience, as it challenged me to think quickly and adapt my sales approach. Being able to compete alongside individuals from different universities was inspiring and gave me the chance to learn from them. This unique experience reinforced my passion for sales, and I’m extremely grateful for the support of Canon and all the sponsors who made this event possible.”
