Hokie Excellence on the National Stage: Virginia Tech’s Professional Sales Team Shines Across Competition Circuit
By Ava Raughley
December 2, 2025
This fall semester, Virginia Tech’s Professional Sales Team continues to make us proud, earning top finishes at three major collegiate sales competitions. Guided by Coaches Brian Collins and Mark Michalisin and competing against more than 100 universities and nearly 500 students nationwide, the team consistently demonstrates the prestige, professionalism, and drive that define Hokie excellence.
From a virtual, national challenge in Pittsburgh, to the competitive international stage in Orlando, to an inaugural event, hosted by our very own Brian Collins in partnership with global industry leaders in Las Vegas, read below to see just how brightly these Virginia Tech students shined on every level.
Steel City Sales Challenge, Duquesne University
17 Schools – 150+ competitors
The semester began with impressive results at the 9th Annual Steel City Sales Challenge, where 14 Hokies represented our Professional Sales Team in the Role Play and Speed Sell events.
- Michaela Scott- 1st place in the Role Play Competition
- Phoenix Brown advanced to the finals in the Speed Sell Competition
International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC), Orlando, Florida
80 schools - 467 competitors
Next, Virginia Tech traveled to Orlando for the International Collegiate Sales Competition (ICSC), one of the largest and most prestigious collegiate sales competitions in the world. Over the span of four days, the event hosted role play competitions, coaching sessions, networking events, and team-based evaluations for the elite group of student competitors.
- Eva Carney advanced to the third round of the Role Play Competition
- John (Jack) Spurlin and Saif Zaidi earned spots in the semifinals of the Sales Case Study Competition.
As a team, Virginia Tech placed 11th overall and 16th in Role Play, highlighting our school’s strong performance and depth of talent in the program.
Global Collegiate Sales Competition (GCSC) , Las Vegas, Nevada
10 schools - 40 competitors
The Professional Sales Team had a remarkable finish to the semester at the inaugural Global Collegiate Sales Competition (GCSC), held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in conjunction with the ISSA Show North America.
Competing against top programs across the country, Virginia Tech’s first all-female sales team delivered one of the strongest performances of the entire year.
- Emily Grimaldi -1st Place Overall in the Role Play Competition
- Kelly Mollenauer - 3rd Place Overall in Role Play
- Ellie Swain - 2nd Place Overall in the Speed Sell
Supported by student coach Eva Carney and student assistants Erica Springer and Ava Raughley, the team demonstrated confidence and preparation in a uniquely demanding setting. Held on the busy ISSA trade show floor, the competition placed students directly in front of sales leaders, exhibitors, and industry partners.
A huge congratulations to our students and coaches for an outstanding semester of national accomplishments. The future of Virginia Tech’s Professional Sales Program is brighter than ever, and we can’t wait to see where their hard work leads next.
A Milestone for Virginia Tech’s Sales Program
Following the team’s success, the GCSC also represented a milestone for Virginia Tech’s Sales Program. The event was created and executed by Professors Brian Collins and Mark Michalisin, who collaborated closely with Informa Markets and the ISSA leadership team to pioneer the first collegiate sales competition integrated into a major global industry expo. Their work brought together students, faculty, and professionals in a real-world sales environment, showcasing the innovation and partnership that continue to elevate Virginia Tech’s national presence in sales education.
The competition was supported by key industry partners, including Ed Nichols, Director of ISSA Show North America at Informa Markets, and Paul Treanor, Senior Conference Manager at Informa.
VT coaches Brian Collins and Mark Michaelson connected with Nichols and Treanor throughout the event, demonstrating the strong partnership behind this year’s GCSC. The program also featured remarks from Mark Hughes, Vice President of Sales for Informa Markets, Jon Adkins, Executive Vice President for ISSA, and Kevin Thornton, Senior Vice President at Informa Markets, who addressed all competing teams throughout the competition
The Role Play Competition challenges students to step into a real-world selling scenario, navigating buyer needs, objections, and closing strategies, while the Speed Sell tests their ability to deliver a concise, high-impact elevator pitch under pressure.