“It’s all about building relationships,” said Kim Grimes, a professor in the Business Sales and Marketing program at Loyalist. “In order to succeed in the business world our graduates must have the confidence to sell themselves and convince employers of their ability to achieve the organization’s objectives. We help them develop into professionals who understand the importance of maintaining the trust and respect of those they interact with on a daily basis — employers and clients alike.”
Andrea Maybee has worked on numerous provincial sporting events since graduating in 2009, including Tennis Canada and the Rogers Cup. She is currently with the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League as an event coordinator for the 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup. “The Business Sales and Marketing program gave me the chance to network with industry professionals, gaining knowledge in the classroom and through practical community projects. I learned to present myself as a professional. In my constantly changing roles I interact with numerous individuals, continually expanding my network of contacts and solidifying an ever-expanding career.”
“The relationships that I have built, and continue to build, with residents and businesses in this community make me excited to go to work every day,” said Elisha Maguire, Economic Development Officer, Township of Stirling-Rawdon. “I look forward to planning events that attract people to our community and to working with young people — developing projects and initiatives to make the community more youth-oriented. I first came here as an intern when I graduated in the spring of 2007 and was offered this position in August of that year.”
“I never realized how sales applied to the non-profit sector until I started working here,” explained Andie (Andrea) Camolese, Campaign Manager, Communications and Special Events, United Way of Quinte. “The role plays we did in the program were key to overcoming the fear of calling a stranger and asking for something — a meeting, assistance or a donation. The faculty taught us how to sell intangibles and I use those skills on a daily basis. There is no typical day — sometimes I’m designing posters and updating the website in combination with a range of social media updates on Facebook and blogging — some days include cold and warm calls to local businesses for event support — and others are spent meeting with CEOs and GMs for upcoming initiatives. My internship played a huge role in joining the staff here at the United Way. This incredibly interactive opportunity allowed me to showcase my skills to a potential employer and show my openness to learn more about the organization — sort of a four-week interview. Without the internship I don’t believe I would have explored the non-profit world and realized how much I love it.”
Program coordinator Brad Baragar discussed the varied career paths that graduates pursue. “Every business, industry and service is supported by sales and marketing. Our graduates are entering each of these sectors and discovering exciting, lucrative and fulfilling careers. We encourage them to try a variety of work placements to sample a wide range of areas. Whether they’re selling products, services or intangibles — the potential is limitless.”
Click to learn about the Business Sales and Marketing program.