The 2011 Warm-Up top three salespersons l-r: Joseph Turek, Illinois State University (2nd Runner-Up); Monica Bohl, UW-La Crosse (Overall Champion); Spencer Anderson, Baylor University (1st Runner-Up)

UW-La Crosse, Baylor and Illinois State U take top honors at 2011 Warm-Up

Forty-eight college students from sixteen schools in nine states competed for cash prizes and title of top salesperson at the fifth University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up. The event was held November 10–12, 2011 on the UW-Eau Claire campus.

Congratulations to all students who participated in the competition.

» View student competitors

Monica Bohl, UW-La Crosse, was named 2011 Overall Champion. She was awarded a trophy, a $1,000 custom suit from Tom James, and a $1,500 cash award. Bohl was coached by Ms. Susan Whitewater and Dr. Kristy McManus.

Spencer Anderson, Baylor University, was named first runner-up. He received a trophy and $1,000 cash award. Anderson was coached by Dr. Andrea Dixon.

Joseph Turek, Illinois State University, was named second runner-up. He received a trophy and $750 cash prize. Turek was coached by Dr. Tim Longfellow.

The highest scoring individual from each participating school, excluding the top overall winners, was named "school champion". The following school champions received a trophy and $150 cash prize:

• Aurora University (Aurora, Il): Derek Cooper
• Ball State University (Muncie, IN): Kyle Thoden
• Baylor University (Waco, TX): Mark Crouse
• Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN): Christopher Smith
• Illinois State University (Normal, IL): Jennifer Mankowsky
• Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS): Monica Klawuhn
• North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND): Jesse Maier
• Minnesota State University, Mankato (Mankato, MN): Carmen Sook
• University of Louisville (Louisville, KY): Alison Hartrum
• University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA): Cris Houlihan
• University of St. Catherine (St. Paul, MN): Lizabeth Wemeier
• UW–Eau Claire (Eau Claire, WI): Breanna Begin
• UW-La Crosse (La Crosse, WI): Lindsey Sjobeck
• UW–Parkside (Kenosha, WI): Stephanie VanDerBunt
• UW–Stout (Menomonie, WI): Logan Woller
• UW-Whitewater (Whitewater, WI): Casey Klauck.

In addition, three UW-Eau Claire alumni and six corporate sponsors were honored at The Warm-Up. UW-Eau Claire alumni Brian Audette,'90, group vice president, Merchandising Transformation, SuperValu; Rebecca Krekelberg, '02, talent acquisition manager, Enterprise Holdings; and Kurt Mueller, '79, senior vice president, planning and support, Hormel Consumer Products Sales, Hormel Foods were singled out for their leadership. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hormel Foods, Larson Companies, Liberty Mutual, Northwestern Mutual Life—The Bohannon Group, and SuperValu were recognized as five-year sponsors of The Warm-Up.

The Warm-Up wishes to thank the following companies and individuals for supporting this year's events: Altria Group, Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hormel Foods, Robert Erffmeyer & Gretchen Hutterli, Graybar, Huebsch Services, Inland Label, J.J. Keller & Associates, Larson Companies, Liberty Mutual, Michael K. Schulze, SuperValu, Northwestern Mutual—The Bohannon Group, Sherwin-Williams, TEKsystems, Thomson Reuters, and Tom James.

Next year's Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up will be held November 8-10, 2012. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Erffmeyer, director, UW-Eau Claire Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up at erffmerc@uwec.edu or visit the competition's website at www.uwec.edu/cob/sales.