Creating Opportunities

Regions Bank Supports Marketing Sales Center

Scott Hinkle with Sales Certificate Program students   Matt Monte and Nick Hogan

Increasing the strength of a longstanding relationship, Regions Bank is partnering with the UAB School of Business to support the newly created UAB Sales Certificate Program. The program offers students a means to distinguish themselves as committed professionals in sales and customer service regardless of major.

Through the certificate program, students receive intensive professional sales instruction that involves academic course work and out-of-class professional development activities that count for as much as 20 hours of undergraduate academic credit. Networking events are an important aspect of the program and provide an opportunity for students and UAB business partners, such as Regions Bank, to get to know each other before the students graduate. Students gain valuable insight through opportunities such as sales internships, mentoring by professionals, and job-shadowing experiences provided on a year-round basis.

“Regions chose to support the Sales Certificate Program because we shared the school’s enthusiasm for this unique program,” says Scott Hinkle, senior vice president and consumer sales manager at Regions Bank. “We also knew that this would be investing in our future because hopefully some of the future graduates will be joining our bank. I think the students will benefit because it is usually difficult to gain this type of insight into a sales environment until you are actually hired. Also, the students will have the opportunity to mentor with some of the best sales professionals in the area.”

Building on the UAB Sales Certificate Program, the recently approved Center for Sales Leadership will provide professional sales training beyond the classroom to business professionals from a range of companies throughout the region. The center will offer the same style of sales training but to current business professionals who want to upgrade their skills or who need to learn the latest tools and trends in professional selling.

“We are very grateful for the support that Regions Bank has provided,” says Karen Kennedy, Ph.D., associate dean of the School of Business and director of the UAB Center for Sales Leadership. “This donation allows us to provide opportunities for students outside the normal classroom. For example, last year we were able to host an etiquette dinner where students practiced the skills all professional salespeople need when entertaining clients. Opportunities such as these help the students gain confidence as they approach the professional world, and the students are appreciative to Regions for this support.”

Maintaining the Momentum / Summer 2010