One-third of students graduating from an Iowa public four-year university are likely to leave the state to begin their careers, according to an Iowa Workforce Development college student survey. Pella Corporation and Vermeer Corporation are joining forces with Iowa State University to keep graduates in Iowa and prepare them for a career in sales.

The two manufacturers are sponsoring the university’s Ivy Sales Forum, a collaboration between academia and industry organizations – a first program of its kind in Iowa. Director of the Project Raj Agnihotri (ag-knee-hoe-tree) says the professional sales certificate program is open to any major at Iowa State University, and through the Ivy College of Business, is designed to provide students with industry-based case studies and experience.

Research studies suggest that approximately 80 percent of marketing majors accept a sales position upon graduation and notably, 60 percent of all business students will take a job with at least some sales-related duties after graduation.

The two corporations are doing more than just sponsoring the forum, they’re getting involved too. Commercial business manager at Vermeer Corporation Austen Bonnema spent time with the students teaching concepts and getting the students on Vermeer equipment to help demonstrate the entire sales cycle.

“This partnership is a valuable opportunity to support up-and-coming sales leaders and introduce them to our organization. The program teaches students the personal skills of knowing how to connect with people but also goes into the technical aspects of developing long-term business partner relationships. It’s exciting to help them develop their sales skills and share the many opportunities a role in sales can lead to within Vermeer,” said Bonnema.

Hear more about how Pella and Vermeer are collaborating with the Ivy Sales Program on today’s In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard.