UNM Anderson student takes top prize at National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship, teammates reach Sweet 16

UNM Anderson School of Management graduate student Kiana Alvarez took first place in the National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship, Corporate Partnerships division. The final round was held recently in Atlanta, Ga., and hosted by the Atlanta Hawks in State Farm Arena.

Alvarez, who is pursuing her MBA, beat out competitors from 32 schools nationwide to take first place in her division. In addition, UNM Anderson teammates Shelby Rasmussen and Than Ngo made it to the Sweet 16 in the Ticket Sales division.

"I've always loved live sports and wanted to understand the business side of it, and this seemed like a perfect way to learn while challenging myself," Alvarez said.

The team was coached by leadership from New Mexico United: Tyler Ortega, director of ticketing; Clint Gray, vice president of business development; and Ron Patel, president. Professor Dimitri Kapelianis sponsored participation in this competition through the UNM Anderson's Center for Sales & Business Development.

"I'm so proud of Kiana winning the National Championship in the very first sales competition that she has ever contested. This achievement speaks to her incredible natural talent and skill, but also highlights the grit and determination with which she trained. She was assisted by great coaching from the leadership of New Mexico United, especially Clint Gray," said Kapelianis.

"We at New Mexico United are so proud of Kiana and the entire UNM team. These students spent countless hours of their personal time and approached this process with open minds and open hearts. Today they are champions, and they've earned every bit of that," Gray said.

"I'm so thankful to my coach, Clint Gray, who dedicated so much of his personal time to helping me build confidence and navigate conversations with new buyers. This competition was an opportunity to push myself and develop skills I didn't know I had. I never imagined it would lead to a win, but now I see this as a path I could genuinely explore," said Alvarez.

The National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship is an opportunity to showcase sports sales skills in a competitive format. Recruiters, typically inside sales managers, serve as buyers in a role-play competition. Students pitch a product to buyers, and judges score their performance. As students advance in the bracket, they attract the attention of recruiters. The purpose of the competition is for students to land jobs, so time is allotted throughout the event for interviews and interacting with recruiters.

This recognition exemplifies the UNM Anderson School of Management's strategic focus on a transformative student experience that goes beyond the classroom, enabling every Anderson student to gain valuable skills and prepare them for successful careers. Anderson's Center for Sales & Business Development facilitates student participation in numerous national and regional competitions each year, paving the way for such personal and professional development. Alvarez' win in this competition is the second in four years by a UNM Anderson student; Mark Hernandez, MBA '23, received the top prize in 2021.

For more information on the UNM Center for Sales and Development, including opportunities to support or recruit developing sales talent, email [email protected].