West Virginia’s grit and determination run deep, and that spirit lives in the students who call West Virginia University home.

In recent years, that determination has turned the WVU Fastenal Sales Team from unranked to 8th in the country out of more than 100 schools.

That growth didn’t happen overnight. Supported and managed by the WVU Professional Sales Institute, each member of the Sales Team trains for more than 20 hours per week and faculty like Associate Professor Emily Tanner work with the student team to provide invaluable coaching.

Dr. Joseph Derby, Assistant Marketing Professor and the new Director of the Sales Institute, says one-on-one coaching has allowed students to hone their skills. 

“The type of selling that we’re teaching is face-to-face, whether it's virtual or in-person,” said Dr, Derby. “And those skills are learned through conversation. It’s not the type of thing you’d learn by reading a book — you learn by doing.”

Another key aspect of the team's growth can be attributed to its partnership with Fastenal, a major distributor of industrial and construction supplies 

Fastenal was the first financial supporter of the Sales Institute. Working together, Chambers and Fastenal have since built the world’s largest sales role-play competition.

Hosted annually by the Chambers College, the Fastenal National Sales Competition is a prestigious, multi-round sales role-playing tournament for college students. More than 900 students from all over the country practice real-life sales scenarios, receive coaching from Fastenal leaders, and compete for cash prizes, scholarships, and national recognition against peers from across the country.

In 2026, the competition will also include students from Canada and the Netherlands, making it an international affair. 

The competition is key to developing critical skills in professional selling, allowing the team members to showcase their skills to future employers.

According to instructors that work with the Sales Team, its members are getting high-paying jobs upon graduation, often seeing salaries from $75,000 to $100,000.

Evelynn Eisel, a Sales Team member and senior Marketing major with emphasis in Professional Sales, says the coaching and competitions have provided her with valuable experience that will help her in her career.

“This is probably the best opportunity I think that the Business School has to offer, especially with the training that we receive,” Eisel said.

Beyond the Fastenal National Sales Competition, the Sales Team travels across the country to continue sharpening its skills. They’ve earned opportunities to compete in Louisiana, California, Florida, and Rhode Island.

“These competitions have really trained me,” Eisel said. “I have an internship right now and I don’t think I would be as successful as I am in that if I didn’t have those competitions to help me with those one-on-one experiences with buyers.”

The Sales Team’s efforts are largely supported by volunteers, some of which are past team members who are now in professional sales roles thanks to their involvement in the program.

March 2026 group photo from California State University's Western States Collegiate Sales Competition in Chico, CA. Credit: WVU Fastenal Sales Team

As the Sales Institute program continued to grow, past organizers have worked to integrate sales education into the broader curriculum for all Chambers College students. That education includes the concept that sales is more about building relationships than it is about physically trying to sell something to someone.

“In the real world, that is one of the most important things,” Eisel said. “You’re not gonna get a sale if you don’t have that personal relationship. Our coach really emphasized that — building that relationship.”

That philosophy has guided the success of the Sales Institute. With continued growth ahead, it’s positioned to empower even more students to launch successful, relationship-driven careers through its core curriculum.

It will also prepare the WVU Fastenal Sales Team to continue achieving at a high level. Thanks to the professional expertise of faculty members at Chambers, the Sales Team has become a national leader in its field – an achievement that reflects the grit and determination of true Mountaineers. 

The best part about being ranked eighth in the nation, after all, is that there are seven more rungs to climb.

-WVU-

JC, EH, & AM 6/15/26

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jacob Comer
Senior Communications Specialist
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
jrcomer@mail.wvu.edu