The Poole College of Management is excited to announce the new Sales Excellence Certificate available to all Poole majors.
The Sales Excellence Certificate prepares students for a successful career in sales and other client-facing business roles through an innovative combination of coursework, hands-on experiences, and direct engagement with industry professionals. It is also designed in a way that fits naturally into a sales-focused student’s course load.
Thanks to the support of founding corporate partner Sonic Automotive, Inc. students in the Sales Excellence Certificate will also have access to mentors, workshops and recruiting events that enhance the certificate experience and introduce them to career paths in business development, consulting, account management, sales management and customer success.
“A Sales Excellence Certificate gives graduating seniors a competitive advantage by demonstrating practical, job-ready sales skills beyond their academic degree,” says Tom Byrnes, faculty director of the Sales Excellence Certificate and professor of practice in marketing. “It signals to employers that they understand the sales process, customer engagement, communication, and relationship building — while showing initiative and a commitment to launching a successful career in sales.”
Students pursuing the certificate will complete four courses that provide a foundation in marketing while building practical skills in professional selling, sales strategy and leadership.
Jacqueline Willis, who graduated from Poole College in May 2026 and now works as a sales development representative at Relay, says the skills she gained in one of the certificate’s required courses have already proven valuable in her career.
“Professional Selling was a phenomenal class that deep down was really about negotiation,” Willis says. “That’s a skill that comes in handy every single week in my job.”
Students will also compete in two sales competitions and join the NC State Sales Club, attending four club-sponsored events each academic year. These events offer opportunities for networking, career preparation and professional development.
“Professional Selling was a phenomenal class that deep down was really about negotiation. That’s a skill that comes in handy every single week in my job.”
Jacqueline Willis (’26)
B.S., Business Administration
This certificate program originated at Texas Christian University, who have been offering it successfully for almost a decade, inspiring a handful of other universities to start offering their own versions. NC State was specifically sought out by Sonic Automotive to launch it on the East Coast to support training and mentoring the next generation of sales professionals.
“This certificate resulted from both student requests as well as demand from our business community,” Byrnes says. “Having been in sales/sales management for quite a bit of my career at IBM, I can truly attest to the value that this certificate will provide.”
The priority application is due Oct. 16, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Completion of the certificate will be reflected on one’s transcript.
For more than 60 years, Sonic Automotive has pursued a single purpose: to deliver an experience for our guests and our teammates that fulfills dreams, enriches lives, and delivers happiness. We don’t simply sell and service vehicles. We help people pursue their dreams, whether it’s a guest purchasing their first vehicle, a family creating lifelong memories, or teammate building a meaningful career.
Founded in 1966 by Bruton Smith, the company has grown into a Fortune 300 company under the leadership of Chairman and CEO David B. Smith. Today, more than 11,000 teammates bring the company’s purpose to life across a nationwide network of 173 automotive and powersports franchises in 145 locations in 90 cities and 21 states. We are proud to represent 24 automotive and 15 powersports brands and have helped more than 7 million guests purchase vehicles, delivered over 40 million service experiences, and earned more than 1 million 5-star reviews by consistently putting people first.
At Sonic Automotive, we believe trust isn’t claimed — it’s earned through transparency, consistency, integrity, and genuine care. That’s why we were the only automotive and powersports retailer recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies in 2026. As the automotive and powersports industries continue to evolve, our mission remains constant: to innovate, lead with integrity, and create exceptional experiences that inspire confidence, build lifelong relationships, and positively impact every life we touch.
