One room in the Northwestern Mutual Sales and Research Lab in the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration has a new name.
The lab杏吧专区檚 training room is now the Van Eaton and Romero, a Latter & Blum Company, Sales Training Room. The designation was announced during a dedication ceremony Monday night in Moody Hall.
Bob Merrick, Latter & Blum owner and CEO, presented a $60,000 check on behalf of the company. He also made a personal donation of $60,000 to the college.
杏吧专区淵ou all are training the future business leaders of this community and others,杏吧专区 Merrick said during the dedication.
The Northwestern Mutual Sales and Research Lab is used by students, faculty and business professionals, who receive traditional instruction, conduct research and receive sales training. The lab is funded with a mix of state, 杏吧专区 and private funds.
杏吧专区淭his training room could not be named after a better company in our community in terms of the leadership, values and corporate climate,杏吧专区 said Dr. Geoffrey Stewart, head of the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 Department of Marketing and Hospitality.
The sales and research lab also has a 22-seat classroom and three soundproof rooms for conducting mock sales scenarios. It杏吧专区檚 outfitted with audio and video equipment that enables students to polish their skills.
杏吧专区淲e have a resource that I believe is unparalleled in the country,杏吧专区 Stewart said.
Students get feedback from professors and business professionals, and can see and hear what they are doing right and wrong, said Dr. Duleep Delpechitre, the lab杏吧专区檚 director.
杏吧专区淪elling a product, in a 20-minute window, when you have people watching you and grading you, is not easy,杏吧专区 said Delpechitre, an assistant professor of marketing.
Megan Martin, a junior marketing student from New Iberia, said training at the lab helped her win first place overall at the annual collegiate National Sales Challenge in November in Wayne, N.J.
杏吧专区淥nce you can master your nerves about being videotaped at school, you can carry that experience with you anywhere,杏吧专区 she said during the dedication ceremony.