Sales Advisory Board

Board members advise faculty on current issues in professional selling, assist in developing a plan for expanding employer partnerships, provide feedback on student preparation, and guide the design of employer outreach programs, as well as support student sales career education programming.

Board Chair

  • Tim Austin

  • Tim Austin

    Chief Revenue Officer
    GoodJob

    Tim Austin is a sales and marketing professional with more than 25 years of experience. Mr. Austin has been involved with the sales program since its inception and graduated from Kent State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in business management. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University in 2000.

Board Members

  • Kimberly Embick

  • Kimberly Embick

    University Recruiter
    Gartner

    Ms. Embick serves as a recruiter for the world’s leading research and advisory firm and has held roles in client services as well as global learning and development. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and holds a Master of Science in Management degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is passionate about offering career coaching and helping students learn about professional sales. 

     

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  • Dustin Fowler

    City Manager South
    Sherwin-Williams, Mid-Western Division

     

     

  • Eric Jones

  • Eric Jones

    Senior University Relations Manager
    Rock Central

    Mr. Jones is part of the University Relations team that focuses on university partnerships and recruiting the best talent from campus to Rocket Companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

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  • Emily Kadas

    Recruitment Specialist
    Park Place Technologies

     

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  • Daniel Kane

    Business Manager III
    Curbell Plastics, Inc.

     

  • Randall Keller

  • Randall J. Keller

    Lifetime Financial Growth

    Mr. Keller has been a financial advisor for more than a decade. He is a longtime entrepreneur, and in addition to his financial advising practice, he owns several other businesses and real estate investment properties. In 2008, he graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in business management.

  • Nina Lafko

  • Nina Lafko

    Campas Recruiter
    Park Place Technologies

    Nina is the Campus Recruiter at Park Place Technologies, where she has been supporting early talent initiatives for the past 1.5 years. She is passionate about building connections with students and is dedicated to guiding emerging talent toward exciting opportunities.

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  • Audrey Litten

    Director of Recruitment
    Northwestern Mutual

     

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  • Molly Phelps

    Administration & Training
    Fastenal

    Ms. Phelps sources and selects outstanding talent for her organization. She graduated from Kent State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in managerial marketing. 

     

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  • Emily Schwarber

    Talent Acquisition Specialist
    Enterprise Holdings

     

     

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  • Josh Smith

    Tom James Company 

    Mr. Smith graduated from Kent State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in business management. His career with custom clothing provider Tom James has spanned more than two decades.

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  • Andrew Trotter

    District Manager
    Fastenal

    Andrew Trotter is a District Manager for Fastenal Company covering the greater Northeast, Ohio market.  Andrew has worked for Fastenal for 15 years after starting in a part time sales support role.  He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a major in Communication and a minor in both Business and Economics.

  • Matt Wagner profile pic.

  • Matt Wagner

    Vice President, Sales & Marketing
    Jarrett

    Matt Wagner has over 20 years of sales leadership, business development and marketing experience. He is responsible for leading the sales and marketing departments at Jarrett Logistics which includes setting the strategy and managing the execution of developing new business to grow the organization. Mr. Wagner has been recognized as a Pro to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and a Food Logistics Champion by Food Logistics. He graduated from Ashland University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as a Marketing major and Business Management minor. 

 

KSU Faculty & Staff

  • Ellen Daniels

  • Ellen Daniels 

    Sales Program Coordinator
    Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

  • Haithem Zourrig

  • Haithem Zourrig, Ph.D.

    Chair
    Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

  • Kelly Knapp-Blay

  • Kelly Blay

     Associate Lecturer
    Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

  • Tom Hoffman

  • Tom Hoffman

    Senior Director of Advancement
    Kent State University College of Business Administration

  • Member not pictured

  • Eric Kennerk

    Adjunct Professor 
    Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

  • Don Thacker

  • Don Thacker

    Senior Lecturer
    Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Interested in joining our Sales Advisory Board?

Please contact Ellen Daniels: edaniels@kent.edu

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