About Us
History
What is the Thurmond School of Professional Sales and Negotiations?
The Thurmond School of Professional Sales and Negotiations was created from the generous donation of Dick Thurmond. A core mission of the Thurmond School of Professional Sales and Negotiations is to provide access to negotiation skills education in underserved Hampton Roads communities. His vision is to empower women through negotiations and we have made his vision central to our core mission.
Who do we serve?
The Thurmond School of Professional Sales and Negotiations serves four communities: (1) The local community, (2) Old Dominion University students, (3) Business professionals, and (4) academic scholars of negotiations and interpersonal selling. In addition to college courses, we offer corporate education programs customized to business professionals and general community education programs available to anyone. Additionally, we host events like the ODU Sales Slam Competition that provide students with hands-on sales practice. Finally, we promote and disseminate research related to the Lab’s mission.
Faculty
AARON ARNDT
Aaron D. Arndt (Ph.D. – University of Oklahoma) has been at Old Dominion University since August, 2008. His primary research interests are personal selling, sales management, retailing and negotiations. He has published over 30 research articles in journals such as the Journal of Retailing, Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, the Journal of Business Research and the International Journal of Research in Marketing. He has won several awards for his research and teaching. His research on customer stereotypes about service providers has been featured in the Virginia Pilot and Hearsay with Cathy Lewis.
GINA FRECH
Gina French (MBA – Virginia Tech) joined Old Dominion University in August 2019. Most recently she worked at the College of Business at Virginia Tech for 8 years and her experience includes teaching, creating a women’s student organization, leadership on the women’s initiative, working with numerous advisory boards and university committees, and working in collaboration with the Dean on college initiatives and strategy. Previously she worked in sales for 10 years and was a multiple award winner, regional trainer, and mentor to new hires. Her role at the Thurmond School of Professional Sales and Negotiations combines her strengths and passions to provide resources to students and the community.
DESTINY RONEY
ONLINE MANAGER
Destiny Roney became a student at ODU in August 2019 and is majoring in English with a minor in Marketing. She is currently an intern at CMRubinWorld and is pursuing a career in Marketing. With the help of working at the lab, she builds upon her interest in Digital Marketing and Creative Management.
ODU’s Academic Sales Program
ODU offers a professional sales concentration as part of the Marketing Major
Consider a professional sales concentration in marketing if you:
• Want to improve your skills in persuasion, interpersonal communications, and negotiations
• Are interested in selling products, services, or ideas
• Enjoy hands-on learning
• Want easier access to high paying jobs in professional selling
Our resources for you:
• An advisory board of sales professionals looking to coach and hire our students
• A faculty committed to a philosophy of “learning through doing”
• A dedicated budget for improving the sales program and the PSE
Test drive the professional sales concentration by taking MKTG 316: Professional Selling (Prerequisites: C or better in ENGL 110C or ENGL 126C)
To learn more about the professional sales concentration go to: https://www.odu.edu/academics/programs/undergraduate/professional-sales