HPU Sales Students Showcase Their Talents During Speed Selling Competition
HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 29, 2026 – James DePorre, a senior majoring in sales, won High Point University’s 8th Annual Randy Moser Speed Selling Competition on Oct. 20.
Hosted by HPU’s Professional Selling Club, the speed selling competition is considered one of the signature events of the university’s three-day Sales Career Fair. During the competition, 31 students showcased their skills in two-minute presentations on why they were the best candidate for a high-stakes sales job to a panel of judges made up of corporate sales executives.
The judges included sales executives from well-known companies such Gartner, Amgen, Continental Tire, Darktrace and Mutual of Omaha. The competition is named in honor of the late Randy Moser, who joined the Earl N. Phillips School of Business in 2014 as an assistant professor of the practice in marketing.
The goal of the competition is for sales students to showcase their talent and give employers a prime source for recruiting highly motivated and qualified new sales talent according to Larry Quinn, professor of the practice of sales, chair of the Department of Sales and HPU’s Sales Professional in Residence.
“It is a blessing for us professors to be able to coach and walk this journey with our students and watch them grow,” said Quinn. “Recruiters who have come to build relationships with them agree it is a wonderful way to truly measure a students’ determination and courage as they face their fear and volunteer to step up and compete.”
DePorre won the competition by presenting to the judges about his extensive sales background that he has gained during his time at HPU. He spoke about contacting clients, generating leads, traveling with sales representatives and engaging in on-site negotiations as part of his internship this past summer with KEYENCE, a global leader in industrial automation and factory equipment.
DePorre also shared his experience producing more than $100,000 in sales while working at the High Point Market, considered one of the world’s largest home furnishings trade shows. Dozens of HPU students worked at the market this month, giving them a real-world experience in sales.
As the winner, DePorre received a trophy for winning the speed selling competition, and his name will be engraved on a plaque alongside a list of past winners. The plaque is located inside the Harris Sales Education Center in Cottrell Hall. DePorre said it was rewarding to win the competition after finishing in fourth place during previous competitions.
“My main reason for competing in the competition was to test my abilities in delivering a pitch,” said DePorre, who is originally from Anna Maria, Florida, but has lived in Hickory, North Carolina, for the past 15 years. “It meant a lot to me to win it because not only did it have more competitors than previous years, but since I’m a senior, this is my last opportunity to compete.”
Senior Ashley Inglis finished second in the competition, and sophomore Briar Little placed third.
“This was my third time competing, and every year it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged my communication skills, confidence and ability to perform under pressure,” Inglis wrote on LinkedIn. “What I value most about speed selling is the challenge of fitting a real, persuasive pitch into two short minutes. It pushes me to think quickly, speak with purpose and show how my experiences can be of value to the person across from me.”
Little, who is majoring in marketing and minoring in sales, said she spoke to the judges about the different organizations and experiences that she has been involved with at HPU. She then connected those experiences to what she was looking for in a summer internship.
“My main goal was to articulate clearly, communicate the value I could bring to a company and ultimately secure another meeting to discuss its summer internship program in more detail,” said Little, who is from Newport, North Carolina. “Getting to compete each semester has positively impacted my confidence when talking with high-level business professionals. It has also given me the opportunity to reflect on myself, recognize areas where I’ve grown and continue learning through each new experience.”
Little said she received encouraging feedback from a judge who is a sales executive with Mutual of Omaha. The judge had evaluated Little when she took part in the speed selling competition as a freshman and again this year, and the judge commented both times that she was surprised to learn that Little was not yet a senior.
“I take that as a huge compliment because it reflects how I present myself and the confidence and professionalism I’ve developed through these experiences,” Little said.
