Two-day competition showcases emerging sales professionals to cleaning industry’s top brands and employers
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ISSA Show North America, the global event dedicated to the cleaning and facilities service industry, announces the return of the Global Collegiate Sales Competition (GCSC), presented by title sponsor Morcon Tissue and hosted in partnership with the Virginia Tech Sales Center.
Building on the momentum of last year’s successful inaugural event, the second annual competition will take place at this year’s show in Las Vegas (November 17-19, Mandalay Bay Convention Center), providing students with real-world sales scenarios, expert feedback, and invaluable opportunities to connect with leading brands in the industry.
Cultivating the Next Generation of Sales Professionals
The Global Collegiate Sales Competition is a groundbreaking initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of sales professionals in the cleaning industry. By connecting top sales students from leading universities with manufacturers and suppliers, the program provides real-world experience through competitive challenges, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and a platform to showcase skills and potential to prospective employers.
Over two dynamic days, 15 elite collegiate teams, representing 60 of the nation’s most promising sales students, will immerse themselves in the cleaning industry through:
- Dynamic Speed Selling Challenges that push creativity and persuasion to new heights
- Authentic Role-Play Scenarios featuring actual products and services from today’s market
- Career-Defining Networking with industry leaders and recruitment teams
The two-day format offers sponsors multiple touchpoints for brand integration, talent evaluation, and meaningful engagement with future sales professionals who will drive industry growth.
“The inaugural Global Collegiate Sales Competition exceeded our expectations, creating meaningful connections between emerging talent and industry leaders while showcasing dynamic career opportunities in the cleaning and facilities service sector,” says Ed Nichols, Show Director, ISSA Show North America. “This year, we are welcoming students from even more universities and sales programs across the country, providing incoming professionals with a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build relationships with top employers, and discover rewarding career paths. The enthusiasm and caliber of talent we witnessed last year proved that when you give students real-world exposure to our industry, they see the innovation, growth potential, and impact that makes this space so exciting.”
Competition Format
Day One: Qualifying Rounds
Teams will compete in Speed Selling and Role Play scenarios using sponsor products and solutions. Sponsors provide real products for hands-on demonstrations, allowing students to showcase their adaptability and sales methodologies. This format gives brands enhanced exposure, displaying their products and solutions to the entire attendee base.
Day Two: The Grand Finale
Finalists will present at the Robotics and Autonomous Cleaning Experience Theater on the show floor before industry leaders and attendees. Sponsor representatives will serve as judges, providing expert evaluation while gaining prime brand visibility during this high-profile event.
Participating Universities
The competition features top sales programs from across the nation, including:
- Ball State University
- Boise State University
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, Fullerton
- Florida State University
- Idaho State University
- Slippery Rock University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Alabama
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- University of New Mexico
- University of Southern California
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Virginia Tech
- Weber State University
“We are proud to once again serve as the leading sponsor of the Global Collegiate Sales Competition. As a family-owned and operated company, Morcon understands the importance of investing in people, building lasting relationships, and creating opportunities for future generations. We believe investing in the next generation of sales professionals is an investment in the future of our entire industry. This competition gives students the opportunity to step beyond the classroom, tackle real-world challenges, and build relationships with the manufacturers, distributors, and industry leaders who will help shape their careers. We are excited to provide these talented students with a platform to showcase their abilities and, hopefully, inspire them to pursue careers within our industry. We look forward to continuing our work with the ISSA Show and Virginia Tech to develop the next generation of sales professionals.” – Jason Saunders, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Morcon Tissue
“When we created the Global Collegiate Sales Competition, our goal was to build an industry partnership that would make a lasting impact on professional sales students while creating meaningful value for employers. Our partnership with the ISSA Show has exceeded expectations. Last year, students gained valuable connections with industry mentors and left the competition with a renewed sense of excitement about the career opportunities available to them. The competition’s 50% growth in just one year is a powerful testament to its success and to the cleaning industry’s commitment to developing and investing in the next generation of sales professionals.” – Brian K. Collins, Director of the Sales and Marketplace Center and Professional Sales Competition Team Director at Virginia Tech
Beyond the Competition
Student participants are invited to the opening networking reception, where they can meet suppliers, manufacturers, and conference speakers, and connect with leading brands in cleaning, sanitation, and facility management, all under one roof.
Companies signed up to exhibit include Clorox Purell ProCare, Dial Professional, Diversey, Ecolab, Inc., Kimberly-Clark Professional, Karcher, Nilfisk, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Inc., SC Johnson Professional, Sofidel, Spartan Chemical Co., Inc., Staples Business Solutions, R3 Reliable Redistribution Resource, SupplyMaid, Tennant Co., Tork, an Essity Brand, Gausium and Sunbelt Rentals, among many others.
Registration for ISSA Show North America 2026 is now open. To register to attend, please visit www.issashow.com.
About ISSA Show North America
In partnership with ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, ISSA Show North America offers an unmatched conference program featuring over 100 education sessions, workshops, panels, training and certification courses over four days. The event and the association are committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line.
For more information about ISSA Show North America, visit www.issashow.com. Follow ISSA Show North America on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
About ISSA
With more than 11,000 members-including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members-ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Informa Markets
Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com.
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