The University of Tampa honored SAE-Florida Chi Brother Mike Southard ('82) and his wife Amy ('82) with a 3-page article in the Winter 2025 issue of the University of Tampa Journal; the official alumni magazine for UTampa.
The story centered around The Southard Insititute for Sales Excellence, as the Institute prepare students for careers by teaching students crucial communication skills. The Southard Institute for Sales Excellence in the Sykes College of Business, was recently named for Mike and Amy Southard, longtime donors to UTampa.
"Confidence is the key," said Zack Pedroso ('21), a recruiter for Harness, a company that provides fundraising software to nonprofits. "If you can't sell yourself, if you can't tell a story about why you're cool and why you deserve the opportunity, then you probably won't be able to sell software, services or products."
Mike Southard recently interviewed some UTampa sales students with his private investment firm, Elvisridge Capital. The applicants were all "very, very impressive," he said. Southard, who spent much of his career selling landscape lighting products, doesn't consider himself a naturial salesperson - "not at all." But he knows one when he sees one. Well dressed. Well spoken. Curious.
UTampa didn't have a sales program when Southard was in school, and that's partly why he decided to support the program in such a big way. "I ended up in sales, never thinking I would," he said. "And I never had anything like this, but you need to train and learn it."
According to to the Sales Educational Foundation, 60% of college business students begin their careers in an entry level sales position. If they are a marketing major, that percentage goes up to 88%. "And so, we wanted to make sure that our students are set up to be successfu, especially in that first career out of school." said Stacy Schetzsle, Director of the Southard Institute for Sales Excellence.
Congratulations to Brother Southard and his wife Amy on another great accomplishment. We appreciate the dedication to your family, fraternity and UTampa.
Author credit: Neumann, Holly, "The Anatomy of Sales," University of Tampa Journal, Winter 2025 Issue, pages 46-48.
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