New Sales Hall of Fame Honorees Help Raise Profile of Sales Profession
Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the free enterprise system through leadership and demonstrated expertise in the areas of selling, marketing, or business leadership. Honorees are business executives who have played a major role in founding or leading a company and have demonstrated their belief in the value of sales and marketing disciplines in that success.
The induction banquet is held in Oklahoma City each year, and includes a panel discussion with the honorees to draw out their conclusions on topics related to their success and the challenges they have overcome. The promotion of this event helps to raise awareness of the sales and marketing profession and communicates the elements essential for personal and corporate achievement.
The 2005 Honorees are:
Ambassador of Free Enterprise and Keynote Speaker for Induction Banquet:
Clifton Taulbert, President, The Building Community Institute, a noted speaker and Pulitzer nominated author for "The Last Train North”.
Pinnacle Award Honorees:
- Earl Graves Earl G. Graves Publishing, Founder and Publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine and listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the nation’s most powerful Black executives;
- Stanley Hupfeld, CEO, Integris Health, Oklahoma’s largest not-for-profit health care organization
- John H. Patterson, Founder, NCR (posthumous award); John H. Patterson’s sales management techniques built National Cash Register into the dominant force in its industry and had a major impact on the development of modern selling.
- John Sykes, Chairman, Sykes Enterprises, Inc. SYKES is a global leader in providing customer contact management solutions and services in the business process outsourcing (BPO) arena.
The 2005 Honorees will be recognized at a special induction Gala Banquet in Oklahoma City on April 9th, as part of the 16th annual SMEI Academy of Achievement event. While corporate America is being scrutinized, it is refreshing to see individuals with integrity being recognized for their leadership and contribution.
