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March 14, 2007
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CELEBRATION OF RUSS BERRIE’S PHILANTHROPIC LEGACY
-—Events planned for University’s Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales and the University’s Health and Wellness Center
In a unique celebration of the late Russ Berrie’s philanthropic legacy, William Paterson University in Wayne will join his other beneficiaries in a series of memorial events created to coincide with his birthday. The programs are being coordinated by the Russell Berrie Foundation.
Berrie established the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales at William Paterson in 2003 to help elevate the profession of sales with programs for students and working professionals.
“When I first met Russ Berrie, he described his longtime dream of creating a university-based institute that would provide the preeminent sales education program,” said Arnold Speert, president of William Paterson University.” His vision was to elevate the field of professional sales while providing younger people in the field with skills necessary to excel. It was his unselfish dedication to future generations that spurred his generous and transformational gift to William Paterson University.”
The Institute will hold a series of events from March 20 to 22 that coincide with its annual Sales Career Fair, held in the University’s 1600 Valley Road Building. During the Career Fair, students will be interviewing with business executives from more than 25 firms for full and part-time sales positions as well as internships.
A ceremony will be held during lunch each day at noon. Each day’s event will include live presentations as well as video presentations on Russ Berrie and his impact on the sales profession. Featured video presentations will include Scott Berrie, CEO of Scojo Vision and son of Russ Berrie, and Jim Madonna, CEO of Gund and a former senior vice president of sales and marketing at Russ Berrie and Company. Speakers will include Curts Cooke, consultant and former president of Russ Berrie and Company; Keith Schneider, former executive vice president of sales for Russ Berrie and Company; and Angelica Berrie, president of The Russell Berrie Foundation. Alumni and students of William Paterson’s professional sales degree program will also make short presentations on what the Russ Berrie Institute and the sales program have meant to them in terms of career path and opportunity. Speakers include Michael Filachek ’05, major account district manager, ADP Major Account Services; Dan Kraus ’06, account manager, Hess; and Michelle DiBella ’07, an intern at Hess who will begin a full-time sales position there following graduation.
“The Career Fair is a wonderful expression of what Russ was hoping the Russ Berrie Institute for Profesional Sales would do, namely elevate the profession of sales and encourage young people to pursue a career in sales,” says David Reid, executive director of the Russ Berrie Institute and a professor of sales at the University.
In addition, in recognition of Berrie’s philanthropic dedication to health issues, particularly diabetes, the William Paterson’s Health and Wellness Center will offer information on diabetes at its annual Women’s Health and Fitness Night on Tuesday. March 20 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in the Rec Center on campus. The event also features cholesterol and blood pressure screening, nutrition information, fitness assessments, stress management and more; men are welcome. Diabetes screening will be available throughout the week at the Health and Wellness Center on campus; appointments are required. Students can contact the Health and Wellness Center at 973-720-2360. Also, a Diabetes Awareness Table, staffed by professionals from the Health and Wellness Center as well as student peer health advocates, will be set up on March 22 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in the Atrium lobby on campus.
The Russ Berrie Institute of Professional Sales is the first program of its kind in the Northeast. In addition to customized training programs for sales professionals, a bachelor of science degree in professional sales—the first of its kind in the world—is offered through the Department of Professional Sales in the University’s Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business, which gained international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. For additional information, contact David Reid, executive director of the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales at William Paterson University, at 973-720-3855, or rbisales@wpunj.edu.
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