Impactful gift from Marion (Sheahan) ’81 and Frank ’81 Hauck P’08 names new sales lab at Bryant University
April 30 2024 - 8:30AM
Bryant University announces a transformational gift from
alumni
Marion (Sheahan) and Frank Hauck to create the Frank
’81 and Marion ’81
Hauck Sales Performance Lab, with a
portion of their gift earmarked for the Bryant Fund.
“Being successful in sales requires strong listening,
communication, and relational skills and this new sales lab will
give students access to the space and equipment they need to gain
confidence in these abilities. These skills empower Bryant
graduates to excel in broad range of fields, including management,
entrepreneurship, and marketing,” says Bryant University President
Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “This gift adds to the exceptional
experiential learning paths that we provide to our students,
distinguishing Bryant graduates and giving them a competitive
advantage in the workforce. Frank Hauck’s exceptional career
included leading successful sales teams, and now he is paying it
forward for future Bulldogs! I am very grateful for the Haucks’
generosity and look forward to seeing students put this lab to
great use.”
The 5,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sales laboratory will
give students access to the most advanced technology and serve as
the epicenter of sales initiatives at Bryant. The space, located
inside the College of Business’ new hub in the Business
Entrepreneurship Leadership Center, will be a dynamic hub for
honing skills and proficiency in sales. It will buttress
Bryant University’s marketing and sales education and the
nationally known Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition,
helmed by Bryant University Marketing Professor Stefanie
Boyer.
“Sales is a craft, and the lab will give students a place to
work on refining and enhancing their capabilities,” says Frank
Hauck, who joined Bryant’s Board of Trustees in 2023. “We want the
students to make good use of it.”
“The lab builds upon the College of Business’ expertise in
experiential learning and will facilitate simulated real-world
scenarios led by faculty and industry leaders,” says incoming Board
of Trustees Chair Ellen Wilson. “It is initiatives like these that
secure Bryant’s one percent return on investment for our graduates.
We are grateful to Frank and Marion for their support. The
generosity of our alumni continues to be a lifeblood for the
university's future.”
The Hauck Sales Performance Lab will be available to all
students regardless of major. A well-educated and trained
professional sales force is critical to businesses’ ability to
provide value to their customers and effectively satisfy their
needs. Many students, regardless of their major or chosen
profession, will be involved in selling products, services, or
ideas and will have more successful careers if they understand the
concepts of the selling process and can effectively apply those
skills.
“The Hauck Sales Performance Lab fits into the broader vision we
have for the BELC,” says Bryant Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D. “We are building out an ecosystem of
classrooms and labs to support what Bryant excels at doing: Making
sure our students are real world ready.”
The Hauck Sales Performance Lab is part of a larger Vision 2030
initiative that brings state-of-the-art student-focused facilities
designed to prepare students for their careers through experiential
learning, increase their collaboration with faculty and visiting
experts, and give them a competitive advantage in the job
market.
“Students who have been through our sales program get hired
faster, and they ramp up in the organization faster,” says
marketing professor and director of the sales program Stefanie
Boyer, Ph.D. “The companies place our students in leadership
roles faster, and our students are rewarded with some of the
highest salaries for newly minted grads. Thanks to the Haucks’
generous gift, we can offer even more real time coaching and
development, increasing our graduates’ value to employers.”
For the Haucks’, the gift signals their deep ties to Bryant
University. “Frank and I both graduated from here; our daughter and
her husband went here; as did our niece and nephew,” says Marion
Hauck who, with Frank, is a member of Bryant’s Leadership Council
of Donors. “We give to things we are passionate about; and we want
to help Bryant continue to thrive.”
About Bryant University For over 160 years,
Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an
exceptional education with top 1% outcomes that anticipate the
future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character
in a changing world. The university delivers a uniquely integrated
academic and student life experience with nationally recognized
academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts,
and health and behavioral sciences.
Located on a 428-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I.,
Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate
students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant is recognized as a
top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and
regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report,
Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College
Factual, and Barron’s. Bryant.edu
The Vision 2030 strategic plan sets an exciting trajectory for
Bryant University. Priorities include an ecosystem of academic
excellence, vibrant student life, community and belonging, and
championing access and economic mobility.
Vision2030.Bryant.edu
- Bryant University creates the Frank ’81 and Marion ’81 Hauck
Sales Performance Lab
Karen Greco
Bryant University
401-232-6730
kgreco@bryant.edu