Envision U Launches New Reality Television Series in Detroit

Envision U Launches New Reality Television Series in Detroit

LIVONIA, Mich., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of television's most popular reality programs, Survivor and The Apprentice are about to meet in Detroit to crown a whole new kind of American Idol.

Envision U, a Livonia-based international training company, has created The Ultimate Performer Sales Challenge as a way to evaluate, train, recognize and reward sales professionals as they test their capabilities in front of a live and television audience in a quest to be judged the ultimate sales professional.

The challenge asks contestants the question, "Are you Up?" In other words, the program winner will be the one who proves he or she is Up to The Ultimate Sales Performer Challenge. For the winner, this designation will not only lead to a bevy of prizes, but also meaningful recognition as the region's ultimate sales professional.

"The Ultimate Performer Sales Challenge is American Idol for sales people," said Rod Hairston, CEO of Envision U and developer of the program. "The program will provide recognition, training and coaching for one of corporate America's most valuable assets - the sales professional. We're going to reenergize the sales industry, while also revamping the image of sales people."

The concept for The Ultimate Performer Sales Challenge came out of Hairston's experience in training and coaching sales and customer service people for a number of Fortune 500 companies, where he has worked with hundreds of qualified and motivated mortgage bankers over the past ten years.

"Over the years, we've developed an almost foolproof system and process for developing truly qualified sales candidates who become successful and sought after sales professionals," said Hairston. "Training builds confidence. Confidence creates influence, and the ability to influence leads to success and prosperity. That's the whole purpose of our program, to provide our contestants with everything they need to succeed in a competitive sales environment. There are a whole lot of people already in the sales profession who we can help to improve their performance and a whole lot more who, with proper training in influence techniques, could jumpstart their lives into a whole new career."

Here's how it works. The program is open to anyone interested in professional and personal growth. Applicants will register online at http://www.areyouup.com/ and earn points based on an online questionnaire and assessment. They will then be provided with online training materials, including exclusive voice and speaking coaching by Roger Love, Hollywood's best known and most respected voice coach and president of Voiceplace, Inc. Love is known for training such Hollywood talent as Reese Witherspoon for her Academy Award winning role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line. He has worked with the "who's who" of Hollywood talent, including Eminem, Matchbox 20, Mandy Moore, Papa Roach, Motley Crue and more!

Approximately 200 candidates will be invited to the live audition for The Ultimate Performer Sales Challenge. The final pool will be tested through six Web-based reality TV broadcasts, and the final candidates will compete in a one-hour televised special on a network affiliate.

"We're looking to provide our candidates with their 15 minutes of fame, but more importantly, to help them build their own fortunes and futures," said Hairston. "The Ultimate Sales Performer Challenge is a venue that offers a chance to showcase your talent, while vying for prizes and job opportunities in a friendly, but fiercely competitive environment. We want to capitalize on the extraordinarily qualified workforce we have in this area. Make no mistake about it; our program will create better, smarter and more marketable sales professionals."

The Ultimate Performer Sales Challenge Web site at http://www.areyouup.com/ has gone live with Webcasts to follow this summer. The final competition will be broadcast on ABC station WXYZ Channel 7 in September.

"The knowledge that you share is beyond anything that our managers or direct sales staff has experienced with trainers in the past," said Robert Fein, director of sales, KYW-TV3 in Philadelphia. "I think the most important element of your training is that the information that you share can be applied immediately and the benefits sustained over the long run. As always you have had an amazingly positive influence."

For more information or to start your application process, please visit http://www.areyouup.com/

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Envision U

CONTACT: Patrick Liebler of Liebler!MacDonald,
+1-248-233-8059, pat@liemac.com, or Melissa Allen of Liebler!MacDonald,
+1-248-233-8132, melissa@liemac.com, for Envision U

Web site: http://www.areyouup.com/

-------
Profile: intent