Our People

Ryan Mullins - Executive Director

Professor Mullins oversees the overall strategy and growth of SIP. In this role, he helps curate and support all sales program offerings to provide value to students, faculty, industry and all Clemson stakeholders.

Mullins is also an award-winning author, professor and consultant focused on helping organizational leaders improve sales performance. Mullins seeks out industry collaboration and has conducted research and consulting projects with Fortune 500 companies, providing analysis, recommendations, coaching and training interventions. This real-world engagement has helped Mullins be recognized as a noted researcher and insightful speaker to sales organizations and enabled the delivery of innovative teaching in SIP courses.

Carter McElveen - Director of Operations

After eight years in sales with Eli Lilly, Carter McElveen returned to Clemson University in 2011 to help prepare the next generation of sales professionals. As operations director for the J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Sales Innovation Program, she oversees corporate partner relationships and works closely with the program's managers to create engagement opportunities between students and industry leaders.

McElveen teaches Introduction to Professional Selling and Applied Selling II, emphasizing experiential learning that prepares students for careers in sales. Through the Tiger Paw Classic Golf Tournament, students gain experience in event planning, fundraising and relationship building while supporting the local nonprofit Ripple of One.

McElveen also incorporates emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into her courses to help students develop the skills to use AI ethically and effectively in sales and business. Mentoring students, promoting career readiness and expanding experiential learning opportunities are central to her work.

McElveen was named a Clemson Alumni Master Teacher in 2016 and was selected for the President's Leadership Institute in 2020. She serves as advisor to the Blue Key Honor Society and is a Delta Sigma Pi faculty initiate. She and her husband, Andy McElveen, a 2003 Clemson graduate, live in Clemson with their children, Nora Lynn and Willis.

David Sturkey - Director of Development

After a 30-year career in health care sales, David Sturkey retired from UnitedHealthcare in 2023 as vice president of sales and account management for the Carolinas. He returned to his alma mater to teach in Clemson University's Department of Marketing, where he focuses on professional selling.

In addition to teaching professional selling, Sturkey teaches sales management and health care selling. As director of development for SIP, he serves as faculty advisor to the SIP Sales Competition Team, leading a select group of students who compete in national sales competitions.

Charleen Fitzgerald - SIP Student Services Coordinator

Charleen Fitzgerald earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Clemson University in 1997. She joined Clemson University's Department of Marketing as a student services program coordinator in 2015 and, in January 2025, became signature programs operations manager for the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business.

Fitzgerald received the Powers College Team Player of the Year Award in 2017, the Staff Award for Student Service in 2020-21 and the Staff Excellence Award in 2023-24.

In her current role, Fitzgerald supports student engagement, event logistics, alumni and corporate partner relations, curriculum support and other strategic initiatives.

Lisa Beeler - SIP Research Faculty

Lisa Beeler is a sales researcher who publishes in top academic sales journals and continues to conduct research with companies globally. In SIP, she works with corporate partners to help optimize sales force compensation, training, technology adoption and hiring, amongst many other sales force initiatives. Before becoming an academic, she was the director of marketing and sales for a B2B international parking company in Atlanta, GA. Her 20 years of experience in sales research and application informs the experiential-based learning approach she uses in her classroom to prepare SIP students to be great salespeople, valuable co-workers and good citizens.

Alec Pappas - SIP Research Faculty

Alec Pappas is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Clemson University. His research interests include marketing strategy, sales and intraorganizational social networks. Pappas graduated from Florida State University in 2021 with a Ph.D. in marketing and began his academic career at Washington State University.

Prior to academia, Pappas worked in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a mortgage closer at Wells Fargo. He then moved to his hometown in Boca Raton, Florida, and worked as an account manager at MotionPoint. At MotionPoint, Pappas developed a robust knowledge of website construction and design while he managed relationships with approximately 50 Fortune 1000 companies. In his free time, Pappas enjoys photography, reading, coding and remaining physically active with exercise and sports.

Ava Boyle - External Outreach Liaison

Ava Boyle is a senior at Clemson University from Cranston, Rhode Island. She will graduate in May 2027 with a B.S. in finance and is pursuing the Sales Certificate through the SIP coursework. As an external outreach liaison, she facilitates student mentorship by connecting sales students with industry professionals. She also develops written communications, including the SIP newsletter, and supports initiatives that enhance the program's visibility and engagement. Boyle is an active member of the Sales Competition Team, where she has represented Clemson in two national sales competitions and has also served as a coach for fellow competitors. Beyond SIP, Boyle serves on the executive boards of the Pi Epsilon chapter of Delta Zeta and Scholars of Finance.

Addison Kornegay - Ascent Liaison

Addison Kornegay is a junior at Clemson University from Clemson, SC. She will graduate in May 2028 with a B.S. in marketing and a minor in artificial intelligence. Kornegay is working towards earning her Orthopaedic Medical Device Product Specialist Certificate through the SIP Curriculum. In her role as the ascent liaison, Kornegay develops and facilitates workshops while guiding students in the Ascent Track of the J. Daniels and Nancy Garrison Sales Innovation Program as they build relationships, navigate program expectations and transition successfully into SIP. Outside of the program, Kornegay volunteers in Christian ministry, is an avid CrossFitter and enjoys soccer and long-distance running.

Mahrin McGregor - Community Service Liaison

Mahrin McGregor is a senior at Clemson University from Seattle, Washington. She will graduate in May 2027 with a B.A. in political science and a minor in management. McGregor serves as the community service liaison for the J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Sales Innovation Program, where she plans and coordinates volunteer initiatives, fosters meaningful partnerships with local organizations and creates opportunities for students to make a positive impact in the community through service. After graduation, McGregor plans to pursue a career in commercial industrial real estate in the Southeast.

Jenna Mosier - Engagement Liaison

Jenna Mosier is a senior Clemson student from Warwick, New York. She will graduate in May 2027 with a B.S. in marketing and management. As the engagement liaison, Mosier is responsible for planning, organizing and hosting all SIP events, everything from competitive showcases to social and ceremonial gatherings, ensuring every experience is impactful and well-executed. Mosier serves as the primary point of contact for all SIP members, maintaining clear and consistent communication in order to regularly keep them informed, involved and connected. Outside of this program, she continues to stay involved with Clemson FCA and Clemson University Tour Guides.

Rob Pergolotti - Recruitment Liaison

Robert Pergolotti is a senior at Clemson University from Orange, Connecticut. He will graduate in May 2027 with a B.S. in marketing and is pursuing the Orthopaedic Medical Device Product Specialist Certificate through the SIP coursework. As recruitment liaison, he leads strategic outreach and recruitment efforts to identify the next class of SIP members. He also serves as president of the Sales Club, where he helps expand awareness of careers in professional sales through industry speakers and educational workshops. Outside of SIP, Pergolotti is a co-founder of the Clemson MedTech Society and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa.

Grace Pino - Marketing Liaison

Grace Pino is a senior at Clemson University, majoring in marketing and serves as the marketing liaison for the J. Daniel and Nancy Garrison Sales Innovation Program. In her role, she leads the program's marketing efforts through social media strategy, content creation, photography, videography, graphic design and website management. Pino enjoys sharing the stories, experiences and opportunities that make the program unique. She believes SIP's impact is best told through its students' success and makes it her goal to showcase that authentically while inspiring future members. Following graduation, Pino plans to pursue a career in professional sales with interests in the healthcare and technology industries.