David G. Payne

Mr. David G. Payne is a Professor in the Department of Marketing at the College of Business, The University of Akron. He has been a dedicated faculty member since 2013, combining over 24 years of industry experience with academic roles. His expertise spans pharmaceutical, medical, and biotech sales, with a focus on sales training and adult education.

• Education: BS and MS in Education (Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology) from The University of Akron (1985, 1986).
• Current roles: Director of the Fisher Institute for Professional Selling, classroom instructor, and founder of System 3 Performance Consulting.

His research centers on the impact of sales shadowing and the value of corporate partnerships in student development. As part of his work, he has pioneered the expansion of the Fisher Institute in the Polsky Building, establishing 9 advanced sales training labs with dual cameras and state-of-the-art video technology to enhance experiential learning.

Payne’s recent publication, Successfully Activating Corporate Partnerships with University Sales Centers (2019), reflects his commitment to bridging academia and industry. He is actively engaged in developing future research for publication in major sales and marketing journals.

Notable Contributions

• Founded a new Fisher classroom (2020) to maintain the Institute’s status as the leading sales training facility in the U.S.
• Secured 100% job placement for students through partnerships with 30+ Fisher Corporate Partners.
• Organized flagship events like the Annual UA Fisher Sales Career Fair and Fisher Partner Up Day.

He has served on university committees, presented at conferences (e.g., Midwest Biomedical Engineering Meeting, University Sales Center Alliance), and delivered guest lectures on networking, career planning, and sales leadership.