HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling Opens Applications for Fall 2025 Onsite Series
Houston Community College (HCC) is once again teaming up with Houston icon Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale to deliver real-world sales training rooted in persistence, customer service, and entrepreneurial spirit. The HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling – Fall 2025 Onsite Series begins Tuesday, September 9, at the HCC Alief Hayes Campus and will run six consecutive Tuesday evenings through October 14.
The program is hosted by the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship – HCC Northwest. Currently in its 10th cohort, the series has already graduated more than 380 participants, many of whom have gone on to careers in sales and business development across Houston.
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Mattress Mack’s Living Legacy of Business and Giving Back
Jim McIngvale, better known as Mattress Mack, has built one of the nation’s most recognized independent furniture retailers, Gallery Furniture, through relentless work ethic, community outreach, and an unwavering commitment to customer service. From famously guaranteeing same-day delivery to opening his stores as shelters during hurricanes and winter storms, McIngvale’s approach to business has always been centered on people first.
His commitment to mentoring the next generation also extends beyond HCC. Earlier this year, he partnered with the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto to provide sales training and support to more than 250 Houston-area troops through a major cookie buyout and business workshop, where he encouraged the girls to embrace confidence, persistence, and strong customer service skills as tools to boost their cookie sales.
In addition to his work with HCC and youth mentoring, McIngvale’s impact extends across a range of community support systems—from vocational skill-building through WorkTexas to providing scholarships with ACE, supporting veterans via Memorial Day mattress drives with Camp Hope, and opening a charter high school inside Gallery Furniture to expand educational opportunities. During COVID-19, he distributed thousands of meals and served on Texas’s advisory council for reopening. He’s also launched employment and wellness centers in Fort Bend County, addressing joblessness, food insecurity, and mental health.
It’s this philosophy that serves as the foundation of the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling. By distilling the lessons McIngvale has lived—resilience, adaptability, and putting customers above all else—the program equips participants with timeless skills that extend far beyond retail sales.
A Program with Purpose
The School of Selling was created to give Houstonians practical tools to succeed in sales and entrepreneurship, whether they are small business owners, job seekers looking to pivot careers, or college students preparing for the workforce. Participants have included entrepreneurs, students, sales professionals, advisors, community leaders, and residents of all ages across Greater Houston.
The series follows a cohort model, where all participants move through the program together. Applicants must commit to attending all six sessions—partial participation is not allowed. Those who graduate receive a Certificate of Completion from the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©, a credential that has helped alumni strengthen résumés and open doors to opportunities—including positions with Gallery Furniture and other Houston employers.
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Fall 2025 Schedule and Topics
Each of the six three-hour sessions is led by seasoned presenters Landi Spearman, L6S, and Austin Tenette, MBA, with practical lessons designed to sharpen communication, confidence, and customer relationships.
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Sept. 9 – The Art of Listening (Landi Spearman): Meaningful Messages, Non-Verbal Cues, Power of Questioning, Active Listening
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Sept. 16 – Persistence (Austin Tenette): Owning the Sales Process, Preparing Like an Athlete, Goal Setting, Building a Sales Staircase
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Sept. 23 – The Ability to Say No (Landi Spearman): When and How to Say No, Why It’s Uncomfortable, Benefits of Boundaries
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Sept. 30 – Caring Customer Service (Landi Spearman): Human-Centered Service Models, Building Strong Relationships, Customer Report Cards
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Oct. 7 – Building a Book of Business (Austin Tenette): Prospecting, Lead Nurturing, Creating Raving Fans
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Oct. 14 – What You Learn After You Know It All (Austin Tenette): Continuous Learning, Entrepreneurship as a Mindset, Applying Entrepreneurial Thinking
A graduation ceremony will follow the final session on October 14, from 8:00–8:30 p.m.
Registration Information
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Location: HCC Alief Hayes Campus, 2811 Hayes Rd., Houston, TX 77082 (MAP)
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Schedule: Tuesdays, September 9 – October 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m.; participants must be seated by 5:00 p.m.)
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Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CST
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Apply Online: https://Bit.ly/MMSSOnsiteFall25
Participation remains free of charge for those selected, though HCC notes that this fall may be the last time the program is offered at no cost. Seating is limited, and only applicants who commit to attending all six sessions will be chosen for this onsite cohort.
For more information, email c4e@hccs.edu or call 713-718-6650.
The HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling continues to embody the values of its namesake—resilience, service, and opportunity—by helping Houstonians take the next step in their business and professional journeys.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
