 Dwight Schrute ( Rainn Wilson ) is named Northeastern Pennsylvania Salesman of the Year and must make a speech at an association meeting at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel , getting some assistance from Michael Scott ( Steve Carell ) . Before he leaves , Jim Halpert ( John Krasinski ) , in retaliation for Dwight 's cocky attitude , gives him tips on how to give public speeches . Unknown to Dwight , Jim 's tips are taken from a speech by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini , the fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943 . When Michael and Dwight make it to the convention , Dwight gets cold feet and Michael goes up and tries to relive his glory days of winning Salesman of the Year two years in a row , but ends up bombing . Dwight finally works up the nerve to give his speech and , using Jim 's advice , wins over the crowd with a passionate yet unorthodox speech ( which Angela videotapes from the back ) . Michael ends up leaving the convention room and later entertains Dwight with his tales at the bar . 
