Regional Sales Manager - Midwest Region

Company Description
At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60+ retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.

The stars are in alignment. Make your move.
The federal government may fill the airwaves, but it is state legislatures that are making the real noise. From east to west, states are filling education coffers with billions upon billions of dollars. For a company like Lakeshore, this is great news—and for a strategic thinker with outstanding people skills, it could be the opportunity that makes a career. As regional manager for Lakeshore, you will represent one of the strongest brands in the education industry (with a devoted customer base and 65 years of uninterrupted growth to prove it). Privately owned and family-run, we provide early learning and elementary programs with in-demand products and services that can’t be found anywhere else. And on top of a super-competitive base salary, there’s no cap on commissions at Lakeshore. We also support you with an inside sales team that knows your territory inside and out. Lakeshore is great products, great support, great customers and great people…like you! What more could you ask for? 
Life out in the field looks like this:

• Working with your Regional Vice President to form and modify sales strategies
• Working with your inside sales team and marketing group to fine-tune messaging and collateral materials to support your markets
• Visiting schools and child care centers on a regular basis to assess emerging and ongoing needs
• Participating in local, state and national conferences to promote the Lakeshore brand
• Hosting product presentations and events designed to familiarize customers with proprietary services (Complete Classrooms®, professional development, conference support, etc.)
• Maintaining an ongoing awareness of local, state and national trends and funding opportunities in early learning and elementary education
• Pursuing relationships with city, county and state government officials, university administrators, and community-based organizations to support cutting-edge learning environments for children
• Securing new and repeat business by building strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders
• Partnering with sales, retail and our professional services group to support the needs of local educators

Qualifications
Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Candidates should reside in the greater Naperville and have the ability to travel as needed within the territory with occasional overnight stays
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Great attention to detail
• Solid presentation skills and ability to speak to customer needs at all levels (teachers, administrators, directors and other officials)
• Top-notch written and verbal communication skills
• Background in early learning and elementary education a plus, but not required
• Strong work ethic, team player mentality and ability to perform outstanding work from home
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook and Salesforce
• 5+ years of successful sales experience and proven entrepreneurial know-how
• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred

Additional Information
And here’s our end of the bargain!

• Generous employee discount on products that make you smarter
• Uncapped commission structure
• Competitive compensation based on skills and experience.
• Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
• Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA

At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.
We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.
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