Tom Maakestad
Marine on St. Croix,MN
Summary
Dynamic sales executive with a proven track record at Norman Graphic Printing, driving over $100 million in personal print sales. Expert in sales strategy and customer relationship management, leveraging persuasive selling and market analysis to secure major accounts. Adept at fostering relationships and delivering impactful results in competitive environments.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
Work History
Print and Direct Marketing Sales Executive-Outside sales
EPI Inc.
01.2025 - Current
- Book and stationery print sales, Learning materials printing and kitting sales, puzzles, fulfillment.
- 3d products and specialty products.
Graphic Designer
Maakestad Group
01.2023 - Current
- Book design for multiple accounts.
- Mac based design. Programs most used are Quark, Indesign, Photoshop.
North America Sales Director
Norman Graphic Printing
01.1992 - Current
- I developed the US market for Norman mainly in book printing and stationery lines.
- Also involved in paper manufacturing for some of these accounts including bamboo, handmade paper, and specialty card stocks.
- Regular travel to Asia and throughout the US.
- Created sales through in person and phone sales of new accounts with larger publishing and print programs.
- Use of closing skills, relationship building and knowledge based customer service essential to win accounts.
- Required an understanding of materials, technical printing processes, graphic design and design programs, pre-press and freight forwarding, customs clearance and inland freight.
- Sales at Norman Graphic Printing involved products selling through big box retailers included Target, Walmart, Michaels, Party City, Hobby Lobby, Workman Publishing, Penguin, Thomas Nelson, J Countryman, Harvest House Publishers and others.
- North America Sales Director for Norman Graphic Printing Co. Hong Kong. I developed the US market for Norman mainly in book printing and stationery lines. Also involved in paper manufacturing for some of these accounts including bamboo, handmade paper, and specialty card stocks. Regular travel to Asia and throughout the US.
- Personal print sales over US$100 million during career with Norman
- Developed book printing and publishing sectors for Norman
- Introduced stationery as a growth area -- sales into Target, Walmart and big box chains.
Print and Direct Marketing Sales Executive-Outside sales
Sunray Printing Direct
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Marketing specialty print products including coupon books to large retail such as Target, Albertsons, Kwik Trip, Giant Eagle, and other major retail.
Advertising Sales Executive-Outside sales
Leaf Home Water
01.2022 - 12.2023
- In home water testing and sales of proprietary Leaf Home Water Treatment systems.
Advertising Sales Executive-Outside sales
Liturgical Publications (LPi)
01.2018 - 12.2022
- Phone based sales.
- Sold ads via call lists developed through research data hosted on Excel and Sales Force platforms.
- Developed lead lists.
- Sold and designed advertisements on proprietary publications.
- Submitted ads in Sales Force.
- Maintained book of business with long term goals in mind.
- During my first year I won the corporate sales contest called the Presidential Club in only 10 months (18 months given).
Promotions and Creative Director
Reed Elsevier
01.1986 - 12.1992
- Responsibilities included design, writing and print production of visitor and exhibitor direct mail campaigns, promotions, brochures, sales kits and newsletters.
- I promoted over 20 trade shows concurrently via advertising, newspaper supplements, government group promotions, TV and Radio, collateral sales materials, public relations and press relationships and sales programs for our sales teams in Asia Pacific.
- I converted exhibition catalogs into profit centers for each show by creating advertising opportunities for exhibitors and setting up our sales team to sell ads along side exhibition space (prior exhibition catalogs were a line item cost in the budget).
- These exhibitions covered most business categories including building materials, printing and packaging, semiconductors, electronics, transportation & airports, aerospace, marine, shipping, and publishing among other categories.
- Based in the Hong Kong office for world's largest trade show organizer and B-B magazine publisher. Developed and promoted Asian trade show concepts in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam.
Graphic Designer
Koechel Peterson Design
Minneapolis, USA
01.1983 - 12.1986
- Graphic Designer based in Minneapolis for one of the nation's top book design firms.
- Designed books for top US publishers.
- Formed full understanding of design, production and printing through this position.
Education
Honors - Art, English
Luther College
Skills
- Sales strategy
- Customer relationship management
- Market analysis
- Print production knowledge
- Advertising sales
- Sales forecasting
- Lead generation
- Technical sales
- Team collaboration
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Negotiation techniques
- Deal structuring
- Persuasive selling
- Referral marketing
- Executive presentations
- Sales follow-up
Timeline
Print and Direct Marketing Sales Executive-Outside sales
EPI Inc.
01.2025 - Current
Print and Direct Marketing Sales Executive-Outside sales
Sunray Printing Direct
01.2024 - 12.2024
Graphic Designer
Maakestad Group
01.2023 - Current
Advertising Sales Executive-Outside sales
Leaf Home Water
01.2022 - 12.2023
Advertising Sales Executive-Outside sales
Liturgical Publications (LPi)
01.2018 - 12.2022
North America Sales Director
Norman Graphic Printing
01.1992 - Current
Promotions and Creative Director
Reed Elsevier
01.1986 - 12.1992
Graphic Designer
Koechel Peterson Design
01.1983 - 12.1986
Honors - Art, English
Luther College