Lee Blake

Strategic Sales Leader with 20 years of experience in Strategic Planning and revenue growth within high-velocity Retail and SMB environments. Proven track record of spearheading sales initiatives and managing high-performing teams to exceed aggressive KPIs. Expert in consultative selling, with a deep commitment to identifying customer needs and delivering tailored solutions through sophisticated negotiation and closing techniques.

A collaborative communicator skilled at delivering high-impact presentations to executive stakeholders and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability. Recently led a team to achieve 115%+ (top 15% in company) of annual quota, resulting in $75M in revenue.

Director – Retail - Verizon - Little Rock, AR

(2024-01 - 2025-12)

• Directed operations for 6 multi-unit retail locations, generating $75M+ in annual revenue and managing a 60+ person workforce.
• Drove 115%+ quota attainment, ranking Top 15% in the enterprise, through targeted sales strategy and high-impact performance coaching.
• Improved year-over-year growth ranking #3 within market by optimizing operational efficiency, staffing models, and end-to-end sales processes.
• Served as the SMB Territory Pillar Lead, providing expert sales strategy and support for the market's small and medium business growth.
• Exercised Stakeholder Management by delivering high-impact presentations to executive leadership, aligning market goals with corporate initiatives.
• Managed complex facility and end-to-end retail operations, reducing overhead and improving sales efficiency.

Consumer District Manager - Verizon - Little Rock, AR

(2021-02 - 2023-12)

• Oversaw district operations, including Direct Stores, Agents, and National accounts, leading a team of 50+ employees (7 direct reports).
• Achieved #2 Sales Stack Ranking in the market in 2022 by implementing a new performance management and coaching framework, directly resulting in top-tier regional sales results.
• Contributed to top-tier market sales results and employee satisfaction through dedicated workforce optimization and engagement strategies.
• Market FWA Pillar Lead: Represented the territory as the primary Subject Matter Expert, driving territory knowledge, execution, and role-play training for Fixed Wireless Access.
• Directed operational and facilities management for the district, ensuring compliance and maximizing resource utilization to support sales targets.

District Manager - Verizon - Little Rock, AR

(2018-11 - 2021-01)

• Managed a team of 40+ employees (5 direct reports) and co-led the Assistant Manager Development Project for the territory in 2020.
• Achieved #1 SMB Product Mix in the territory (1/6) in 2019 by redesigning the sales approach and training teams on value-based selling and upselling new services.
• Spearheaded territory-wide sales strategies for critical launch periods, including the Apple Launch and Black Friday (2019-20), consistently exceeding high-volume sales targets.
• Achieved Best-in-Class (BIC) FWA Performance: Led district to top-tier results in FWA close rates and minimized deactivation/disconnect percentages through rigorous lifecycle management.
• Streamlined facilities and daily operations for the district, leading to measurable gains in team efficiency and customer throughput.

SMB Manager - Verizon - Tyler, TX

(2016-12 - 2018-10)

• Led 6 direct reports across North and East Texas, focusing on SMB sales strategy and account growth.
• Earned the Winners' Circle award in 2017 for exceptional sales performance, placing in the top percentile of all leaders nationwide.
• Achieved #1 New Account Year-over-Year Percentage in the market in 2018, significantly expanding the customer base through targeted outbound sales efforts.
• Designed and piloted a new Lead Development Trial that was subsequently adopted and scaled to an enterprise level.
• Served as the Territory Subject Matter Expert for the launch of One Talk (New VOIP Product), driving initial product adoption and training.

General Manager - Verizon - Jonesboro, AR

(2014-01 - 2016-12)

• Directed all retail operations for a high-volume location, generating $20M in annual sales revenue.
• Earned multiple Sales and Leadership Awards for driving operational excellence and exceeding market KPIs.
• Managed daily business operations, including hiring, scheduling, and high-priority customer escalations.

Assistant Store Manager / Retail Sales Rep - Verizon - Jonesboro, AR

(2009-01 - 2014-12)

• Promoted to oversee store-level operations, sales training, and staff development initiatives.
• Delivered top-tier individual sales performance while supporting operational workflows for over three years.

General Manager - APEX COMMUNICATIONS (AT&T Retailer) - Jonesboro, AR

(2006-01 - 2009-12)

• Managed end-to-end operations as General Manager for Arkansas' largest authorized AT&T retailer.
• Completed cross-functional rotations as Area Manager, Business Sales Representative, and Marketing Management Intern.

Retail Sales Representative - THOMPSON WIRELESS - Blytheville, AR

(2005-01 - 2006-12)

Bachelor of Science - Marketing Management - Arkansas State University (2008-12)