Sales Team Introduction
Advanced Classroom Technologies employs a team of trusted advisors that are experts in the educational technology space. We genuinely want to help empower teachers, inspire students, and help build classrooms that everyone deserves. ACT’s account executives have a combined 80+ years of experience in public and private K-12 districts throughout the western United States.
In my 25+ years in EdTech, I’ve seen a vast array of people and companies who don’t always put the customer’s needs first. Our philosophy is simple…create value by recommending what fits the customers’ needs and their budget. Yes, that IS a bold statement, but it’s at the heart of everything we do as a company.
SO LET’S MEET THE TEAM…
Mike Lee
Mike began his ACT journey 14 years ago and has been involved in many aspects of the business including project installations and project management. Throughout his tenure, Mike has been a trusted advisor to his customers & has created countless long-term relationships with districts across Washington and Oregon. Those long-term relationships have been built on Mikes honesty, integrity, and his consultative approach that he prides himself with. Just recently Mike has taken on additional Districts in Eastern Washington and Idaho. He is looking to make a positive impact and create additional long-term relationships as well as continue his dedication to his Western Washington customers.
Outside of the office, he loves spending time with his family camping, boating, and tinkering on projects around the house. Mike calls the Pacific Northwest home.
Sam Baker
Sam joined ACT in 2019 after having a long history in the educational technology space. Sam has spent the past 13 years servicing customers throughout Washington State. Sam’s attention to detail and desire to enhance the student experience is what drives him on a daily basis. Sam has always prided himself on staying close to the key trends of how technology continuously evolves in the classroom. Seeing how it has become more affordable and equitable for districts to purchase is something he’s taken particular interest in. Sam has no shortage of hobbies and activities when he’s not working. Road-tripping in his Jeep, traveling both foreign and domestic to visit various filming locations of his favorite movies, and live music and dancing are just a few of these. Among his other hobbies are home theater, WiFi, and smart home automation which keep Sam sharp for his day job!
Sam currently manages select accounts in Western WA and all of Central WA. Sam lives full time in Ellensburg, WA.
Eric Pagano
Eric joined ACT 10 years ago and has spent a total of 15 years in the educational technology space. Eric also worked for Dell supporting districts’ one to one mobility needs for a time. Eric is well known with his customers as being honest and his willingness to go the extra mile for his customers has made him invaluable. Eric works closely with the ACT sales team and enjoys the time he spends with his colleagues at different events throughout the year. There is a real camaraderie with Eric and the team that is great to see.
Eric ‘s main goal of working at ACT is to help empower students and teachers to have the best learning environment possible!
Eric resides in Southern CA and you’re likely to find him on a body of water somewhere on the weekends boating and camping with his family.
Andy Lusk
Andy Lusk is the newest member of the ACT team but is no stranger to districts across the state of Washington. Andy joined ACT in March of 2023 but previously worked for one of the largest edtech providers in the country the last 15 years. Andy’s approach with his customers has always been a consultative one to helping his customers select technology that best fits their wants and needs. Andy joined ACT after seeing the team’s willingness to roll up their sleeves and get the job done no matter what their role, but the biggest benefit of his hard work is watching teachers and kids alike getting excited about learning through the implementation of technology.
Andy lives in Issaquah, WA. and is the consummate family man whose kids have the benefit of learning first-hand about the newest educational technology. His hobbies include camping with the family in their 5th wheel, racing around the sand dunes in RZRs, playing golf, mountain biking, and just about anything else that's loud, fast, and/or dangerous.
Christina Sim
Christina has been with ACT for 10 years and her strongest asset is being dependable. That’s good because she’s the main admin support for our outside sales team. Her responsiveness to customer requests is extremely important. “My customers know, I’ll do what I can to go above and beyond for them”. Christina loves seeing big projects come to fruition and seeing the support from multiple team members to make things happen. Christina’s favorite thing about this industry is knowing we’re making a difference in the lives of students AND teachers!
Outside of the office, you might find Christina paddleboarding, kickboxing, finding new brunch spots or staying at home watching true crime!
Christina resides in the greater Seattle area.
Robert Pohl
Although Robert Pohl (Vice President of Strategy and SchoolSuccess) is not a member of the sales team, Robert’s knowledge and experience helps our team navigate each opportunity to make sure we recommend the right solution. Robert’s background is unsurpassed having worked in several school districts in Western Washington at the highest levels, most recently as Executive Director of Technology, Transportation, and Food Services at Anacortes School District. ACT account executives involve Robert and his team to provide customized needs assessments so that our customers can always make the most informed decisions around technology. Robert’s dedication to doing what is right for the customer EVERY time has earned him the respect of his colleagues and customers.
Bob Berry
As ACT's VP of Sales, my focus is on teamwork and prioritizing customer satisfaction. With over 25 years of experience in the education technology field, I joined ACT in January 2023 after working for another leading ed-tech reseller in the US. This opportunity allows me to utilize my industry knowledge and professional relationships. After spending the last 18 months at a startup, I felt it was time to return to the business that I am truly passionate about. Creating a positive culture is of utmost importance to me, and I strive to ensure that our customers experience this in every interaction. I thoroughly enjoy my work, particularly collaborating with schools to optimize their funding and exceed their expectations.
Beyond work, my wife and I, who have been married for over 25 years, enjoy spending time with our dogs now that our children are away at college. We also embrace travel adventures in our RV and seek out live music venues near Cave Creek, AZ, where I currently reside.
ACT supports technology throughout a school with the following mindset. Here are some further principles that continually guide the ACT Team.
Expertise: Our customers are knowledgeable in their field and they expect us to have similar levels of expertise.
Understanding of needs: ACT is called on for solutions that will address the specific needs of the district. We focus on application and use case first and then we work hard to make those expectations fit within their budget.
Responsiveness: ACT understands the need for a fast response since tight timelines are typical for most district projects.
Transparency: Honesty and transparency are synonymous with ACT’s approach. We clearly identify the risks to any project and we never over promise on our commitment.
Long-term partnerships: There is a reason why school districts come back to us year after year for their most important projects. Our technology consultants focus on building the relationship and providing ongoing support and service which reduces anxiety
Last but not least, ACT believes in safe and equitable access to information, personalized learning, collaboration/engagement and digital literacy. It has become our shared mission with educators and administrators in the territories that we serve!
Empowered Teachers
Inspired Students
The Classroom Everyone Deserves
