Influential Woman · Wholesale Supply

Lisa Kennison

Account Executive, Great Lakes Supply Co.

Brighton, MI

1Award received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Business School Degree Michigan State University Degree 2015 Member Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association (MAA) Member Washtenaw Apartment Association

Her Story

About Lisa

After graduating from Michigan State's business school in 2015, I explored different paths through internships in marketing and sales, ultimately feeling most inspired by sales. I joined Sherwin-Williams' sales and management trainee program to get a taste of both management and sales in an entry-level position. I started as an assistant manager after training and fell in love with the company, the customers, and the culture. I moved into an outside sales role within Sherwin-Williams around 2017-2018, servicing the multifamily industry and calling on apartment managers and owners with my own territory. When I was looking to grow professionally and getting impatient with limited advancement opportunities at Sherwin-Williams, a recruiter found me for Great Lakes Supply. It felt risky to leave a large company for a very small, privately-owned one, but I interviewed the company extensively before taking the leap in 2020. Since then, it's been amazing and challenging - the sky is the limit. I grew my territory from zero book of business to over 6 million dollars, making me the most successful sales rep besides the president. I'm entering a leadership role soon as we continue hiring and developing new strategies.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Lisa

01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say that sales gets easier. It's almost like when you exercise, and it's really, really hard at first, but once you sort of get into shape, so to speak, it's like it's nothing, you know? A sales call is like, you get, it's no problem. So, it's sort of like something that you just have to practice and get used to, and then once you do, it's not hard.

02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think the construction industry is always a little affected by a recession or dips in the economy, so that slows things down for us since we do quite a bit of new construction supply. That could be a challenge here in the near future. Other than that, multifamily is a very strong industry through hard times, but if anything were to happen to the multifamily industry, then that would be tough, as well as the hospitality industry. What's nice is we're diversified in those three areas, so if one's light, hopefully we can gain traction in the other.

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