Sara Theis

About Sara Theis

With over two decades of experience spanning marketing, strategy, communications, and sales, I’ve helped brands in the packaging, automotive, and building products industries sharpen their competitive edge and connect meaningfully with their audiences. My career has been a blend of client-side leadership and consultancy, giving me a 360° view of business challenges and the agility to solve them from multiple angles.I thrive at the intersection of creativity and commercial impact—whether it\'s launching integrated campaigns, repositioning brands, driving go-to-market strategies, or aligning cross-functional teams around a shared vision. I’m passionate about translating complex business goals into clear, actionable strategies that deliver results.I specialize in leading Key Account Management (KAM) programs to drive customer-centric growth and cultural transformation. As a Certified Strategic Account Manager (CSAM), I design and implement integrated strategies, cross-functional operating models, and management systems to align organizational capabilities with customer objectives. My work emphasizes organizational agility, change management, and collaboration, ensuring alignment between strategic customer goals and our value propositions. Committed to delivering measurable results, I am passionate about fostering customer-centric cultures and building capabilities to sustain long-term growth.

Experience

1. VP of Customer Excellence

   Valkre

   Jan 2026 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

   I empower leading organizations to optimize how they manage their most strategic customer relationships to unlock transformational growth and long-term value- Customer Success Leadership: Design and lead initiatives that empower Valkre customers to excel in their strategic account management programs, including onboarding, coaching, and capability development- Team Leadership & Development: Serve as a mentor and coach for the Customer Excellence team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability across account management, integration, application performance, and user experience- Strategic Influence: Partner with senior stakeholders to shape customer engagement strategies that maximize adoption, satisfaction, and long-term value- Operational Excellence: Establish best practices, metrics, and processes to ensure consistent delivery of exceptional customer experiences- Thought Leadership: Represent Valkre as a trusted advisor to customers, sharing insights and strategies that advance their business objectives.

Education

• Bowling Green State University

  Bachelor's of Science, Journalism

  1995 — 1999