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Territory Manager — New York City and New York Metro Area

About Mitch Bonder

Mitch came to Kaplan with a passion and dedication to serving the early education community. He has a deep understanding and commitment to children and educators which has been acquired in over 40 years of experience in the industry.

He is immersed in the New York community and local government and works closely with the New York City Department of Education, NYCEECs, New York Head Start Centers, Charter Schools, the Archdiocese of New York, the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, the Lutheran School Association, and the Jewish Community Centers of America.

Mitch is here to support the needs of providers across the metropolitan area including The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island as well as Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties. Whether you need to purchase or upgrade a classroom, provide virtual or on-site professional development, pursue effective hybrid learning, learn about outdoor learning materials or anything else, he is here for you.

Please reach out to Mitch with any questions or inquiries around products, discounts, contracts, and services including the personalized MyKaplan online ordering system. Also, be sure to ask him about Connect4Learning, our Pre-K Curriculum as well as Kaplan's classroom lists and information for New York City's New 3K Mayoral Initiative, NYC PreK for All, as well as NYS UPK programs. He will also work with you to select certified outdoor playground equipment, safety surfacing, maple and birch furniture, and our new Sense of Place line of furniture, technology, interactive panels, and assessment tools.

Mitch's passion is to provide a rich experience for young learners throughout his territory. Mitch's hobbies include running and cycling and he treasures spending time with his family.

Playground — Northeast, Midwest

About Elliott Shaffer

Elliott comes to Kaplan after serving for over two decades in the US Marine Corps. As a Marine, Elliott worked in communications and primarily focused on IT, satellite communications, and operational planning. Elliott was also a Program Coordinator with Toys for Tots, overseeing the Greensboro/High Point/Burlington areas from 2019-2022. Elliott has continued serving with Toys for Tots after his retirement.

As he begins his career in Kaplan's Playgrounds department, Elliott looks forward to selling products that keep children active, engaged, and entertained. He is also eager to help his customers utilize grants that can offset the costs of playgrounds and surfacing.

Elliott's territory spans the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, which includes Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Outside of work, Elliott enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, and two Great Danes. Elliott also loves to ride motorcycles-a passion of his for over 30 years-and keep bees.

Curriculum, Assessment, and Professional Learning — Northeastern United States

About Matt Lemen

Matt brings over 30 years of experience in education and publishing to his role at Kaplan. During those years, Matt worked with core and supplemental curriculum providers and edtech companies that sold classroom materials, assessment solutions, and professional development services.

Matt serves as the Northeast Regional Sales Director for Kaplan's Curriculum, Assessment, and Professional Learning (CAPL) department. His territory includes the cities of New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Rockford, Joliet, and Indianapolis. Meeting new people, learning about their goals and needs, and helping them find resources that meet those needs are Matt's favorite parts of being a Kaplan sales representative.

Matt and his wife have been married for 35 years. They have three adult children: Max, Abby, and Ellie. In his spare time, Matt enjoys gardening, reading, and playing (or at least attempting to play) the guitar.