At Lakeshirts, we don't wait for the future. We build it. Across our business, teams are already using artificial intelligence to streamline workflows, improve quality, and move faster. This role expands our commitment to Continuous Improvement by helping us stay nimble, thoughtful, and forward-thinking as technology evolves.
We're looking for an AI Innovations Specialist who is excited to explore, experiment, and uncover practical opportunities where AI and automation can make a real impact. This role is part investigator, part builder, and part translator, connecting emerging technology with real business needs across manufacturing, operations, art, customer service, and support teams.
Reporting to the IT Manager, you'll ask good questions, run pilots, document findings, and clearly communicate recommendations. Project management and process ownership remain with our PMO and department teams. This role calls for a helper-not-a-hero mentality: someone who shares knowledge, supports team ownership, and leaves behind clear documentation.
Shift: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Pay: $50,000 to $65,000
Growth: Build expertise in applied AI, workflow automation, process improvement, responsible technology adoption, and cross-functional enablement.
Lakeshirts offers a fun, creative, team-driven culture where team members are empowered to grow and thrive. The package includes compensation guided by meritocracy with a daily pay option; health and life insurance plus voluntary dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, critical illness, and accident coverage beginning the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment; up to 22 paid days off during the first year; profit sharing; a 401(k) program; subsidized onsite breakfast, lunch, and snacks at Detroit Lakes HQ; dogs at work; a relaxed dress code; an employee merchandise discount; and flexible work schedules based on role and business needs.
OUR CULTURE is one-of-a-kind and truly sets us apart. We are proud of our humble beginnings and non-corporate style. We offer a unique atmosphere, unlike any other manufacturer. We work hard to be the best and we seek only committed individuals that will help move our company forward and embrace our values and culture. Lakeshirts | Blue 84 is one of the largest privately owned screenprint manufacturers in the United States, responsible for decorating and distribution of a wide variety of garments for the resort, college and K-12 markets. At our headquarters in Detroit Lakes, MN, we employ over 1000 great people, proudly producing 35,000+ garments daily. It's not just a job but a lifestyle. Our job descriptions help support and guide you in the role you play in making our company successful. LIFE'S BETTER IN A T-SHIRT. IT REALLY IS.
Employee must be able to see and hear, read and write. Requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, judgment, reading, speaking, following direction, handling multiple priorities, and reasoning.
CONTINUOUSLY: Sit.
FREQUENTLY: Reach below shoulder height.
OCCASIONALLY: Lift, stand, walk, carry, push, pull, balance, bend, twist, reach, lift under 10 lbs., lift 10-24 lbs., carry under 10 lbs., and carry 10-24 lbs.
NEVER: Climb, crawl, lift 25-50 lbs., lift over 50 lbs., carry 25-50 lbs., or carry over 50 lbs.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and should in no way be considered a contract or guarantee of employment. Employee may perform other related duties as needed, based on the ongoing needs of the business. Minnesota is an Employment-At-Will state and implies no specific length of employment.
Lakeshirts is a custom apparel decorating company that started in our owner’s parents’ basement in 1984. We have since grown to an $200 million+ company in a 275,000 square foot facility. Our production floor includes 48 automatic screenprint presses, 32 multi-head embroidery machines, six 60-foot laser appliqué bridges, three sublimation presses, and a number of dogs running around the place.
Lakeshirts sales continue to grow, as does its profitability, due to the hard work and continuous improvement efforts of its 500+ employees and over 60 nation-wide reps.
Lakeshirts provides decorated apparel to thousands of customers in the resort and college markets, being a preferred choice to customers based on its breadth of great designs, great garments in its inventory, and reliable and responsive delivery.
With more than 40 artists on our staff, we create thousands of pieces of art each year, giving each customer a unique look. We have over 100 bodystyles in stock, and each one comes in a multitude of colors, totaling more than 1,000,000 pieces in our inventory.
This is all done in a culture that reflects respect, community, and fun. Our culture is second-to-none and must be experienced to be truly understood. If you happen to be in the lakes area, we invite you to stop in and see for yourself. We always enjoy visits, and we’re proud to show off the community that we’ve called “home” for all of our lives. And if you happen to bring along a Milk Bone or two with you, we know you’ll make some very quick and deep friendships.
Life’s Better in a T-shirt
