Meeting Market Demand: How a WCTC Alum Adapted and Built a Digital Agency
Alex Albrecht ‘14
When Alex Albrecht ’14 first walked onto the Waukesha County Technical College campus, he was interested in becoming a teacher’s aide. He enrolled in the program now known as Foundations of Teacher Education, but he soon discovered teaching wasn’t his passion.
“Just to test the waters,” Albrecht signed up for a marketing class, and it led to a career pivot. “That single class made all the difference, and I happily switched my major to Marketing,” he said.
Honing his Skills at WCTC
As a student at WCTC, Albrecht got involved on campus where he could use his communication and marketing skills, including serving as a campus ambassador and as vice president of civic consciousness for Collegiate DECA, where he led fundraising efforts for charity.
"It provided an invaluable environment to cut my teeth, learn from mistakes and grow as a leader,” Albrecht said, noting the DECA role required extensive planning, organizing and collaboration skills.
The critical life skills he learned through his classes and campus involvement quickly paid off. “Networking and communication were woven into every single class, and those two skills continue to pay dividends in my career today,” he said.
Albrecht also developed an entrepreneurial mindset early on when a marketing class assignment required him to create a business concept from scratch: a sports memorabilia company. “It was the first time I realized I had the potential to turn those skills into my own company one day,” he said.
The Path to Becoming an Entrepreneur
He earned his associate degree in Marketing in 2014, along with a certificate in Entrepreneurship, followed by a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Concordia University Wisconsin – all of which helped lay the groundwork for what would become his own agency: Badger Digital Marketing Solutions.
After graduating, Albrecht’s career path took a few turns before starting his agency five years ago.
Badger Digital Marketing Solutions is a full-service digital marketing agency, which operates on the philosophy of “Foundation First, Marketing Second.” The firm specializes in automated lead capture and conversion through its ProspectMax solution, to ensure businesses never miss a lead. Services range from digital strategy to complete lead management, helping inquiries become customers.
He spent several years working for a trucking company in sales, brokerage and after-hours support roles. Additionally, Albrecht stayed involved in his family’s publication business, TV Weekly the Redbook, a Milwaukee community shopping and TV guide, which kept his marketing focus sharp.
During COVID-19, the family business, which relied heavily on foot traffic, was forced to adapt and transition to a more online approach to keep moving forward. This put the wheels in motion for Albrecht’s business, as he analyzed the changes in consumer behavior and researched online business models. He then returned to WCTC to take small business classes and create a comprehensive business plan – opening his agency shortly thereafter.
“A combination of factors ultimately inspired me to take the leap,” he said. “The dramatic shifts brought on by COVID-19 and emerging market trends highlighted a clear need for digital solutions, while the strong support of my friends and family gave me the final push and confidence to build a business of my own.”
Albrecht said there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to running a business, but overall, he said it’s been a rewarding experience.
“Some of the biggest hurdles have been mastering the operational side … and adapting to the fact that business truly does run around the clock. But the rewards make every challenge worth it,” he said. “There is no better feeling than landing a new client, delivering exceptional work and seeing their excitement when our strategies produce real, positive results for their business.”