Finding his direction: How NWTC helped elevate marketing grad’s life and career

Chris Meidl, a Marketing associate degree graduate, will be honored with the 2025 Soaring Recent Alumni Award during NWTC Alumni Night on November 19.

Before enrolling at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 2019, Chris Meidl was at a crossroads. He had been attending a four-year university in Minnesota studying biology. Realizing his major wasn’t the right fit, he moved back home, feeling a bit lost.  

“I moved home at a time when my peers were graduating and starting their careers, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do.” 

With the encouragement of his parents, Meidl took a fresh look at his interests and discovered a spark for business and marketing. That discovery led him to enroll at NWTC, a decision he now calls “the best one I ever made.”

“I found a real sense of community, a real sense of confidence within myself,” Meidl said. “That led me to a career I love and excelled in. I owe a lot of credit to NWTC, and I feel like everything I do professionally, even on a personal level, is embedded with a little bit of NWTC in it. 

Today, Meidl is a national sales manager for Spectrum Reach, overseeing marketing campaigns for brands like Chevy, Ford, and Toyota. He’s one of just 28 national sales managers and the youngest in the company, a Fortune 100 business. 

Professionally, Meidl has reached many impressive milestones – meeting budget goals year after year, leading large-scale marketing strategies, and earning recognition for his success. But when asked about his proudest accomplishment, he doesn’t hesitate — his family comes first. 

“NWTC gave me a lot of confidence and opportunity to understand what I wanted to do with my life,” he said. “And because of that, it has allowed me to get into a role now with my career where I can support my family – and put ourselves in a position where we can be a happy family together.” 

Giving back and paying it forward  

That sense of gratitude extends beyond his home and workplace. Meidl’s involvement in the community includes serving as chamber ambassador with the Heart of Valley Chamber of Commerce and as part of the Make-A-Wish Leadership Golf Committee, helping raise funds to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses. 

He has also continued to stay connected to NWTC, giving back to the college that helped him find his direction. He often reaches out to faculty when his company has job openings and has spoken to marketing students about his career journey. 

“I’ve been invited back to speak at classes about my time at NWTC and what I do now, hoping to inspire somebody to find what they’re passionate about and find a career they love, just like I have,” Meidl said. 

He is currently enrolled in the College of Business at Oregon State University with the goal of obtaining his bachelor’s degree. “After that, I would love to continue my educational journey and obtain my master’s degree,” he said. “I wouldn’t be on this path if it was not for NWTC and simply the relationships I have made there.”