Great Expectations

Seeing an opportunity and making the most of it. That’s the thread that runs through Mike Kretsinger’s career, from his choice to attend Hennepin Technical College while still in high school to owning two companies devoted to helping organizations establish a memorable brand presence – both online and offline. In between, he honed his skills in advertising and capitalized on opportunities to learn as much as he could about emerging technology. All that paid off: Kretsinger is co-founder and principal of M.J. Kretsinger, a full-service advertising and marketing communications company, and Atomic Playpen, an online strategy and development firm, both based in Minneapolis. But he still appreciates the start he got at HTC.

As a high school student interested in art, Kretsinger found that by the time he was a sophomore he had completed most of the art classes offered at his high school in St. Louis Park, Minnesota So when he learned that there was an opportunity to advance his studies in his junior year by attending classes at HTC in Brooklyn Park, he was ready to see where it might lead.

“I really loved it,” says Kretsinger of his first taste of what was then the Commercial Art program. “I got hands-on experience that I needed to start my career.” After graduating from HTC in 1987, Kretsinger’s first job was with Minnesota Suburban newspapers, initially as a keyliner and then working in the Advertising department. With the advent of computers in the industry, the newspaper group was one of the first in the state to add Macintosh computers. Kretsinger benefited from the company-paid training that launched him into the computer age. He went on to work as a production artist at The Zimmerman Group in Edina; after three years, he became assistant art director at Webber Advertising in Eden Prairie, and then art director at WatersMolitor, an advertising and promotion firm in Minnetonka.

In 1996, Kretsinger launched a freelance career, then three years later met his business partner, Troy Venjohn, and decided that with the growth of the Internet, the time was right to focus on designing websites that provide clients with a professional online presence. They were paid $5,000 for the first site they designed and they’ve been busy and growing ever since. Together, the sister companies M.J. Kretsinger and Atomic Playpen have over 30 employees and a client list that includes Target, TCF Bank, Polaris, Aramark and the Minnesota Vikings.

M.J. Kretsinger Advertising is recognized as being in the top 20 advertising agencies in the state and Atomic Playpen is in the top 10, based on revenue. Over the past two years, the agencies have won over 25 local and national awards for their work, including recognition in the Communication Arts Magazine’s Interactive Design Annual 10.

As an employer, Kretsinger says, “I look for a portfolio that shows hands-on experience, and that’s the advantage HTC graduates have in the marketplace. The college helps you position yourself to sell yourself and make the most of your talents, but you need to have the passion to do it.”

Nearly two decades after graduating, Kretsinger has found an opportunity to help others find out what HTC offers: Atomic Playpen is in the process of redesigning the HTC website. Now that his alma mater is also a client, it’s Mike Kretsinger’s turn to take a look back, even as he keeps his eye on the future.

To learn more, visit www.mjkretsinger.com

Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu

Copyright © 2008 by Hennepin Technical College

 >>