Meet Lexi Metzger | Marketing Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lexi Metzger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lexi, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Fort Collins, CO and am blessed to still live near my family. Growing up, family was everything to me. My siblings were my best friends and our family was extremely close-knit. We did everything together, whether it was work or play. Our family valued truth, honesty, and open communication with one another. Now, as a young adult in the workplace, those values that were once instilled in me are the guiding principles for business. Being invested in my family taught me how to work with others–even when you don’t always agree!

From kindergarten all the way until the end of high school, I was homeschooled. I am so grateful to my parents for the hard work and time they poured into my education. One of the most valuable lessons they taught me was how to think for myself and to continue learning my entire life. These lessons prepared me for the workplace now! I recognize that I most certainly don’t know everything I need to know to succeed in my job. Some days, I’m approached with projects or tasks that I may not feel qualified or confident to complete. However, thanks to my parents and education, I have confidence that if I don’t know how to do something, I have the proper tools in front of me to learn how. By asking the right questions and having a humble spirit to learn from others, you can tackle whatever task is in front of you!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In May of 2020, I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Apparel Design and Merchandising, with a minor in Business Administration. I had high hopes of launching into the fashion world and becoming a buyer or marketer for a large retailer. However, COVID-19 had other plans that derailed internships, job opportunities, and the grand plan I thought I had for my future career.

2 days after my graduation (which ended up being a “ceremony” on Zoom!), I started my first full-time job at Walker Distributing Company– an outdoor power equipment distributor. I became the marketing leader for over 35 accounts, which placed me in charge of all their marketing efforts (print, digital, social media, video, etc.). This change of course in my career was daunting at first and I often asked myself, “How on earth did I get here?”. I felt like I didn’t belong in this industry and like no one would take a 20 year old college graduate with a degree in “fashion” seriously. Now, I have been at this job for over two years, and I am so grateful that I ended up here!

In September of 2021, I was extremely humbled and honored to accept the President’s Award for Excellence in Marketing from Walker Manufacturing Company at their annual Distributor Meeting. I never would have imagined that I would receive that award in an industry and a career I didn’t expect to pursue, and I am still filled with gratitude for the people who made that possible by investing in me from day one.

This job has stretched me and challenged me both personally and professionally. As I was faced with projects and responsibilities that I didn’t know how to complete, it forced me to stop and ask for help from others. It humbled me and helped me realize that in order to succeed, you must ask questions and ask for wisdom from those around you. I would never be where I am at with this job today if it hadn’t been for the people around me who took a chance on me initially, then continued to pour into me and help me grow along the way!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Colorado and always enjoy showing people around Fort Collins. The first thing I would do is head to Josh & John’s Ice Cream (even if it’s dinner time) and get them a Salted Peanut Butter Cup ice cream cone. Next, we’d head up to Horsetooth Reservoir and catch a beautiful Colorado sunset. After a good night’s sleep, it’s off to Lima Coffee Roasters for cold brew, then Snooze for the best French Toast you’ll ever eat in your life. So far, this has mostly been just about food, so I guess I’ll also add a hike up to the top of Arthur’s Rock and enjoying the views of Lory State Park!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this to and shout out my dad for teaching me the value of hard work, believing in me far more than I believe in myself, and for sharing his love of a well-formatted spreadsheet with me. I would never be the person I am today without his steadfast love and leadership, and I hope to be a little bit more like him every day!

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrametzger99