Sebastian “Saj” Thachenkary, vice president of marketing and community engagement at MSOE, has been named one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Chief Marketing Officers of the Year. 

The CMO of the Year awards are part of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s C-Suite Stars Awards, which recognize outstanding leaders in four categories: Top Corporate Counsel; Chief Financial Officer; Chief Marketing Officer; and Chief Information Officer.  

“We received many nominations for each program, with the winners being chosen by the Milwaukee Business Journal editors based on accomplishments in the office and work in the community,” said Mark Kass, editor-in-chief.  

In 2017 MSOE President John Walz, Ph.D. created the position of vice president of marketing and community engagement at MSOE and appointed Thachenkary to that role.  

“This position was created to focus MSOE’s marketing and community engagement initiatives under a single vice president and to substantially increase the success and visibility of these efforts,” said Walz. “In today’s competitive collegiate environment, an innovative and effective marketing leader is absolutely critical. Saj has taken these efforts at MSOE to unprecedented levels. The impact is already visible in such metrics as the level of national recognition of the university and record enrollment levels for the 2018 incoming class, which he helped to achieve by partnering with the admissions and academics teams.”  

Under his leadership, MSOE’s Marketing Communications Department conducted a market study of high school students in the region to understand how MSOE is viewed; engaged a national branding firm to start the process of developing an effective and easily-recognized brand for MSOE; developed a new and improved website for the university; led the announcement of one of the largest gifts in university history—the $34 million Dwight and Dian Diercks Computational Science Hall; helped to launch MSOE’s new Computer Science degree in partnership with faculty and admissions staff that significantly exceeded first-year enrollment goals; launched a new MSOE Raiders brand with the Athletics Department; and helped build and implement the university’s strategic plan. Thachenkary also helped increase the visibility and role of the Grohmann Museum and WMSE 91.7FM on campus and in the community.  

Thachenkary has more than 20 years of marketing leadership experience. He directs the university’s brand and marketing strategy and oversees the Marketing Communications Department, Grohmann Museum, WMSE 91.7FM. Outside of MSOE, Thachenkary served as president of the Shorewood Foundation board of directors. He is also a member of the board of directors of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.