is an innovative partnership between the Diederich College of Communication and . Alumni Angelo Trozzolo, presient and CEO of Trozzolo Communications Group, and Erik Brooks, Class of 1997, have returned to Marquette to work with the next generation of communication professionals. 

Think of it like an academic medical center, but for communication students, as students have the opportunity to work in a professional agency setting on real client work, while being mentored by professionals in the industry. We think it is the only partnership like it in the country.

With exposure to real-world business problems and solutions, this is an opportunity for students to be part of developing and executing the strategies and tactics to solve those business problems for clients.

Diederich College professionals in residence Dave Wilcox and Dave Hanneken serve as the staff advisors, putting their decades of experience to work on behalf of our students and the firm’s clients.

Learn more about us in .

Who is Carl?

The firm’s namesake is Carl Schrank, a longtime professor and student adviser at Marquette who passed away in 2019. Schrank earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marquette. He served in the U.S. Navy, and worked for Motorola in Chicago and Wisconsin Bell before joining the Marquette faculty. Carl was a member of the Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows, served as president of the Milwaukee Advertising Club, was national president of the Marquette Alumni Association, and was active in many other professional and civic organizations.

Schrank was Angelo’s adviser and mentor at Marquette. He was famous for keeping in touch with his former students, offering career advice and guidance, and ensuring they were up to speed on all the latest at their alma mater. Naming the agency after Carl ensures his important legacy lives on at the university and in Milwaukee.

Join the Team

Are you a student, interested in working for Carl Collective? The firm accepts applications throughout the year, hiring based on client needs.

For More Information

Please contact Regional Director Erik Brooks at ebrooks@carlcollective.com or 414-261-7631.