Al Krueger

Leadership, Innovation, and Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Al Krueger

Leadership, Innovation, and Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I am a starter, leader and human-centered systems thinker who has launched and led three companies as well as worked in and consulted within startup and enterprise environments throughout my career.

During that time, I have established a track record for being a driver, creating change, bringing ideas to life and getting things done well.

My skills include: crafting exceptional top-level strategic and holistic vision, executive-level leadership, creating balanced revenue models, leading innovation processes, leveraging design thinking / human-centered design and innovation process in startups, enterprise and Fortune 100 settings, driving positive revenue and sales, building and leading teams and creating cultures that foster innovation, success and growth. All with a human-centered perspective.

In my role, as a leader on the Innovation team at Advocate Aurora Health (a 28-hospital; 75,000 employee organization), I work to help the organization start, build and scale new ventures and am the managing director of our Sports Performance domain and building from the ground up and leading the development of a systemwide human-centered design team and capabilities.

In 2014, I co-founded and led Knihter (Rethink spelled backwards), a tech, innovation + digital venture group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that builds, launches and runs new companies. In my role as managing director / entrepreneur in residence, I developed and oversaw our investment vetting process, operations, negotiations and $1M+ in investment and value contributions.

Out of Knihter, I led the relaunch and served as the president of hankr, the mouthwateringly-visual, food-finding app company. I drove a strategic pivot of the company, fully redeveloped the brand and identity and drove positive revenue growth. It was a successful proof of concept of the hankr MVP.

In 2007, I founded, led and grew Comet, a brand and digital agency. In 2010 we merged with a larger advertising and design agency and two years later, I executed a positive exit.

Outside of work, I am the husband of Jennifer and the father of three great kids, including twin daughters. I am also an elite competitive cyclist and am especially passionate about mountain bike and cyclocross racing, both of which, I am a multiple-time state champion, state series champion and compete nationally...I also do a bit of running.