“MSOE taught me that although it’s impossible to learn everything, you can still rise to the occasion when it matters most.”

 Alex Rathke ’17 has pivoted and pursued a variety of roles on his career path since graduating as a mechanical engineer from MSOE. As the incoming president of the Alumni Association Board this July, Alex is again ready to step up and exhibit what it means to be a Raider for life.

Growing up in Random Lake, Wisconsin, Alex was an active participant in anything that involved problem-solving. This enthusiasm was one of the first things that led him on his MSOE journey. “It was easy for me to take the advice of friends and family to apply to MSOE, specifically the mechanical engineering department.” After receiving his acceptance letter, Alex visited campus and fell even more in love with the place after meeting with the men’s varsity rowing coach and soon joining the team freshman year.

However, his favorite memory at MSOE was meeting his now wife and fellow MSOE alumna, Margaret (ME ’17), the first week of classes at a volleyball game. “A month later, we were dating, and we spent the next four years tackling the mechanical engineering curriculum, Student Government Association positions, Ducks Unlimited fundraiser events and senior design competitions together.” Alex and Margaret also supported each other at their sporting events, she at his rowing regattas and he at her women’s varsity basketball games.

After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree, Alex began his career as a design engineer. Soon after, he found a new passion for working in sales. He started his sales career working at Cummins, Inc., a leading company in the design, manufacturing, distribution and services of a wide range of global power solutions. Today, he’s a sales manager at Kubota, where he works on selling various types of industrial engines for off-highway machinery. In his current role, Alex has helped drive growth across the Midwestern, Northeastern and Canadian regions ensuring that the Kubota brand is best represented by his partners. “These partnerships I’m building in this industry are crucial to the success of our product. What I love about this career is that every day is different, and it has led me to continue to grow in all areas of our business.”

When he’s not traveling for work, Alex is actively involved in volunteering in his community and through his alma mater. This year will mark his 13th year volunteering for the Badger Boys State program, aimed at teaching high school students leadership, civics and communication skills through creating a mock government. Alex has also remained active at MSOE, serving as a Board Member within the Friends of MSOE Rowing Board from 2018 - 2023. This group of men and women rowing alumni compete in rowing competitions and support the MSOE men’s and women’s varsity crew teams to ensure the sustainability and growth of these programs. After becoming a member of the Alumni Association Board in 2021, he helped establish affinity groups for the university, allowing other alumni communities to build similar groups with common interests.

This summer, Alex will become the MSOE Alumni Association Board president, a role that he is especially excited about. His goal as president is to connect MSOE alumni across the country, furthering outreach to alumni outside of the Midwest, and making it easier to participate in alumni gatherings. “I originally joined the Alumni Association because I wanted more people to know about this Midwestern gem of a university. I full-heartedly believe that MSOE is one of the best engineering programs in the nation, and it’s the alumni’s responsibility to spread this view.”