ProdegeMR Through the Eyes of Its First Hire, Calvin Friesth

Seeing ProdegeMR from Calvin Friesth’s perspective offers a remarkable story of growth, grit, and innovation. Calvin was the first hire at ProdegeMR and wore many different hats during the early days (account management, sales, marketing, etc), eventually transitioning to his current role as Senior Director, Client Development. 

Calvin identifies hiring a product team to build out innovative tools including receipt capture & geofencing, adding an expert research solutions & programming team, and bringing in skilled B2B marketers as major turning points that enabled ProdegeMR to grow its client base and expand its offerings. With a strong passion for representing the company and forging client relationships, Calvin enjoys witnessing firsthand Prodege’s powerful impact. “We work with all different types of clients. The clients really believe that we have something special and it’s something we all see internally and know as this team has continued to soar and grow.”

Calvin Friesth

Calvin’s entry into market research was unplanned, as he had initially envisioned working at an ad agency. During his job search, a friend in market research told Calvin he’d be a great fit within the industry and referred him for a role at his company. Calvin had a great rapport with this group and felt comfortable enough to write a witty and unconventional thank you note. Calvin’s friend at the company was embarrassed when he found out, though not for long, as Calvin was offered the job. 

Calvin has a wealth of advice and information for people interested in beginning a career in market research. He advises, “Take the chance, don’t be afraid. You’ll find an amazing group of smart people that are looking to push the industry forward. We’re interested in how the brain works and uncovering important insights.”

When looking to enhance his team, Calvin gauges, “Is this person qualified and can they bring something to the table? Are they going to be a beacon of light and excited to be there?”

When he’s not working, Calvin enjoys being a part of Prodege’s intramural sports leagues (he was even voted MVP the past 2 years!) and traveling. He’s got an upcoming trip to Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia…any must-see recommendations for him?