A Wisconsinite at heart no matter where life takes her, Alex even managed to visit 23 countries before her 23rd birthday — including a dream stop you’ll definitely want to hear about. From museums to Marvel movies, there’s plenty more to discover about ABP in this month’s Staff Spotlight.

Kate: What is your favorite nickname and how did you get it?

Alex: Alexandria Barton-Perez is a mouthful, and “Alex” must have been a popular name in the ’90s because I grew up surrounded by a ton of people with the same name. Since I have two last names, people would distinguish me by calling me “Alex B.P.” One year in grade school, I had a dance coach call me “ABP” during roll call because it was easier and faster to say. The nickname ABP caught on like wildfire, and soon my coaches, teammates, friends inside and outside of dance, teachers and even my parents started calling me ABP. The nickname followed me throughout high school, college and now into my career. 

Kate: Where do you consider “home”? What is special about it?

Alex: Home is and will always be Wisconsin. I’ve lived out of state, and even out of the country for a bit, since I was 18, but I’ll always be a born-and-bred Wisconsin-Midwest girlie at heart. Life is simple, the people are kind, everyone is a Packers fan and there are endless amounts of cheese curds, cold beer and frozen custard at your fingertips. 

Kate: What non-work activities inspire you?

Alex: Traveling. I’ve definitely learned the most about myself, other people and other cultures by traveling around the world. There’s nothing quite like being in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by people who aren’t like you, to keep you grounded and open-minded. 

Kate: If you had to include one ingredient in every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Alex: Protein in the form of meat, poultry or seafood. If it’s missing this ingredient, it’s not a meal, it’s a snack. 

Kate: What’s your favorite movie and/or book?

Alex: I have so many, and my tastes are all over the place! I love popular movies like The Notebook and Mean Girls, but also classics like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Princess Bride. I love Disney and Marvel movies — old and new — Quentin Tarantino films, and, for several years now, I’ve made an effort to watch all the movies nominated for Best Picture ahead of the Oscars ceremony.  

For books, I would say my top five are To Kill a Mockingbird, Gone Girl, Where the Crawdads Sing, The Great Alone and The Great Gatsby. 

Kate: What’s one accomplishment from your childhood that you still brag about?

Alex: I won “Most Improved” on my middle school cross-country team, meaning I started as the worst and got better! I genuinely hated every moment of it, but my parents refused to let me quit any sport or activity once the season started — if I started it, I had to finish it. So, I stuck with it and did get better. Two years ago, I actually trained for and completed my first half-marathon! While I was super proud of myself and enjoyed that experience, it’s safe to say I’ve given running an honest try, and it’s truly not for me — I’ll stick to my walks and weight training. 

Kate: What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?

Alex: This was years ago now, but I made it a goal to travel to 23 countries by my 23rd birthday, and I did it! I spent my 23rd birthday in Santorini, Greece, which was an absolute dream.

Kate: When you think about your time at Caliber, what career accomplishment or milestone makes you feel most proud?

Alex: I feel like I’ve grown by leaps and bounds during my time at Caliber — more than at any other point in my career. I’m proud of the professional development I’ve experienced here, and I feel like I’ve really grown into the PR professional I want to be.

Kate: Name one thing that amazes you about fintech or innovation in financial services.

Alex: I would bet that the majority of people — arguably almost everybody, in some way, shape or form — interact with fintech once or multiple times a day and don’t even know it. Fintech has become so deeply and seamlessly integrated into our day-to-day lives that we often don’t even realize it. Friends who no longer carry wallets, relying solely on Apple Pay, have even asked me to explain what fintech is.

Kate: What’s your favorite Caliber Perk?

Alex: I would say my favorite is our unlimited PTO and sick days. As someone who no longer lives close to home, it relieves the stress of attending major life events with family and friends that you don’t want to miss but need to travel for. But the perk I use most often is the monthly wellness stipend — because a girl’s gotta get her nails, eyelashes and eyebrows done. 

Kate: What’s your favorite thing about working at Caliber?

Alex: Cliché — but the people. I genuinely enjoy working with everyone at Caliber.

Kate: What historical figure do you most admire?

Alex: I’m the opposite of an outdoorsy person, I’m an indoorsy person. That being said, I’ve been to a ton of museums — art, science, music, pop culture — you name it. I really admire anyone who created or invented something completely original, with limited resources and technology to lean on. 

Kate: Looking back, are there any defining moments that helped shape you into the rockstar you are today?

Alex: Every moment — the good, bad and the mundane — has made me into the person I am today. 

Kate: How would you describe the duality of being a student and a teacher in Caliber College of Public Relations? 

Alex: I love being both a teacher and a student! I’m surrounded by a lot of bright people at Caliber, and I appreciate all the knowledge they’ve shared with me. On the flip side, I enjoy the opportunity to return the favor by sharing my own insights with colleagues. 

Want to join Alex Barton-Perez at Caliber? Check out our job postings page for open positions.

The Staff Spotlight Q&A series highlights Caliber team members for the stellar work they do each day and the important part we all play in the company. Read more Staff Spotlight Q&A posts to learn more about our top-tier team.