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Troy Aitken ‘18 had just graduated from Christopher Newport when his undergraduate research was featured in this article.
So what has Troy been up to since? Turns out - a lot. He and classmate Nick Konstantinidis ‘18 have founded a fast growing company. Buzzlead offers business clients sales lead generation through email. We had questions.
What have you been doing since graduation?
Since graduating from Christopher Newport University in 2018, my professional journey has been a unique exploration of sales and entrepreneurship. After getting a referral from an alumni, I began my career at Gartner, the world's leading IT research and advisory firm, where I quickly advanced from Account Executive to launching their Center of Sales Excellence in Dallas, Texas.
Then I returned to Virginia and joined OpenWater, a startup that thrived during the pandemic by pioneering virtual conference solutions. After the company's successful acquisition, I was inspired by the CEO to launch my own venture. Though the business didn't succeed, the experience was invaluable, teaching me critical lessons about entrepreneurship.
My sales career continued to flourish joining a couple of different sales organizations, but the pivotal moment came when my college roommate Nick and I recognized an opportunity to leverage our combined sales expertise. Together, we founded Buzzlead, a B2B (business to business) lead generation agency that helps businesses scale their outreach and opportunities.
Describe Buzzlead and why it is taking off?
Buzzlead is a B2B lead generation agency that pours rocket fuel on how businesses connect and grow. Let me paint a picture: imagine you're a local cleaning business in Newport News. Traditionally, you'd spend countless hours networking, distributing flyers, knocking on doors, and meeting potential clients one by one—a time-consuming and often frustrating process.
We've streamlined that approach with technology. Our agency utilizes strategic cold email campaigns, sending 1,000-3,000 targeted emails daily for each client. The result? We consistently generate $300k-$500k in qualified sales opportunities within just 90 days. Instead of engaging customers individually, businesses can now reach hundreds, even thousands of potential clients simultaneously.
Our method isn't just about volume—it's about smart, strategic outreach that connects the right businesses with the right opportunities.
How is your CNU education and the connections you made here helping in your career?
Christopher Newport University wasn't just a college experience—it was a transformative journey that laid the foundation for my entire career. The academic rigor was crucial, but the real magic happened through personal connections and collaborative research.
Working closely with professors like Dr. Dae-Hee Kim and Dr. Lisa Spiller, we delved into groundbreaking research on sales education and high student placement rates in corporate environments. Our work was so compelling that we were honored with an award for ‘Best Sales Article of the Year,’ highlighting the practical impact of our research.
Perhaps most significantly, CNU is where I met Nick, my current business partner. Our connection, forged during those college years, would prove to be nothing short of the kind of professional luck you can't plan.
CNU didn't just teach me sales—it showed me how strategic relationships and continuous learning can unlock unprecedented opportunities.
Favorite CNU memory?
Picture this: a tall, decidedly un-coordinated blonde guy with zero dance skills, suddenly thrust into the spotlight of the Gamma Phi Beta dance competition. That was me—a Kappa Sigma fraternity member who inexplicably volunteered when no one else would.
What followed was ten weeks of intense practice with our team twice a week, transforming from a dance novice to a surprisingly competent performer. When competition night arrived, our beautifully choreographed routine came together magically. The energy was electric, with friends and family cheering us on. The ultimate reward? We won the entire competition!
For someone who once considered "dancing" a generous term for my movements, this victory remains one of my most cherished CNU memories—a testament to stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing unexpected challenges. I still pull up the dance video on YouTube to this day.
Any Advice for the Class of 2025?
Every business class talks about success, but here's what they don't tell you: you have to mess up to make it. Trust me - I crashed and burned six times before Buzzlead took off. But each of those "failures"? They taught me something I couldn't have learned any other way. The thing is, finding your path isn't like following a map. It's more like exploring without GPS - you'll take wrong turns, hit dead ends, and sometimes end up somewhere totally unexpected. The key isn't being perfect - it's being brave enough to start, tough enough to keep going when things go wrong, and smart enough to learn from the stumbles.
At the end of the day, it's not about never falling - it's about what you do with those falls that matters.