KANSAS CITY, KS, October 16, 2025 - Walz Tetrick Advertising (WTA), one of the leading full-service independent advertising agencies in the Midwest, today announced the launch of Fuel Labs, a dedicated artificial intelligence division designed to help clients leverage AI technology for competitive advantage. Led by WTA Chief Strategy Officer Brian Olson, Fuel Labs addresses the growing challenge businesses face in navigating the overwhelming landscape of AI tools and solutions flooding the market.
The launch comes as industry studies show that practically 90% of corporate AI initiatives fall short of their promise, largely due to lack of clarity and strategic implementation. Fuel Labs positions WTA as a strategic advisor for businesses seeking to harness AI’s potential without falling victim to the confusion surrounding the technology’s rapid evolution.
“Every one of our clients is being bombarded with AI sales pitches from companies that may or may not have anything meaningful to offer,” said Olson. “Our goal is to cut through the noise and help clients understand what AI actually is, how it can be leveraged in their business, and how to achieve real results. We’re not selling products — we’re building solutions that drive actionable insights.”
Fuel Labs operates on four core principles:
“Great ideas still start with people. Fuel Labs gives our teams the added AI capacities to sharpen strategies, enable bolder creative work, and deliver clear, measurable results for clients,” said Charlie Tetrick, CEO of WTA.
This department combines WTA’s existing expertise with research, strategy, and data/tech to create Actionable Intelligence for clients:
Fuel Labs works across WTA’s creative, media, and strategy teams to integrate AI capabilities throughout the client experience.
“This evolution represents the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of the agency” said Katy Jennings, Director of Business Strategy. “A 135-person agency in Kansas City, and our strategic partners, deliver sophisticated AI solutions to gain competitive advantages, often more efficiently and effectively. We’re leveling the playing field for our clients.”
The department has already developed proprietary solutions for clients across retail and manufacturing sectors, including advanced customer analytics platforms that provide real-time insights into purchasing behavior, price sensitivity, and personalized marketing opportunities. And the team is developing AI-enabled models/platforms for specific disciplines within the agency including media optimization, AISO (AI Search Optimization) research and chat-based analytics engines.
As for Olson’s AI acumen in leading Fuel Labs, he brings more than 25 years of data and analytics experience, including expertise in retail, finance, CPG, manufacturing, and e-commerce sectors. Under his leadership, WTA has trained its entire 135-person staff on AI tools and continues to identify and adopt use cases throughout the agency.
“What makes this particularly exciting is the depth of talent here in Kansas City,” Olson noted. “Our partners spent a decade in Silicon Valley developing Big Data & AI solutions and there is a significant community of AI practitioners and enthusiasts in the market. We can deliver cutting-edge solutions that help our clients compete better in their respective markets.”
“The technology exists to help businesses learn faster and make better decisions than their competition,” said Jennings. “The challenge has been implementation and integration. Fuel Labs solves that challenge by providing both the strategic framework and the technical execution clients need to succeed.”
WTA plans to continue to showcase Fuel Labs capabilities with case studies and demos through year end, with particular focus on helping clients gain clarity around and leverage AI to impact KPIs.
About Walz Tetrick Advertising
Walz Tetrick is a full-service advertising agency in the metro area of Kansas City. Founded in 1967, Walz Tetrick is one of the independent agencies driving change and innovation in the Midwest and serves clients nationwide in sports, healthcare, multi-unit restaurant and retail, higher education, B2B, and entertainment verticals. The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce named Walz Tetrick a Top 10 Small Business in 2024. Owner and CEO Charlie Tetrick values his talented staff of 135 and creates a uniquely positive and supportive office culture.
Learn more at Walz Tetrick Advertising.
About Fuel Labs
Fuel Labs is WTA’s dedicated AI department focused on helping clients navigate and implement artificial intelligence solutions for competitive advantage. Led by Chief Strategy Officer Brian Olson, Fuel Labs provides strategic guidance, custom solution development, and ongoing support for businesses seeking to leverage AI technology for growth. The department combines internal expertise with strategic partnerships to deliver comprehensive AI capabilities across market intelligence, customer intelligence, and operational intelligence.
Learn more at Fuel Labs.