We’re Not Dreamers, We’re Innovators.

We work hard to bring your dreams to life.

OUR STORY

AKC Marketing was born out of necessity.

Big companies have big infrastructures and red tape. That size can hinder the speed and agility required to take a business to the next level. AKC was built with speed and agility in mind. Nimble, quick-thinking teams act as an extension of the client, so success can happen at incredible speeds.

 

At AKC, every client is treated like the only client.

We hand pick our partners — and to us, they truly are partners — to ensure a good fit and the success of both agency and client. Together, we create effective, proven and stunning marketing campaigns designed to captivate, inform and convert. We exceed expectations so business can boom.

In Memory of Our Founder Scott Clem

Scott Clem, a veteran executive in the advertising industry, served as Chief Executive Officer of AKC Marketing since the company’s development in April 2007.

Scott’s enjoyment of the marketing process and passion for the industry directly led to AKC Marketing’s founding. He was inspired to build a business based on the effectiveness and efficiency traditional advertising agency models created, while embracing the latest technologies and services that would benefit associates and clients.

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HubSpot Certified
Certified HubSpot and inbound marketing experts, AKC is full of award-winning marketers and all-around amazing people who want to help businesses succeed.
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We make our clients’ lives easier by seamlessly integrating our organizations to produce better results.
Our office is full of subject-matter experts dedicated to client success. And our turnaround time is downright impressive, just ask our clients.

Our Work

OUR TEAM

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Shawn Brincks

President

Shawn Brincks is the President of AKC Marketing, Dwebware and REL Productions. Prior to that role, he served as the Vice President and Director of Sales for each of those companies.

Shawn is a graduate of Central College in Pella, Iowa, and received his master’s degree from Illinois State University. He is a proud father and an avid Cyclone fan and supporter.

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Kim Adler

Account Executive

Kim Adler is an Account Executive with more than two decades of agency and in-house marketing experience. Prior to AKC, her client work included FedEx, The Coca-Cola Company, Polo Ralph Lauren and the International Olympic Committee. She has degrees from the University of Iowa in political science and communications.

Kim likes to spend time with friends and enjoy art at her father’s art gallery.

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Marcie Ceaser

Accountant

Marcie Ceaser is the Accountant for AKC Marketing where she oversees all financial operations. Prior to working at AKC, she worked in public accounting for 21 years. She graduated from Western Washington University with a major in accounting and a minor in business administration.

Marcie loves spending time with family and painting in her spare time.

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Emily Chambers

Digital Marketing Specialist

Emily Chambers is a Digital Marketing Specialist. She handles the day-to-day projects for the client to ensure timely deployment.

Before working at AKC, Emily spent five years working at an international technology and consulting firm on their digital project management team. She is very passionate about her cat Penelope and dog Maddie.

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Amber Claus

Graphic Designer

Amber Claus is a designer on the creative team with more than five years of experience. She works hard to clearly convey the client's company brand and messaging.

A University of Northern Iowa alum, Amber enjoys illustrating and binging horror films/shows.

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Cole Ebel

Content & Social Media Coordinator

Cole Ebel is a Content and Social Media Coordinator, working on marketing, social content, strategies and overseeing campaigns from conception to completion.

A Greater Des Moines area transplant, Cole keeps busy by attending local events, concerts and festivals, eating his way around the Metro, and finding his next favorite food or drink.

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Ann Edwards

Senior PR Manager

Ann Marie Edwards is the Senior Public Relations Manager at AKC Marketing.
Ann Marie has worked in agricultural communications throughout her career.

A graduate of Iowa State University, she and her family are passionate about the Cyclones, wrestling and every sport in between.

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Baillee Furst

Social Media Manager

Baillee Furst is the Social Media Manager at AKC Marketing. She helps manage client organic and paid social media campaigns and ensures the utilization of SEO and SEM best practices. 

Baillee is a 2020 graduate of Simpson College. In her free time, she enjoys reading and supporting the Cyclones and the L.A. Dodgers.

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Cassie George

Merchandise Manager

Cassie George is the Merchandise Manager at AKC Marketing where she oversees sourcing, managing, and curating apparel and promotional products.

Outside of work, Cassie enjoys spending her time with her husband Will, daughter Blazi and son Hoyt on their farm, working cattle or riding horses together.

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Taylor Glade

Merchandising Coordinator

Taylor Glade is a Merchandising Coordinator at AKC Marketing where she assists in building custom sites for clients, creating purchase orders, operating production equipment, sorting and checking in clothing, and fulfilling custom merchandise orders.

As a 2021 graduate from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in apparel, merchandising and design, Taylor is passionate about all things apparel.

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Amanda Greteman

Art Director

Amanda Greteman is an Art Director at AKC Marketing with nearly a decade of client experience. She creates and manages the overall design and visual style for client ad campaigns, photoshoots, event spaces and dealer network needs.

Amanda is a University of Iowa graduate and loves spending time with her family.

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Scott Holton

Marketing Automation/Business Intelligence Manager

Scott Holton is the Marketing Automation Manager at AKC Marketing. In addition to overseeing the Business Intelligence team, he is responsible for developing inbound marketing strategies, implementing campaigns and using customer relationship management (CRM) software for lead generation and sales.

Scott and his wife Diane of 23 years have two daughters in college, Carter and Lilly, and a sassy boxer named Memphis Blue.

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Neon McGraw

Content Manager

Neon McGraw brings two decades of copywriting and advertising experience to his role as Content Manager at AKC. His penchant for words and languages sees him creating compelling content for myriad media. He loves a turn of phrase that turns heads.

When not tapping away at a keyboard, you’re likely to find Neon at the local observatory, camping in the deepest woods he can find or absorbed in the latest physics journals.

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Aimee Menhusen

Digital Marketing Specialist

Aimee Menhusen has eight years of digital marketing experience and, in her role, helps to strategize and execute effective campaigns. She is certified by HubSpot Academy in Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing and SEO. She is passionate about creating memorable marketing experiences that deliver results.

Outside of AKC, Aimee enjoys biking, hiking, camping, concerts and spending time with her two young sons–preferably outdoors.

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Gentil Ntegeyimana

Marketing Automation Specialist

Gentil Ntegeyimana is a Marketing Automation Specialist at AKC Marketing, managing clients’ digital assets. A Grand View University graduate, he has almost a decade of experience in digital marketing.

At 6’3" Gentil loves playing basketball and outdoor activities. He also speaks French and Kinyarwanda.

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Brianne Pudenz

Digital Marketing Specialist

Brianne Pudenz started working at AKC in 2020 as a Data Analyst. She now works in HubSpot to build out marketing assets for campaigns and events. One of her favorite parts of the job is helping the client focus on an inbound marketing strategy.

In her free time, Brianne likes to explore Des Moines, spend time outside — whether that is at a park or on a patio — attend ISU sporting events, travel and enjoy time with family and friends.

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Scott Rhone

Graphic Designer

Scott Rhone is a design professional with more years of experience in marketing and communications than he wants to admits. He graduated from Grand View and has spent his career in the Des Moines area.

Scott has been married for 20 years to his wonderful wife, Jodi. They have one son, Nathan, that enjoys theater, robotics and Legos. Scott loves baseball (even the ups and downs of being a Cubs fan), movies, music and is an avid Star Wars fan.

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Brent Thomsen

Creative Director

As the Creative Director at AKC Marketing, Brent Thomsen brings more than 30 years of award-winning strategic thinking and creative design to the table.

When not keeping multiple marketing projects in the air at once, Brent enjoys spending time with his family, watching football (American as well as English), growing and consuming hot peppers, and hitting the road on his Harley.

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Taylor Treibel

Office Manager

Taylor Treibel is the Office Manager at AKC Marketing where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the office and client hospitality.

When not at work, Taylor enjoys spending time with her two daughters, Macklyn and Eily, and her husband, Nate.

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Sarah VanDerHart

Senior Strategic Account Manager

Sarah VanDerHart is a Senior Strategic Account Manager at AKC Marketing where she partners with clients to develop result-driven marketing strategies. Sarah has 10+ years of marketing experience spanning from marketing operations management to public relations to experiential event planning.

Sarah lives on an acreage that has been on her family farm for 90 years with her husband and two daughters.

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Kyle Webb

Content Director

Kyle Webb is the Content Director at AKC Marketing where he oversees a staff of writers and digital specialists to ensure all content meets the tone, style and voice of the client. Prior to working at AKC Marketing, Kyle worked for nearly a decade as a newspaper editor in both Iowa and Texas.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Kyle is passionate about the Hawkeyes, as well as his family, including his wife, Kathleen, and young sons, Austin and Nolan.

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Nicholas Wilkening

Social Media Expert

Nicholas Wilkening is a Social Media Expert at AKC Marketing, where he helps clients create analytics-driven social media campaigns and strategies. Prior to working at AKC, Nicholas helped small businesses optimize their social media strategies.

A graduate of Central College, he is passionate about homebrewing award-winning beer, cycling around Des Moines with his wife and spending time with their dog, Tonks.