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 Marketing 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.

hubspot certified
Certified HubSpot and inbound marketing experts, AKC Marketing 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 Director

Kim Adler is an Account Director 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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Roy Cacek

Digital Analytics Strategist

Roy is a veteran marketing professional with more than two decades of experience in designing, building, implementing, and reporting on diverse marketing efforts. He utilizes data analytics to quantify campaign performance while generating insights and identifying opportunities for future campaign strategies.

In his free time Roy likes to travel, cook, enjoys music, museums, and touring Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.

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Emily Chambers

Digital Marketing Specialist

Emily Chambers is a Digital Marketing Specialist. She handles day-to-day projects for clients to ensure timely deployment. In her role, she focuses on client-facing analytics, consistent client support, project management, process improvement, tech stack analysis and streamlining business practices and optimizing activation plans within a low-maintenance framework.

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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Andrew Downs

Merchandise Sales Executive

Andrew Downs is the Merchandise Sales Executive, helping coordinate merchandise needs for a variety of companies and organizations. 

Prior to joining AKC Marketing, Andrew had a 15 year career in radio and still does freelance podcasting. He is a proud husband and father of two who loves sports, music, food, and spending time with his family.

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Ann Edwards

Senior PR Manager

Ann 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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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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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 24 years have two daughters, Carter and Lilly, and a sassy boxer named Memphis Blue.

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Neon McGraw

Creative Brand Strategist

Neon McGraw brings two decades of copywriting and advertising experience to his role as Creative Brand Strategist 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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Kristin McKibben

Senior Graphic Designer

Kristin McKibben is a graphic design professional with nearly 15 years of experience. She is a graduate of UNI and loves the way design constantly encourages her to grow as a professional and as a creative with every project.

Outside of the office, you’ll find Kristin enjoying a craft beer with her husband, Mat, wearing a silly costume, painting in her home studio or playing with her 2 rescue dogs, Bailey and Gilligan.

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Lindsey Moon

Content and Digital Marketing Coordinator

Lindsey Moon is a nationally awarded digital content creator with a rich background in broadcast journalism, event production and idea generation for myriad content focuses. Most recently, she served as an executive producer for IPR's music service.

As a freelancer, she likes to pretend she's a designer and website developer. To strike up a conversation with her, start with hula hoops or dogs as a topic.

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Kris Moorman

Senior Strategic Marketing Account Manager

Kris is a Senior Strategic Marketing Account Manager with over 20 years of experience. Her background includes a focus on B2B brand development, digital marketing, sales processes and CRM implementation, and communications for various industries such as technology, sustainability, agriculture, and concrete.

She is a graduate of Simpson College and enjoys travel, reading and horses.

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Amy Nichols

Executive Consultant

Amy Nichols is a full stack marketer with C-Suite experience who has a track record of growing companies, brands and revenue for clients. As a consultant working directly with AKC Marketing, she helps build and maintain strategic and productive relationships with internal teams, leadership, vendors, and other third parties by checking the ego at the door, actively listening, being flexible and willing to do all tasks – big and small.

She was instrumental in the creation, launch and management of original programming designed to disrupt traditional ag marketing with a new concept dubbed “Agritainment.”

When she’s not working, Amy is an over-enthusiastic soccer mom, fitness guru, amateur photographer, foodie and movie-goer who may, or may not, share popcorn.

 

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Gentil Ntegeyimana

Marketing Automation Expert

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" he loves playing basketball and outdoor activities. He also speaks French and Kinyarwanda.

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Brianne Pudenz

Senior 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), and outdoor activities.

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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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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.