Matchbook Marketing Agency

As we wrap up the semester, we'd like to highlight the Independence Family Eye Care team! They've been hard at work publishing new blog pages on their client’s website, as well as capturing media of their new and improved office space. Account manager Anthony Pittman and creative lead Olivia Semple took a trip to Independence to collect b-roll, photograph merchandise, update the blog, shoot headshots and speak with staff to help build their bios and social media. Of course all these exciting additions to socials and the website can’t be done without the wonderful work of social media strategists Isabel Isabel Kulik and Maren DeMargel, graphic designers Sophia Lippel and Grace Gniech and copywriter Sophie Pfahl. We are so excited to see what new content they create from here!

The past few weeks have been full of growth and inspiration here at Matchbook! We had the pleasure of hosting two impactful events to benefit our members' professional development. Alumni Panel Engage Event | Nov. 6 Last week, we welcomed back five incredible Matchbook alumni — Elizabeth Ballew, Veronica Gawin, Sydney Perry, Madyson Schuck and Elese Smith — who generously shared their journeys, career paths and insights from the advertising and public relations industries. It was truly inspiring to hear how their experiences at Matchbook honed their skills, confidence and passion. A huge thank you to our alumni for offering invaluable advice and inspiration to our current members, and to everyone who joined us for a memorable conversation about the lasting impact of early career experiences! Adobe Illustrator Workshop | Oct. 27 Our talented Art Director, Kylyn Maxwell, led a creative workshop for our team in the RJI Fishbowl Room, teaching Adobe Illustrator techniques in a fun and accessible way. Whether seasoned users or first-time explorers, participants had the opportunity to learn the basics and experiment with new techniques, leaving with their own personalized matchbooks! Thank you, Kylyn, for organizing this workshop and sharing your expertise and passion for creative growth. We’re so grateful to everyone who made these events possible and to members who joined us to expand their networks and skillsets.

In this year's first installment of Reigniting the Flame, we spoke with recent grad and Matchbook alum, Shannon Worley, now an audience journalist at The Dallas Morning News, to hear her advice for Matchbook members just beginning their internship journeys. “Don’t underestimate the power of networking!" Shannon emphasized. "This is something I learned through Matchbook, but was always intimidated to put into action. During my internship, I made a goal to grab coffee with a coworker at least once a week. I asked them questions about their role, how my role as an audience journalist could support their team, and just general advice as an early-career journalist trying to get a job. Not only did I gain helpful advice; I also established connections. Being known in a company and having folks around to vouch for you when positions open up can go a long way." "I also took the initiative to make goals for myself throughout the internships. I’d recommend finding two or three areas that you’d like to improve in over your internship. Be transparent and let your team know about these goals, so they can send related tasks or training your way. Another great strategy is to find an area on your team that you think could be stronger and make it your niche. This could be a research project, new program or organization system. This will help make your impact as an intern noticeable and lasting." Shannon’s professional journey is a fantastic reminder that intentional networking, goal-setting and proactive impact can set the foundation for an incredible career!?

This past week, we were thrilled to host not one, but two incredible events dedicated to our members’ professional growth and networking! Professional Development Workshop — Sept. 29 Last Sunday, our PR team hosted a Professional Development Workshop that brought together Matchbook members eager to elevate their personal brands. We heard from expert speakers who shared valuable insights on enhancing your online presence, optimizing LinkedIn profiles and perfecting resumes. Plus, our talented Matchbook photographers captured professional headshots to help members put their best face forward. A huge thank you to our PR Team for organizing this impactful event, and to the speakers who shared valuable strategies for career success. We’re proud to invest in our members’ professional development and excited to see how these tips and tools help shape their future endeavors. Sip&Swap Engage Event — Oct. 2 We kicked off our Fall 2024 Engage event series with a successful Sip & Swap! Hosted at Orr Street Studios just steps away from campus, participants enjoyed refreshing mocktails while swapping canvases throughout the night, resulting in one-of-a-kind, collaborative artwork to take home. Whether they were returning or new members, this event provided an opportunity for everyone to strengthen connections across teams and celebrate our work. We’d like to give a huge shoutout to our Experiential Team for the time they took to coordinate and set up this event. Additionally, we’d like to give a shoutout to Orr Street Studios for letting us use their gallery. Many more events to come this fall — stay tuned!

As we embark on another year, we’re thrilled to welcome two new clients — Green Society and PitchBlack — to our roster this fall! Our external teams have been hard at work to help elevate their unique brands. Located in Mizzou’s bustling Student Center, Green Society offers customers a wide variety of houseplants and accessories. Founder Cailey Blackmer, a Mizzou Plant Science major,? launched this flourishing business in August of 2023 through the university’s Griggs Innovator Nexus program and has been assisting prospective plant owners ever since. Founded in 2022, PitchBlack Events specializes in creating unforgettable, personalized events. What started as a friend’s birthday party has grown into a go-to event production company known for its trendy, diverse and unique experiences. Led by Mizzou alumni, PitchBlack draws on their marketing and event planning expertise to design events that are as personal as they are stylish. We can’t wait to help these incredible brands continue to grow and thrive! Stay tuned for more updates on our exciting collaborations.

I am thrilled to announce that I have recently joined Matchbook Marketing Agency's Executive Board as Creative Lead! I have loved working with this organization for the past year, and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I would like to thank?Matchbook's Executive Board for allowing me the opportunity to fill this position.

For the record… we are so happy to recap Black Alchemy! We want to thank Mizzou Black Creatives and the artists for showing off their amazing work and holding this event with Matchbook.

Madyson Schuck, a seasoned Matchbook alumni, brings a wealth of experience and innovation to her role as an Associate Copywriter at Signal Theory Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. With a distinguished tenure as the former Managing Director and Instazine Task Force Lead, Schuck embodies the essence of a proactive go-getter and a visionary creative thinker. Schueck said, "When looking for jobs post-grad, employers are looking for go-getters and creative thinkers. Having experience through Matchbook showed that I had passion for the industry and was ready to get started, even while I was still in school. Being able to speak to that experience in interviews always helps you stand out. Not to mention, your portfolio is your best asset, and having real client work to show before even graduating is pretty impressive.”

Coming soon - Deconstruct. Take a dive with us below the surface-level scenes and online appearances that make up an aesthetic. What will we find when we unravel the fronts and facades? What will we find when we break down the barriers put up in pursuit of presentations? What will we find when we search for true identity when it is stripped bare of aesthetics? Get ready to redefine everything you know about identity. Get ready to Deconstruct.

In our ongoing LinkedIn series, The Spark Reconnection, we spotlight our exceptional alumni community and their remarkable achievements since graduation. Helen Putman, a former member of our MMGY Global team, currently works at MMGY in Los Angeles, California, as a Marketing and Trade Account Executive. Putman said, "My experience with MMGYxRY gave me valuable connections in MMGY that led to a referral, which ultimately landed me in my current role! My experience handling client contact and as an Account Manager on my other accounts gave me the confidence I needed in my day-to-day role. My favorite part of Matchbook was connecting with successful alums to hear about their experiences and get their feedback. Matchbook was a great place to meet people, develop personal skills, and get applicable experience while still in school - even for a Business major!"