August 21, 2026
By: Meyocks Agency
Meyocks Mentorship Program Celebrates Five Years of Fostering Emerging Talent
Meyocks, a leading branding and marketing agency based in West Des Moines, is celebrating five years of its mentorship program aimed at helping college students network and gain exposure to careers in marketing communications.
Since 2022, more than 25 students have participated in the Meyocks Mentorship Program. Originally launched in partnership with Northwest Missouri State University, the program has expanded to include students from Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.
Meyocks works closely with faculty and academic programs to identify students who would benefit from the experience. The result is a cohort of students with diverse backgrounds, areas of study and career interests, each bringing a different perspective to the program.
“The goal was to create opportunities for students who may not yet have industry experience or exposure to an agency,” said Kendra Kelly, chief operations officer at Meyocks. “For some students, factors like finances, work obligations or other circumstances can limit access to early career opportunities. We wanted to help bridge that gap.”
Built Around People, Not Resumes
Throughout the week-long program, students are paired with a Meyocks team member for one-on-one mentoring and career guidance. Students also attend interactive sessions exploring the collaborative disciplines behind agency work — from strategy and storytelling to media, analytics and client relations.
Kelly shared one of the initiative’s most meaningful outcomes has been the connections students build throughout the experience.
“Many students arrive not knowing anyone else in the cohort,” Kelly said. “By the end of the week, they’ve built friendships and professional relationships that often continue long after the program ends.”
At the conclusion of the program, students present reflections on what they learned and how the experience influenced their career goals and understanding of the profession.
Several applicants have gone on to intern and later work full-time at Meyocks. Others have carried the experience into internships and careers across marketing, communications and business, using it as a foundation for their professional growth.
“The future of our industry depends on creating opportunities for the next generation and encouraging students to explore what’s possible,” Kelly said. “We see our mentorship program as one way to help make that happen.”
About Meyocks
Meyocks is a full-service branding and marketing agency built on the simple belief that people who are hardwired to care are best equipped to drive business success for clients. For more than four decades, the agency has applied deep expertise, unbridled creativity and data-driven strategy toward helping brands across the globe thrive in the categories of food and beverage, health and wellness, and agriculture. The firm is a member of AMIN Worldwide, a global network of more than 50 independent marketing agencies. Visit meyocks.com to see how giving a damn can change everything.
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