Young Alum of the Month – July 2016
Name: Ellie Weiss
Title and Company: Account Executive, Meyocks
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Major and Graduation Date: ’13 agricultural studies
Just as a bicycle hub connects all parts of a wheel and allows the wheel to continue moving, an account executive at an advertising agency connects all parts of the project and ensures its progression. The teamwork, leadership and communication required of someone in this position made it a natural fit for Iowa State University College and Life Sciences young alum, Ellie Weiss.
Ellie Weiss works as an account executive for Meyocks, based out of Des Moines, Iowa. In her role, Weiss works with agricultural clients such as Farm Credit Services of America, Farm Credit East, AgDirect and DragoTec USA.
“I work with the companies’ marketing teams to put together their advertising, marketing and communication goals and strategies as well as work with the internal team at Meyocks to make sure projects are getting done on time and on budget” she said.
On any given day she may be proofing brochures, helping check over copy for a radio spot, hosting client meetings, sending ads to publications, or writing twitter copy.
Weiss graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural studies and spent two years working as a marketing specialist with Premier Crop Systems, LLC before taking an account executive position at Meyocks in June of 2015.
Weiss loves the creativity and collaboration of her workplace.
“The building itself represents how we were founded and the work that we do. All of our meeting spaces are named– and designed– after something to do with agriculture. We have the corn crib, the quonset hut, the milk room, and Charlotte’s Web. We even have a room named ‘the pantry’ where all of the packaging designs we have created for Hy-Vee are displayed” she said.
She found her niche in agri-marketing early in her time at Iowa State. An enthusiastic student member of the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) drew Weiss in at Club Fest her freshman year and she was hooked. She was extremely active while at Iowa State serving as the vice president and CALS Council Representative for NAMA. She credits the organization with introducing her to agri-marketing and helping narrow her career focus.
Her involvement with NAMA didn’t end in college. Weiss has continued to be active in professional NAMA and is currently serving as the careers chair and co-president for the Iowa Professional NAMA Chapter in Des Moines. In 2016 she received the Outstanding Professional of the Year Award at the NAMA’s national student competition.
“We work closely with Iowa State’s student NAMA chapter. It has been fun for me to develop the relationship between the professionals and the students. I make sure to go out of my way for the students and ask the rest of the board and professional NAMA members do the same” she said.
In addition to her involvement in NAMA, Weiss also credits her success to her engagement with the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Initiative program in helping her land internships that helped spark her career. She also had great mentors, naming Stacey Noe, Kevin Kimle, Carly Cummings and Mike Retallick as instrumental professors and advisors during her time at Iowa State.
As another school year approaches, Weiss offers valuable advice to students.
“Building a network is so important. It is the over-arching theme for everything you do. Be involved, whether that is through clubs and organizations or internships, and meet as many people as you can. You never know where your network will take you” she said.
