Account manager

Meet Maleigha Billings, our Account Manager and a Kansas City, Missouri, native who thrives on connection, optimism and curiosity. People are at the center of everything Maleigha does, whether she’s building client relationships, managing campaigns or leading teams with energy that makes everyone around her feel seen and inspired.

Her professional experience has been in account management from the start. At Coegi, Maleigha managed three accounts, Columbia CVB, Commerce Bank and BreakTime, proving she could take full responsibility for clients and deliver results. She then leveled up at Signal Theory, where she supported a range of agricultural clients, including industry giant John Deere, learning the ins and outs of large-scale client service. For the past three semesters, she’s served as an account manager at Matchbook Marketing, partnering with clients like Independence Family Eye Care, Pitchblack and Healium. 

In addition to Matchbook Marketing, Maleigha contributed to the American Advertising Federation and even stepped into the spotlight in the student division of the The One Show advertising competition, where she served as an account manager for a Heinz campaign. 

Maleigha is very passionate. Ever since her childhood “pioneer phase,” sparked by Little House on the Prairie, she’s approached every interest with extreme devotion. That same drive fuels her work, where she brings curiosity and optimism to every client and campaign.

Qualitative Strategist

Meet Inez Goering, our Qualitative Strategist and a Charlottesville, Virginia, native with a curiosity that doesn’t quit and a quirky personality. For Inez, strategy isn’t just about data points and charts. It’s about digging into the why behind human behavior and telling stories that make brands feel alive.

Her professional path has been anything but ordinary. Inez studied account planning with Professor Jamie Flink, cut her teeth as a marketing intern at a startup and dove into international communications as an intern with Phrenos, a marketing agency working on European Union government contracts. She’s also rounded out her resume with PR experience at Florence University of the Arts. Whether it’s planning, PR or communications, Inez has proven she has skills in many settings.

On campus, she’s just as involved. From Mizzou’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America to the Italian Club, Inez has pursued her passions with energy and enthusiasm. If Mizzou students go rock climbing at the MizzouRec, there’s a chance she’s the one keeping them safe on the other end of the rope as a certified belayer. Inez has also made her mark through leadership and community engagement in the spaces where she thrives.

Inez learned she can quack like a duck in a realistic way. It’s a talent passed down from her grandpa, Papa Lowell, and it’s more than a party trick; it’s a family legacy. Every time she quacks, it’s both a laugh and a tribute.

quantitative strategist

Meet Heidi Vial, our Quantitative Strategist and a Scottsdale, Arizona, native who proves that numbers have heart and stories to tell. Heidi is detail-oriented, driven and empathetic and thrives at uncovering insights hidden in the data and translating them into strategies that connect with people on a deep level.

Her professional journey blends communications, marketing and media. As vice president of Public Relations for the Panhellenic Association at the University of Missouri, Heidi managed social platforms and promoted events that elevated the voice of the community while honing her leadership and organizational skills. She expanded her perspective globally as a marketing intern at an AI-forward agency in London, where she learned how emerging technology and human creativity work together to shape the future of strategy. At KOMU 8 News, Heidi worked behind the scenes as a floor director, keeping broadcasts running smoothly and thriving in a fast-paced environment.

Her dedication extends beyond work. Heidi has logged over 300 volunteer hours, giving back to her community through high school and college. She’s organized a cold plunge fundraiser with Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council to benefit Special Olympics, donates blood with the Red Cross twice a year and stays actively involved on campus as homecoming liaison for Pi Beta Phi. 

Heidi’s love of strategy didn’t start with analytics, it started in retail. While working at Free People, she became so fascinated by the brand that she memorized nearly every clothing item they sold. That curiosity grew into a passion for brand research and ultimately pointed her toward a career in strategy.

CopyWriter

Meet Sophia Martin, our Copywriter and a Tarkio, Missouri, native who brings creativity, organization and drive to every project she touches. With a pen that’s as sharp as her wit, Sophia crafts copy that not only informs but entertains. She turns messages into stories people actually want to read.

Her path into communications is as versatile as her writing. As a recent marketing assistant at Senior Benefit Services, Sophia generated ideas for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn campaigns, supporting the marketing team while also handling daily administrative tasks. She has also worked in healthcare communications. As a PR Intern at a local hospital, she planned and executed a live-action emergency management drill, managed social media accounts, produced a digitized new-employee orientation video and assisted with medical record processing. From marketing brainstorms to hospital operations, Sophia has shown she can write and deliver in any environment.

She has also given her time to service, donating blood through the Red Cross, volunteering at the Mizzou Homecoming Blood Drive and Mizzou Journalism School as well as a local back-to-school fair. On campus, Sophia stays connected through her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and Mizzou’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America where she serves as vice president of Internal Communications, helping keep the organization’s message clear and engaging. 

Sophia also has a passion for movies and television. She can name actors on sight, quote lines at the perfect moment and even slip into spot-on celebrity impressions. Add in a love for sci-fi, literature and all things pop culture, and it’s no surprise she’s drawn to copywriting, where words, creativity and storytelling collide.

Media planner

Meet Emily Hacker, our Media Planner and a St. Louis girl who thrives on balancing strategy with creativity. Known for being strategic, driven and endlessly creative, Emily can crunch numbers and map out campaigns with passion. 

She’s gained hands-on experience as a search engine marketing intern, diving into the mechanics of paid search and digital visibility. She’s tested her planning chops as a media planner in the student division of the The One Show advertising competition, sharpening her ability to craft compelling, results-oriented campaigns. On the editorial side, Emily flexed her creative voice as both a writer and editor of Trill Mag, an online publication, where she produced content that informed, entertained and connected with readers around the world. 

Emily’s commitment goes beyond the classroom and internships. Each year, she volunteers with the National MS Society, supporting the St. Louis office in preparing for their biggest fundraiser, Bike MS. Whether she’s assembling participant packets or helping run rest stops during the ride, Emily brings the same passion and dedication she shows in her professional work.

On campus, Emily is a leader. As president of Mizzou’s Digital Marketing Club, she organizes meetings, networking events and competitions that connect students with the industry. She’s also active in Alpha Chi Omega and the American Advertising Federation, which gives her plenty of opportunities to sharpen her leadership and collaboration skills.

Outside of media planning, Emily has a passion for ballet and contemporary dance. Having trained for years, she carries the discipline and creativity of the stage into every aspect of her work.

Digital Strategist

Meet Sydney Groff, our Digital Strategist and a proud St. Louis native who thrives on creativity and analytics. Driven, perceptive and adaptable, Sydney can dive into campaign data one moment and brainstorm bold, fresh ideas the next. She’s always keeping the bigger picture in sight.

Her experience in digital marketing runs deep. As an influencer marketing intern at Division-D, Sydney helped develop and execute influencer-driven campaigns, researching and evaluating potential partners while tracking performance to ensure results matched expectations. She also put her social savvy to work as a social media intern at The Wardrobe where she created content and graphics for their 2024 CoMoGives campaign, redesigned the nonprofit’s website and led email marketing initiatives that boosted reach and engagement. Taking strategy into her own sorority, Sydney was the social media interest chair for Kappa Delta where she planned member-focused events, organized interest groups and built stronger online and in-person connections across the chapter. With coursework in digital strategy, Sydney is educated on the strategies and creativity needed to connect brands with audiences in meaningful ways.

Community service has always been a priority, too. Sydney has donated blood through the Red Cross Homecoming Blood Drive and volunteered over 60 hours at the Food Bank of Central Missouri. Her leadership also shines through campus roles. She has served as head homecoming liaison, SET leader, RAMS Rock-It liaison, Mizzou Panhellenic counselor and even brought her energy to the stage with Mizzou Production Dance. 

Today, she choreographs digital campaigns. However, Sydney’s roots are in classical ballet. She trained for over a decade with renowned companies like St. Louis Ballet, Ballet West, The Rock School of Dance, Nashville Ballet and even the Rockettes in New York City. Dance is instilled in her resilience and love for performance, qualities she now brings to every project.

Art director

Meet Kylyn Maxwell, our Art Director from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She’s known for being creative, passionate and uplifting. Kylyn brings both artistry and strategy into her work, using design to tell meaningful stories. 

Her experience combines design, PR and communications across diverse organizations. She was a graphic designer for Trulaske Study Abroad and developed print and digital materials while staying true to tight brand guidelines. During her time at the Florence University of the Arts, she created a branding guide for their alumni Instagram account, wrote articles, press releases and blog posts, and even guided visiting groups through the university. She also expanded her design expertise at Speakeasy Multilingual where she crafted a branding guide, redesigned the mailing system, built custom iconography and photographed events, all while strengthening the organization’s visual identity.

Kylyn is also dedicated outside of work, giving her time to CASA, Russell Elementary School and the Red Cross. She also stays actively involved in Matchbook Marketing, the American Advertising Federation and the Italian Club, fueling both her professional and cultural curiosity.

Kylyn is also an avid painter. Since age 16, she’s been creating mixed-media works that explore identity and self-perception, blending acrylic paint with other materials to deepen her exploration of color and form. Last fall, her work was showcased in a local gallery exhibition. Painting isn’t just her passion project. It’s a source of inspiration that shapes who she is.

Art Director

Meet Isaac Lewis, one of our Art Directors and a Columbia, Missouri, native who blends competition, strategy and creativity into everything they design. Whether they’re shaping visuals for national brands or building student-led organizations from the ground up, Isaac thrives where ideas meet execution.

Professionally, Isaac has already made their mark. As an art director intern at VML, they worked on campaigns for household names like Oreo, Elanco and the United Soybean Board. This sharpened their ability to deliver work that balances big-brand polish with strategic insight. On campus, they served as a communications assistant for Mizzou’s architectural studies department where they managed both content strategy and design, ensuring visuals and messaging worked well together.

Service and leadership are very important to Isaac. As director of PR for Caring for Columbia, they oversaw campaigns and student recruitment for one of the university’s largest service days. They are also a resident advisor for MU housing where they support student communities through leadership, mentorship and programming.

Isaac is also heavily involved in campus organizations, where their leadership has shaped the creative community at Mizzou. Isaac has led agency trips, creative workshops and programming that inspires students to explore their talents as the creative director of the Visual Communications Club. As executive director of FITS (Filling in the Space), they’ve guided organizational strategy, leadership development and event planning.

Staying busy fuels Isaac’s creativity. From leading organizations to designing campaigns, they have found that the more they take on, the better their ideas become. Outside the studio, you’ll find them researching AI, keeping up with favorite TV shows, reading a new book every other week or unwinding with video games.

Public Relations account Manager – Strategy

Meet Avery Roehler, our PR Account Manager (Strategy) and a Kansas City, Missouri, girl whose strong work ethic, organization and personable nature make her a natural in the fast-paced world of public relations and strategic communications. Whether she’s working a campaign trail, reporting the news or supporting nonprofit initiatives, Avery brings focus and heart to every role she takes on.

Her resume shows the breadth of her experience. Avery currently serves as a strategic communications intern for The DeBruce Foundation where she helps shape messaging that drives awareness and impact. Before that, she worked on the political front lines as a communications intern on a gubernatorial campaign and with Congressman Mark Alford in his congressional office, building skills in media relations and communications strategy. She’s also no stranger to the newsroom. As a news reporter at ABC 17 News, Avery gained firsthand experience in fast-turnaround reporting, interviewing and writing stories that connect communities with the information they need.

Service is a priority to Avery. She was a Student of the Year nominee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, raising over $14,000 for research, a testament to her drive and ability to rally support for meaningful causes.

On campus, Avery plays an active leadership role as vice president of recruiting and logistics for Mizzou’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, where she builds community, recruits new members and ensures the organization runs smoothly.

Avery has a lifelong story about her connection to Mizzou. Her birth announcement read “Born A Mizzou Tiger,” and she grew up tailgating on campus and eating at the Heidelberg, her Columbia favorite to this day. With Tiger traditions ingrained from day one, Avery brings passion and school spirit to everything she does.

public relations account manager – content

Meet Jake Aron, our PR Account Manager (Content) and a Dallas native whose punctuality, motivation and discipline set the tone for everything he does. Whether he’s writing headlines, building campaigns or breaking world records (literally), Jake approaches challenges with a focus that ensures results are never left to chance.

His communications experience is very impactful. As a communications intern for the University of Missouri’s Undergraduate Studies office, Jake conducted interviews with faculty and students, turning conversations into feature articles for Show Me Mizzou. He crafted headlines and taglines for success.missouri.edu, ensuring each piece of writing was sharp and compelling. Jake also developed social media playbooks for University of Missouri athletes through Mizzou’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, helping them leverage their platforms for NIL opportunities, and created content for Services for Independent Living’s CoMoGives campaign, which raised more than $6,000. 

Service has long been a big part of his life. Since 2005, Jake and his family have spoken on behalf of the March of Dimes, sharing his powerful story of being born 17 weeks early at events ranging from corporate gatherings to lobby day at the Texas Capitol. His journey from those early days to the world of PR is a testament to resilience and motivation in action.

On campus, Jake has been an active member of Mizzou’s PRSSA chapter, sharpening his skills among peers, and previously served as an executive member of Mizzou’s Transfer Club. As director of recruitment, he promoted the club across campus and created weekly events to foster community among transfer students.

In 2022, Jake set a Guinness World Record for the most baseball ground balls fielded in one minute, proving his motivation and discipline extends into every challenge he takes on. 

video producer

Meet Tess Howicz, our Video Producer and a Round Rock, Texas, native. She believes every great story deserves a polished and well-paced video. Tess blends imagination, determination and punctuality into her work, creating content that’s polished and always on time, if not early.

Her media journey started at the Missouri United Methodist Church where she spent two years as a communications intern. Tess produced video ads, designed merchandise and a full website. She also ran social media with the strategy it takes to keep an audience engaged. Since then, she’s only climbed higher. She earned her FAA Part 107 commercial drone license after conquering Mizzou’s J4442 drone class, is minoring in IT to master Adobe Suite video editing and animation and has been stacking her portfolio with professional ad agency experience.

Tess has worked as an implementation intern for Division-D, organizing and creating instructional content for marketing teams, and now serves as a virtual consulting intern with Mazur & Co., where she supports clients with everything from research and press releases to website management, social media campaigns and branded design. She proves she’s not just a video producer but a full-spectrum creative problem solver.

Outside of work, Tess enjoys giving back. She’s helped feed the unhoused through Loaves and Fishes, rolled up her sleeves with Caring for Columbia and gotten involved on campus through The Maneater video team and NBRHD college ministry.

If you ask Tess what she loves most, she will say bloopers. For her, bloopers aren’t mistakes but reminders of why she fell in love with video in the first place. Tess sees storytelling as equal parts laughter and connection.