HLK

It’s official. 🎉 We’ve expanded!

September 3 marked the opening of our second Midwest office in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop neighborhood. This expansion is a major step in our commitment to growth, positioning us to build even stronger connections with clients across the Midwest and beyond.

Led by our co-chief creative officer, Shelby Georgis, this new space is designed to inspire collaboration and creativity, fueling our team as we continue to deliver innovative solutions for our clients.

Read the full press release shared by ReelChicago.com to learn more!

HLK opens office in Chicago West Loop The full-service creative agency, HLK, has officially opened its second Midwest office in Chicago’s vibrant West Loop neighborhood

It was a whirlwind few days in New York City with Transform magazine for the 2024 North America and conference!

At the , we learned from leading brands and industry experts from across the country and around the globe, including HLK Chief Marketing Officer Emily Kircher and Envu Head of Brand Strategy and Campaigns Bekah Mahan. Emily and Bekah gave an insightful presentation on how brand identity turned a divested business into a global category visionary. From positioning to naming to design and architecture, they covered all things brand development and emphasized how each played a critical role in launching the new Envu brand across 150 markets in 2022.

We then proudly celebrated FIVE award wins for our brand partners, Channel Seed and &partners! Award-winning categories included:
🥈Best Brand Consolidation - Channel® Seed
🥈 Best Visual Identity From the Farming and Agriculture Sector - Channel® Seed
🥉Best Naming Strategy (New Name) - &Partners
🥉Best Visual Identity From the Financial Services Sector - &Partners
🥇Highly Commended - Best Brand Evolution (Business) - Channel® Seed

Congratulations to our Channel brand and &Partner teams who collaborated on these exceptional brand development efforts. Until next year!

HLK 🤝 B2B = Work that MOVES (and wins)!

We’re beyond thrilled to share that all three of our shortlisted campaigns took home trophies at this year’s B2B Marketing Elevation Awards! Recognized for their strategic insights, audience impact and tangible results, the three campaign wins further demonstrate our commitment to excellence in . Check it out:

🥇Best Multi or Omnichannel Campaign: Rise to the Challenge Campaign for Channel Brand

🥇Best Use of Social Media Including Influencer Marketing: FieldFeast Campaign for Channel Brand

🥈Best Purpose-Led Marketing Programme: Share the Spark Campaign for Envu U.S. Range & Pasture

A HUGE congratulations to our Channel brand and Envu Range & Pasture teams who poured their all into each insight, creative detail and activation! Stay tuned for more on each campaign.

We’ve been working on something HUGE, and it’s finally almost time to share it with you. 👀

Let’s just say the Windy City is about to get a little more creative than mixing its caramel and cheddar popcorn or dyeing its river green in March…

We didn’t give it away though, right?

HLK is on the hunt for bright, new talent! 👀

We’re looking for a copywriter, senior media planner and media director to join our growing passionate team. If you’re interested in moving brands and creating work that drives growth, be sure to check out these open positions on our website before it’s too late.

Learn more and apply here: https://hlkagency.com/careers/

It’s always bittersweet saying goodbye to our summer Launchpad interns — and this year was no exception.

Our 2024 interns were the answer to those who asked, “Where are all the bright, young interns?” Diving into real client problems and developing comprehensive campaign pitches not once but TWICE during their quick six-week sessions, they brilliantly flexed their ability to effectively apply out-of-the-box thinking, work against a tight deadline and bring forward work that moves!

To The Solar Six and The Galactic Group, we truly couldn’t be more impressed or proud of the hard work you brought forward during your sessions! We applaud the time you took out of your summers to invest in your professional growth and future careers. And of course, a special thank you to all of our HLK mentors who worked alongside these future advertising gurus to provide the most valuable experience possible.

Wishing you ALL the absolute best in your upcoming semesters and future endeavors. We can’t wait to see where you land! 🧑‍🚀🚀

HLK is on the lookout for a dynamic brand planning director to join our growing team!

At HLK, we build brands powered by people — because we believe the power of people moves brands forward. If you (or someone you know) excel in defining problems, developing audience insights and creating transformational ideas, we’d love to hear from you.

As our brand planning director, you’ll lead a team of brand planners; pilot major brand, marketing and communication initiatives; unify strategic and tactical outputs; and discover ideas that change behavior and drive success for our clients.

📍 Location: St. Louis, MO, or Chicago, IL

Learn more about the role and apply here: https://bit.ly/3WGtBSR

We are thrilled to announce that HLK has been shortlisted for three prestigious awards at the 2024 B2B Marketing Elevation Awards. These three campaigns have been recognized for their strategic insights, audience impact and tangible results, underscoring our commitment to excellence in .

Best Multi or Omnichannel Campaign: Rise to the Challenge Campaign for Channel Seed Brand
⭐ Channel brand’s target audience sees change as an opportunity, not a barrier. From this insight, our brand idea was born, Rise to the Challenge.

Best Use of Social Media Including Influencer Marketing: FieldFeast Campaign for Channel Brand
⭐ Channel SeedPros provide exceptional service and support to farmers, which inspired Channel FieldFeast, a surprise food delivery service. SeedPros partnered with local restaurants to serve farmers their favorite meals right in their fields.

Best Purpose-Led Marketing Programme: Share the Spark Project for Envu U.S. Range & Pasture
⭐ This PSA-style campaign and user journey connected county w**d directors and ranchers to federal and local grants, offering advice on the application process.

S/O to our Channel brand and Envu Range & Pasture teams who brought these campaigns from idea to fruition. Let’s keep making work that moves!

Independence Day is right around the corner, which reminds us at HLK that there have been significant strides to bring liberty and justice to our local communities. But there is also SO much work that still needs to be done.

Our work for ArchCity Defenders, Inc., a holistic legal advocacy group that combats the criminalization of poverty and state violence, especially in communities of color, was recently named a finalist at the Collision Awards in the Marketing & Communications-Campaign category. This is a HUGE honor as this disruptive campaign has been recognized as one of the best in the industry, competing against entries from 6️⃣ continents and nearly 3️⃣0️⃣ countries.

We’re in the running for the Gold or Silver Collision Award, decided by the Jury, as well as the Collision Audience Choice Award, voted on by the public. 🎤

So now, we need your help to bring home the win! Voting is open through next Thursday, July 11, and every vote counts. You can cast your vote here: https://bit.ly/3xKUj32

Cheers to all our HLKers celebrating May ! This month, we’re celebrating:

🌟Eric Karlovic - 22 years
🌟Chad Stierwalt - 12 years
🌟Michelle Doering - 9 years
🌟 Megan Hamlin - 7 years
🌟Tina Ortinau and Emily Biras - 5 years
🌟Marilyn Chapman, Michael Kerr and Jennifer Johnson - 3 years
🌟Colby Vagley, Jac Phenicie and Abby Conlon - 2 years
🌟Caroline Mansfield, Kailey McClune and Courtney Coombes - 1 year

We’re grateful for the unique talents, perspectives and personalities you all bring to HLK every day!

Workshops, panel discussions, doodle walls, oh my! ✍️💭🎨

Recently, our nationwide team gathered in the St. Louis office for our second annual MOVES Conference — an action-packed week of professional development and team building focused on what “moves” us as an agency. Employees were given the opportunity to host interactive sessions that supported this year’s conference focus: growth.

Our employee-led sessions focused on three pivotal categories:
1️⃣Great Work Drives Growth
2️⃣Change Sparks Growth
3️⃣People Fuel Growth

Thank you to the HLKers who hosted these engaging sessions for us and to ALL our HLKers who participated and made the conference a success!

Drumroll please… 🥁

We are beyond thrilled to announce the expansion of the ownership group here at HLK! Please join us in congratulating:

🎉Shelby Georgis - co-chief creative officer
🎉Brady Overby - chief financial officer
🎉Emily Kircher - chief marketing officer

Read more about the trio’s new roles and how we’re setting the stage for continued growth at HLK: https://bit.ly/3JVyYGm

It’s a triumphant homecoming!

We are beyond thrilled to share that we received TWO Best of Show awards at last night’s National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Banquet along with five additional first-place awards.

Meet the winners:
🏆 Best of Show in Specialty – “Share the Spark ‘’ campaign for Envu U.S. Range & Pasture
🏆 Best of Show in Public Relations – “Seedsman Ignite 2023” campaign for Channel Seed

Congratulations to all of our HLKers who worked on these impactful campaigns and, of course, to our amazing clients at Envu and Channel! Together, let’s keep making work that moves.

Our very own chief operating officer, Alison Berry, was recently featured in the St. Louis Business Journal “People On The Move in St. Louis” series, and we couldn’t be more proud of her! In her 20 years at HLK, Alison has been pivotal in leading our agency’s transformative journey, cultivating meaningful client relationships and rethinking the way cross-functional teams deliver work for our clients.

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it’s only fitting that we celebrate the exceptional leadership and dedication Alison brings to our agency, serving as an inspiration for aspiring female leaders across the industry.

Read the full article here: bit.ly/3TC7cDl

As we close out a fast and furious Q1 here at the agency, we would be remiss not to celebrate our March . Please join us in congratulating:
🌟 Bill Lang - 27 years
🌟 Joe Leahy - 14 years
🌟 Ernest Shamily - 7 years
🌟 Annie Tomlinson, Warren Stepler and Curtis Kingrea - 3 years
🌟 Misty Amizich, Maddie Borchert and Merima Velic - 2 years

After almost three decades dedicated to HLK, Bill Lang shares, “Much has changed over the past 27 years, especially with technology. HLK has allowed me to roll with the changes and learn new things every day by being open to new technologies and implementing them thoughtfully.”

Congratulations to all of our HLKers celebrating work milestones this month! We applaud the bravery, thoughtfulness and curiosity you bring to your work each day.

To kick off , we want to take a moment to recognize one of our very own, Amy Schroeder, account director on Bayer Traits & Systems. 🌽🚜

With nearly three years at HLK, three Commodity Classics and two Farm Progress Shows under her belt, it’s safe to say the ag knowledge Amy brings to our agency (and teams) is invaluable.

From rural communities Dow, Illinois, and Templeton, Iowa, Amy's farming roots shine through in her passion and empathy for our agriculture clients and their customers. From spending spring breaks and summers working on the farm and prepping for planting to "helping" with harvest (aka sitting on a bucket in the combine), these core memories instilled a sincere appreciation for the land and the hardworking people behind the industry.

But Amy's connection to agriculture doesn't stop there — it runs deep within her family's history. With her grandpa farming over 1,380 acres of row crops and raising cows and chickens, her dad retiring from John Deere, and her two uncles also involved in the ag industry, Amy's upbringing serves as a testament to the rich heritage that shapes our agricultural teams at HLK.

So here's to you, Amy, and to all the farmers and agricultural professionals who tirelessly work to cultivate growth, innovation and prosperity in the fields and beyond. 💪

Another successful Commodity Classic in the books! 🚜 🌽

Our HLK team, alongside the Crop Science division of Bayer’s Channel brand and Bayer Traits & Systems, rocked Houston, Texas, at . From hosting lively happy hours to connecting with national media outlets, the time we shared with our clients and their customers was extremely valuable.

Our mission for the year? To revolutionize farming. 💡

We teamed up with Channel to spread the word about their cutting-edge SeedPro experience. And for Bayer Traits & Systems, we showcased groundbreaking advancements in seed trait technology and corn production. Together, we look forward to continuing to drive growth and shaping the future of farming, one innovation at a time.

And hey, some of us HLKers even caught our first rodeo! 🐎 Until next time, Houston and Commodity Classic, thanks for an unforgettable week!

HLK proudly celebrates Women’s History Month 2024!

Throughout the entire month of March, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history. At HLK, we honor the remarkable resilience and strength of women who have triumphed over challenges, broken barriers, challenged stereotypes, and created a more inclusive world for the women of today and tomorrow.

To celebrate the , we posted messages in all of the restrooms in our St. Louis office that we’re hoping will inspire everyone. ✨

Join us as we honor all the generations of women and girls who are leading us into the future.

It’s that time again: time to celebrate our February ! ❤️ This month, join us in congratulating:

🌟Aaron Newcom - 8 years
🌟Emily Kircher and Troy Jones - 6 years
🌟Josh Cook and Meagan May - 5 years
🌟Liliana Kleypas and Eduardo Diazmuñoz - 4 years
🌟Cason Mooney - 3 years
🌟Kate Rands - 2 years

We are grateful for each one of you and the value you bring to your teams and our culture!

We had a blast analyzing the good, the bad and the ugly of last night’s Super Bowl ad showdown. The creative was hot, but our keyboards were hotter. 🏈 💬🔥

Swipe through to see the game-time highlights from HLK Super Slack 2024!

And if you have any hot takes or creative scrutiny from last night … it’s not too late to hop in the chat. ⬇️

Are you ready to launch your career in advertising? Applications for our 2024 Launchpad internship program are officially OPEN! 🚀

If you're a rising junior, senior or May 2024 grad located in St. Louis or Chicago, this could be your chance to gain hands-on experience in design, brand planning, strategic communications and more!

We're looking for six talented individuals for each of our two sessions this summer. Whether you're a design enthusiast, a content connoisseur, a strategic maestro or a client champion, we can’t wait to talk to you! Applications will be open until March 8.

Read more about the positions and apply here: https://bit.ly/3O05hXi

➡️ OR send this to someone who may fit the bill!