More Than 15 Years in Greater Des Moines: The Maclyn Story

More Than 15 Years in Greater Des Moines: The Maclyn Story

For more than 15 years, Maclyn has been helping organizations across Greater Des Moines build stronger brands, connect with their audiences, and grow.

The full-service marketing agency first began working in the Des Moines area more than a decade ago, supporting organizations including the City of Indianola, City of Altoona, Balance Autism, Iowa Finance Authority, and others. Since then, those relationships have grown alongside the region itself.

Today, Maclyn continues to partner with businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, and community organizations throughout Central Iowa, providing strategic and creative support across brand development, website creation, social media content, public relations, experiential marketing, and more.

“Greater Des Moines has always been an important market for Maclyn because of the people and organizations doing meaningful work here,” said Jes Schnieders, Vice President of Marketing at Maclyn. “There’s an energy in this region that is hard to miss. Businesses are growing, communities are investing in themselves, and there is a real sense of momentum. We’re proud to have been part of that story for more than 15 years, and we’re even more excited about what comes next.”

Relationships Built Over Time
Maclyn’s work in Greater Des Moines has never been about simply completing one project and moving on. Some of the agency’s strongest local relationships have developed over many years.

Visit Altoona is one example. Maclyn has worked with the tourism organization for years to promote Altoona as a destination, supporting integrated marketing efforts that highlight local attractions, events, dining, and entertainment while strengthening the city’s presence within the broader Des Moines metro.

That work has taken place alongside significant growth in Altoona. Today, the city welcomes more than 4 million visitors each year, and total taxable sales have increased 37% since 2015. As Altoona has grown and evolved, Maclyn has continued to help Visit Altoona tell that story and connect visitors with more reasons to experience the community.

The agency has also built a longstanding relationship with the GIVE Foundation, supporting its efforts of providing Veterans opportunities through the game of golf with marketing strategy development, communications, social content, and ongoing event support.

Those long-term partnerships reflect an approach that has remained consistent even as the marketing landscape has changed dramatically.

“Marketing looks very different today than it did 15 years ago, but the foundation of good work hasn’t changed,” said Bill Murphy, President of Maclyn. “It starts with understanding the client, understanding the audience, and building trust. Greater Des Moines has given us the opportunity to develop relationships with organizations that care deeply about their communities, and those partnerships have helped shape who we are as an agency.”

Evolving Alongside the Market
Over the past 15 years, Maclyn’s capabilities have continued to evolve to meet the changing needs of its clients.

What may begin with a new brand or website can grow into an ongoing partnership involving social media, content creation, public relations, digital campaigns, video, events, and experiential marketing. That integrated approach allows the agency to help organizations maintain a consistent message across multiple channels while adapting to the ways audiences consume information today.

“The way people discover, research, and engage with organizations has changed tremendously over the past 15 years,” said Bill Vorhies, Partner at Maclyn. “Our job is to keep evolving with those changes while never losing sight of the bigger picture. It’s not about chasing the latest marketing tactic. It’s about understanding what a business is trying to accomplish and bringing the right strategy, creative, and channels together to help get them there.”

At the same time, Maclyn’s work in Greater Des Moines has expanded across a wide range of industries and organizations, giving the agency a strong understanding of the region’s business environment and the audiences that call Central Iowa home.

That local knowledge matters. Strategies that work nationally or in other markets do not always translate directly to Greater Des Moines. Understanding the communities, industries, and people behind the numbers helps Maclyn develop marketing that feels relevant rather than generic.

A Region on the Rise
Greater Des Moines itself has changed significantly during Maclyn’s time in the market.

New businesses continue to relocate to and invest in the region. Residential development is expanding. Communities across the metro are enhancing amenities, infrastructure, entertainment, and quality-of-life offerings. Together, those changes are creating new opportunities for employers, residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations of all sizes.

For Maclyn, that continued growth makes Greater Des Moines an increasingly important part of the agency’s future.
“There is so much opportunity here,” Schnieders said. “It’s a great place to live, work, build a business, and raise a family. You can see the investment happening throughout the metro, and with that growth comes a need for organizations to clearly communicate who they are, what they offer, and why they matter. That is where we can help.”

Focused on What’s Next
After more than 15 years of working with Greater Des Moines organizations, Maclyn sees its history in the market as a foundation rather than a finish line.

The agency plans to continue investing in local relationships, supporting growing organizations, and helping businesses navigate an increasingly complex marketing landscape.

“Greater Des Moines is in a major growth cycle, and we want to grow with it,” Murphy said. “We’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible organizations here over the years. Our goal now is to keep building those relationships, create new ones, and help more businesses tell their stories in ways that move them forward.”

For Maclyn, the opportunity ahead is clear: continue bringing strategy, creativity, and more than 15 years of local experience to a region with plenty of its own momentum.

Learn more at maclyngroup.com.