The Missouri State Ad Team was in Kansas City February 5th and 6th for a several meaningful activities. The 15-person Ad Team, along with their faculty advisor Dr. Melissa Burnett, toured Hallmark’s Corporate Headquarters and Barkley Advertising Agency.

The team got a glimpse into the creative process inside the largest greeting card manufacturer in the U.S. and learned how Hallmark has evolved over its 105 years in business. They visited several departments including Hand-lettering, and Marketing and Packaging, learning about Hallmark’s emphasis on conceptualization, cooperation and a cheerful environment.

Barkley Advertising Agency also provided a tour of their remarkable facilities, highlighting their war rooms and social media department.  Students also gained valuable industry feedback regarding application materials, as the Recruiting Manager took the time to personally review their resumes and answer questions.

The team spent the following morning with 6th, 7th and 8th grade students from Allen Village School. These fantastic middle school students participated in focus groups for this year’s Ad Team project. The middle school students gave the MSU students great insight into the importance of teaching current events at the middle school level, and into how knowledge of current events shapes students’ global view. Overall, the middle school students believed that creating a constructive, international dialogue would help lead to cultural understanding and respect. One goal for the Ad Team is to help find ways for these students and others like them, to make their voices heard on an international scale.

To remain up to date on the 2015 Ad Team projects and competition, stay tuned to our blog for more information coming soon!