Lindsey Cook says she doesn’t really have a job title at McLellan Marketing Group. The company avoids labeling its employees so they can perform a wider variety of tasks. Her primary role, she said, would be as an account strategist, and her business cards list her as “Lindsey Cook, Clutch Player,” harking back to her days as a volleyball player at Drake University.

“[My co-workers] suggested the name so that something from my past would continue on to my future,” she said. “I pretty much serve as the day-to-day link between the agency and the client. The client comes to me with [his or her] needs and I get it done through my team. When things get hot around here, it’s my job to bring calm to the client and to my team.”

Cook grew up in Ankeny and attended Drake on a volleyball scholarship. She graduated with a B.A. in public relations and marketing in 2003. As a student athlete Cook learned a lot about time management, balancing classes, homework, practices, games, her social life and a job.

Cook was hired by McLellan Marketing (then Erickson McLellan) April 2003, got married in June and began work for the company in July. It has been a time of extreme change for Cook, but she said she welcomes the opportunity to grow.

Though she joined the company with a few internships to her credit, one of the most difficult things about her job is constantly asking questions. Because she is new to the business, she says the wisdom of her co-workers is an invaluable resource. Cook’s favorite parts of the job are brainstorming with clients and helping them see new ways to improve their businesses.

“I’ll see that a client has five [product lines] and five brochures and none of them look the same,” she said. “I let them know that they can have different products but be consistent and have one message. They say, ‘I can do that!’ Sometimes in this job there are long hours and it’s hectic, but it’s worth it when you see the look in a client’s eyes.”