Erika Runyan went to college intending to become a pharmacist. As a teen, she had worked for a pharmacy, and loved the job and interpersonal interaction. In the course of her studies at Drake University, however, Runyan quickly found that she did not enjoy the emphasis on analytical thinking required by the classes.

“I didn’t like the amount of science or the sameness of the classes,” she said. “I needed to be creative and experience something different every day.”

Runyan, 33, has gotten her wish with her job as marketing specialist in the value marketing services department at Farmland Mutual Insurance Co. Farmland provides commercial insurance products and risk management tools to agribusinesses.

The company is an affiliate of Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., which also owns Allied Insurance. She works with agents nationwide — excluding the East Coast — creating marketing campaigns for independent insurance agents and Farmland agents.

When Runyan realized she didn’t want to be a pharmacist, she transferred to Iowa State University, from which she graduated in 1995 with a degree in liberal studies.

She then took a temporary position with Farmland while looking for work. Eight months later, she found a job as an advertising coordinator with Roberson Marketing, which later merged with Wesley Day Advertising. She learned marketing on the job and found that she enjoyed it.

Runyan got to work on some big accounts, including that of Massey Ferguson, which makes agricultural and grounds-care equipment. Two years later, she learned of an opening at Farmland in the corporate projects department, which manages all projects that cross departmental lines.

“It seemed like a good career move,” Runyan said. “I’m a planner, and I knew I liked the company from when I was there as a temp. I got to work with every personality type you can imagine and I got to know the different departments. It was a great learning experience.”

Runyan missed marketing, though, so when a position in that field opened up, she applied.

“The hardest part is finding time to do all of the ideas we come up with around here,” she said. “I work with great, creative people, and it can be frustrating not to have the resources and the time to try all the good ideas.