Projects That Left a Lasting Impact

Ten years. Hundreds of projects. Thousands of conversations, ideas, deadlines, and moments of growth. 

As I reflect on the past decade of Emerge Marketing Solutions, there are so many projects that stand out for different reasons. Some challenged me creatively. Some stretched us beyond what we thought we were capable of. Others reminded me why I love helping communities, organizations, and leaders bring their vision to life. 

While I could never narrow it down to only a few favorites, these projects have left a lasting impact on me and on the journey of Emerge. 

 

Indiana State University 

This project was unlike anything we had ever done before and proved to me that there truly is no project beyond our limits. 

Most of our work focuses on rural Iowa communities and businesses, so when Indiana State University approached us, it was definitely outside our normal scope. But when Dr. Lloyd W. Benjamin III shared his vision, I simply could not say no. 

For my fellow graphic design friends, you might remember those incredibly difficult Art History classes at Iowa State. The massive Gardner’s Art History Through the Ages: A Global History book that felt never-ending? Ironically, those classes became the inspiration behind one of the most meaningful projects of my career. 

Before becoming president of Indiana State University, Dr. Benjamin had served as an Art History professor. Over many years, he had written the history behind every significant piece of art and architecture on campus. His vision was to create a coffee table book that told the story of the university through the accomplishments and impact of each university president since its founding. 

What made this project even more remarkable is that our team completed the entire thing without ever setting foot on campus. I never met Dr. Benjamin in person, and this was before Teams and Zoom became part of everyday life. Our entire collaboration happened through countless phone calls, emails, and hundreds of Word documents that somehow blended together to become one cohesive story. 

The project took 18 months from start to finish. It became a 300-page labor of love that documented decades of leadership, history, architecture, and legacy. 

And then, in true unforgettable fashion, the books were delivered to the university the exact day the world shut down due to COVID-19 in March 2020. No one was there to receive them. We had to quickly figure out how to safely store and protect the shipment until the university reopened. 

That project taught me so much about trust, storytelling, persistence, and the power of preserving history. It remains one of the accomplishments I am most proud of still today. 

 

Wright County Fair 

What was once a small county fair with aging facilities and an uncertain future has since transformed into one of the most vibrant and exciting small fairs in Iowa. 

While Emerge has only been a small piece of that success story, it has been incredibly rewarding to watch the vision come to life under the leadership of Tricia Rosendahl and the Wright County District Fair Board. 

When Tricia first reached out in 2022, our work began with simply elevating their social media presence and helping create consistency in how they shared their story. From there, things grew quickly. 

By 2023, we were developing the annual fair theme and strengthening the fair’s brand identity. We added digital advertising campaigns through Spotify and Google and helped amplify the momentum happening in Wright County. 

One of the things I love most about this partnership is the trust. Tricia and the fair board trust us to do what we do best, and because of that, we have become deeply invested in the fair’s success ourselves. We genuinely love attending the fair each year, supporting their events, and celebrating their growth. 

And just recently, in 2026, we launched a completely refreshed website that will continue to elevate the fair’s brand to another level. Along the way, the fair received statewide recognition within the Association of Iowa Fairs as well as the Travel Iowa Outstanding Rural Social Media Execution Award. 

What makes this project special isn’t just the marketing pieces. It’s watching volunteers, communities, and businesses rally around a shared vision and seeing what happens when leadership, passion, and storytelling align. 

 

City of Manning & Manning Area Partners 

Sometimes people assume that if you live in a community, you naturally become their marketing agency. But Manning has always approached things strategically, thoughtfully, and intentionally. 

Before we ever moved to Manning, the community had already invested in a refreshed logo and brand identity through Iowa State University students and Main Street Iowa resources. What Emerge has had the privilege of doing is helping that brand truly come to life over the past decade. 

From visitor guides and community brochures to influencer campaigns, regional billboard campaigns, digital advertising, tourism videos, and statewide promotions, we have worked to help position Manning far beyond what many people would expect from a town of 1,500 people. 

One of the most rewarding parts of this work has been seeing Manning featured alongside much larger communities and destinations throughout the Midwest. It has been proof that small towns can compete when they are willing to invest in their story and believe in who they are. 

Receiving the 2025 Travel Iowa Outstanding Rural Marketing Campaign Award for these efforts was truly the icing on the cake. 

More than anything, this project reminds me how much pride I have in rural communities and how powerful strategic marketing can be when paired with strong leadership and community vision. 

 

DeWitt Library Bond Referendum 

When our family moved to DeWitt in 2013, one of the things I remember hearing during our community tour was disappointment surrounding the library. Community leaders had tried for nearly ten years to pass a bond referendum to renovate and expand the facility, but it had never succeeded. 

Fast forward several years later and Emerge had the opportunity to present a strategic marketing and fundraising proposal to the DeWitt Community Library that would eventually lead to a $6+ million capital campaign and public referendum effort. 

What followed was extraordinary. 

The campaign united the community around a shared vision for the future. The referendum ultimately passed with over 80% support and produced voter turnout higher than previous presidential elections in the community. 

From the initial proposal to the public opening of the completed library, the entire process happened in just one year and nine months. 

This project reminded me how transformational libraries truly are for communities. They are far more than buildings filled with books. They are spaces for learning, gathering, connection, and opportunity. 

Even though we still have not gotten an official in-person tour of the completed facility, it remains one of the top projects we have ever been a part of. 

It also inspired additional library projects, including helping support a successful fundraising effort for the Manning Public Library relocation and transformation shortly thereafter. 

 

Ignite: Be the Light 

Not every meaningful project comes from a client. 

Some are born from passion. 

Ignite: Be the Light grew from my desire to help people connect faith with everyday life and encourage leaders, young people, and community members to lean into their God-given purpose. 

What started as daily livestream devotionals during Lent 2020 unexpectedly grew into something much bigger, a calling God put on my heart to see through to fruition. 

In 2021, we published Foundation, the first in a three-part devotional series. From there, Ignite expanded into a full platform that included social media, podcasts, videos, group studies, leader guides, promotional products, and online resources. 

What I loved most was seeing women from different generations, denominations, and life experiences come together to grow in their faith and find confidence in sharing their own stories. 

Like many passion projects, Ignite has taken a temporary backseat while we focused on the growing demands of Emerge. The reality is that we cannot do everything all at once, no matter how much I might want to. 

But the story is not finished. 

Soon, we will be announcing a children’s book that bridges both the Ignite and Emerge brands and encourages people of all ages to trust God’s timing and lean into their calling. Our second devotional, Purpose, is also nearly ready for publication. 

It will all come together in God’s timing. 

 

Evolution of the Heartland 

While working alongside rural communities and small businesses (and through involvement with organizations like Travel Iowa, IEDA, Empower Rural Iowa, Leadership Iowa, and the Iowa Rural Development Council) I began to feel a stronger calling on my heart. 

Our mission at Emerge has always been centered around revitalizing rural Iowa, but I realized we could not create transformational change one community at a time forever. We needed a way to create broader impact and momentum across the state. 

In 2021, that vision became Evolution of the Heartland. 

The idea was simple but powerful: lead with rural Iowa and agritourism to tell the story of our small towns in a fresh and inspiring way. We wanted to showcase what happens when agriculture, Main Streets, entrepreneurship, and a passion for small-town living collide. There is a slower pace and quality of life in rural communities that so many people are longing for, and we believed there was an opportunity to help others rediscover it. 

Over time, Evolution of the Heartland (EOH) has continued to evolve right alongside the communities and businesses we serve. What started as immersive agritourism events sparked transformation in many rural communities and inspired agritourism businesses to launch and thrive. Since that time EOH has grown into a fully-integrated marketing platform focused on inspiring exploration and travel across Iowa. 

Today, we are most known for our Rural Road Trip Map, highlighting off-the-beaten-path agritourism adventures and encouraging travelers to discover what lies along Iowa’s highways and byways. We recently launched a refreshed website and continue building out our Explorer Journeys, social media storytelling, and travel inspiration content. 

What excites me most is that this movement is just gaining momentum. We hope Evolution of the Heartland continues to fuel family road trips, bucket-list adventures, and a renewed appreciation for the people and places that make rural Iowa so special. 

 

 

Looking Back with Gratitude 

The truth is, I could write for days about the projects we have been fortunate enough to work on over the past ten years. Check out our portfolio of a sampling of other projects we’ve been part of. 

What stands out most is not the awards, the campaigns, or even the finished products. It is the people. The business owners. The community leaders. The volunteers. The visionaries willing to dream bigger and trust us to help bring those dreams to life. 

I could not be more proud of our Emerge team and the work we accomplish together every day. 

To every client who has trusted us with your brand, your vision, and your story, thank you. 

Here’s to the next 10 years of creativity, collaboration, storytelling, and making an impact together.