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MBC Marketing Agency

The MBC Marketing Agency

A Student-Powered Agency Supporting MBC Startup Companies

The Master of Business Creation (MBC) Marketing Agency is a student-run, student-led, multi-major, campus “internship” with three-year eligibility providing increasing levels of responsibility and leadership. MBC Agency student associates support company founders in the award-winning MBC program. We have heard it is one of the best real-life experiences for undergraduates and graduate students interested in marketing at the University of Utah … and we agree!

Join the MBC Marketing Agency

All students at the University of Utah who have an interest in marketing and want to gain experience through real projects are welcome to apply to join the MBC Marketing Agency. All majors and backgrounds are welcome. We value experience, but we also value passion, determination, and your reason for wanting to join our program.

MBC Marketing Agency Details

At the the MBC Marketing Agency, we have two main objectives that help us provide the preeminent applied education and leadership experience for students (see one, do one, teach one):

  • First, we provide provide strategic guidance and build founder capabilities to develop quality marketing strategies to validate and grow MBC companies.
  • Second, we increase capacity for MBC founders and provide real-world learning opportunities for selected undergraduate and graduate students.

The MBC Marketing Agency is a student-led organization at the University of Utah that provides innovative marketing solutions to startups in the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program. The agency connects talented undergraduate students with MBC founders, offering services like content creation, website audits, and feature articles tailored to each business’s unique needs. By combining fresh, creative perspectives with professional deliverables, the agency supports the growth of MBC companies while giving students valuable hands-on experience in real-world marketing.

Each participating business selects one of four core services designed to enhance their growth:

  • Feature article: Crafting compelling narratives that showcase the company’s story, mission, and value to its audience.
  • Website audit: Delivering in-depth feedback on site performance, user experience, and SEO optimization.
  • Content creation: Producing professional-grade materials — including video content to captivate audiences and elevate brand presence.
  • Website improvement: Designed for companies with no website or a limited web presence, this deliverable focuses on planning and structure through wireframes.

Opportunity

Students can have a three-year opportunity to participate (if mutual interest). This program is for progressive opportunities and breath of leadership over multiple years (e.g., sophomore, junior and senior years).

Participation

Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 associates

  • New Agency Associate: New associates participate on MBC Agency teams (2-3 students) with a team leader 
  • Agency Team Leaders: Year 2 and 3 associates will lead teams and help supervise year 1 and 2 associates for the work to be done
  • Student Directors: These roles (year 2 & 3 associates) work directly with the faculty advisor. They lead teams and also lead some of the administrative responsibilities in and across the program — including training of the “Agency Toolkit” to agency teams and recruiting.

Time Commitment

  • On average, agency associates spend 5-10 hrs per week (avg. 5) for the semester
  • The work is often done independently with your team and then shared with MBC founders in Zoom conference meetings (can be in person also)
  • Agency teams usually work with 2 different companies per semester with the opportunity to work on 2-3 projects per semester

Various options for participation (when accepted)

  • Internships for experience: Fully supervised “internship” for the semester to enhance your profile of experience and resume.
  • Internship for credit hours through your department:  It may be possible that you can also receive internship credit to fulfill obligations for your credit hours.
  • Scholarships: We have a limited amount of scholarships that can be awarded for participation for this hands-on, real world opportunity.

Opportunity

Founders currently enrolled and in good standing with the Master of Business Creation program are eligible to apply for support from the MBC Marketing Agency.

Process

  • Founders can access the application link for MBC Marketing Agency support through Canvas.
  • The agency runs two project rounds each semester. In each round, founders may apply for one of the three available deliverables.
  • If selected, founders will be contacted directly by a student director.

Expectations

  • Founders are expected to maintain strong and consistent communication with the agency throughout the project.
  • Requests for support must align with one of the three designated deliverables. Agency associates cannot be asked to complete additional or side projects.

Overview

The program consists of a faculty director and student directors who manage teams of other students and related projects. More details:

  • Agency associates work in 2-person teams
  • Varied backgrounds of study and colleges on campus
  • Many types of students participate as associates

Director

Jeff Davis, Marketing & MBC faculty member

  • Selection of projects and assigning agency teams to founder companies
  • Priority setting and guidance for agency teams
  • Collaborating with MBC preceptors on key needs and priorities
  • Execute training sessions each month with agency associates led by student directors
  • Mentoring and coaching student directors and team leaders

Student Directors

  • Leadership of program and overseeing team leaders. They also have responsibility for recruiting and administration of the program
  • Communication weekly with team leaders to update status in Marketing Agency Workbook
  • Prepares and leads monthly agency training/sharing meetings

Team Leaders

  • Single point of contact for founder and team
  • Provide status update to founder in Marketing Agency Workbook each week
  • Assigns tasks to the team members and reports progress each week
  • Ensures good communication, clear expectations and written action steps each week for team/founder
  • Provides summary deck/report at end of project
  • Participates in bi-weekly agency priorities Zoom meetings

Associates

  • First time participants who learn the the system and tools from team leaders and student directors
  • Support team leaders and provide key work to deliver project objectives and provide summary reports to founders
  • Prepare to become team leaders

MBC Agency Projects (as of Fall 2025)

Here are some facts & figures about MBC Marketing Agency projects with MBC startups and founders:

100

Students Participants

274

Student Marketing Projects

17,576

Hours of Learning/Experience

All Majors Welcome

The MBC Marketing Agency welcomes all students and majors to join the program. Here are some of the majors recently represented:

Marketing
Communications
Information Systems
Business Administration
Accounting
Finance
Entrepreneurship

Operations & Supply Chain
Management
Film & Media Arts
Quantitative Analysis of Markets & Organizations
Painting
Drawing

English
Philosophy
Art History
Cognitive Science
Political Science
Master of Business Administration

… and more!

MBC Agency Leadership

Jeff Davis

Faculty Director

Kailee-Jade Jenson

Program Manager

Student Leaders (Fall 2025)

Cole Cable

Student Director

Marketing | Minor: Entrepreneurship

Shaelyn Preede

Student Director

Finance

Chase Watts

Student Director

Entrepreneurship and Marketing

Student Team Leaders
Sadie Bowen – Computer Science
Luke Brooks – Finance | Emphasis: AFA & Real Estate
Valery Castillo Ramos – Marketing and Strategic Communications
Sara Hakes – Strategic Communications
Kasch Hart – Marketing
Marley Huggins – Film & Media Arts and Communications
Jack Leake – QAMO | Minor: Ecology & Legacy
Ilene Magana – Marketing
Rie Mori – Kinesiology | Minor: Family & Consumer Sciences
Lindsey Nguyen – Marketing
Ava Rowan – Marketing
Jack Siwinski – Finance and Entrepreneurship
Ali Shimabuku – Finance
Connor Snow – Marketing
Ava Valentino – Business Administration
Student Associates
Reman Adhikari – Computer Science | Minor: Information Systems
Cory Cadwell – Marketing
Winter Chamberlain – Marketing
Scotty Florell – Film & Media Arts | Minor: Entrepreneurship
Wyatt Grow – Finance
Drayton Hill – QAMO (Emphasis: Finance) | Minor: Entrepreneurship
Tim Hyland – Film | Minor: Entrepreneurship
Grace Liou – Operations and Supply Chain | Minor: Games
Xander Riessen – Marketing | Minor: Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Sophia Rossi – Strategic Communications | Minor: Business Administration
Kyle Sincock – Marketing | Minor: Design
Sara Sharma – Marketing | Minor: Economics 
Talia Silva – Strategic Communications
Katherine Turner – Communication | Minor: Parks, Recreation, & Tourism

MBC Startups

The Master of Business Creation program has helped many diverse founders grow their businesses. They come from many backgrounds and are working in many industries. Learn about some of them by following the link below.

About the Master of Business Creation

The Master of Business Creation (MBC) is an award-winning masters program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business for selected entrepreneurs to launch and accelerate their startup. It helps founders find product-market fit and grow sales through a unique, integrated, application focused curricula, intense one-on-one mentoring, experienced faculty, scholarships, and qualified funding.

Contact Us

Master of Business Creation
David Eccles School of Business | University of Utah
Spencer Fox Eccles Business Building
1655 East Campus Center Dr.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112

MBC@Eccles.Utah.edu (U.S. Program & General)
MBCGlobal@Eccles.Utah.edu (International Program)
801-585-1621

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