What Hanson Dodge does

Hanson Dodge is a full-service integrated marketing communications agency headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 1991 by Tim Dodge and Ken Hanson as Hanson Graphic and rebranded to its current name. The agency operates across four primary verticals: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), active lifestyle and outdoor brands, tourism and destination marketing organizations, and healthcare systems. Its service portfolio spans brand strategy and identity development, integrated campaign creation across digital, social, video, and out-of-home channels, custom website design and development, media planning and buying, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy. The agency has built specialized CMS implementation capabilities as a Kentico Gold Partner and through Episerver (Optimizely) deployments, exemplified by award-winning builds for VISIT Milwaukee and Porchlight Books.

The agency's technology foundation is anchored on Kentico and Episerver CMS platforms rather than proprietary software, with its principal IP being proprietary consulting frameworks such as the '9 Steps to E-Commerce Success' and the 'Flexible Planning Guide' that support client education and DTC engagements. Revenue is generated entirely through professional services: agency-of-record retainer arrangements and project-based engagements with enterprise clients, acquired through competitive reviews, industry reputation, and direct outreach led by a dedicated SVP of Business Development. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement; financial terms are not publicly disclosed. The client base includes Stanley PMI, KEEN Utility, Creminelli Fine Meats, K-Swiss, NOW, Utah Office of Tourism, VISIT Milwaukee, Medical College of Wisconsin, Bristol Health, and challenger brands such as Run Gum and Festa Foods.

Governance has transitioned from founder-led to professional management: co-founder Ken Hanson retired in 2017 and sold his interest to Tim Dodge, who moved to the CEO role while Stacie Boney (formerly of Energy BBDO) was named President in 2018; the agency hired Mike Roe as Chief Creative Officer in January 2025. The agency is privately held with no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and operates exclusively in the U.S. market from a single Milwaukee headquarters.

Name

Hanson Dodge

Legal name

Hanson Dodge, Inc.

Website

https://hansondodge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hanson Dodge is a Milwaukee-based, full-service integrated marketing agency serving enterprise and challenger CPG, active lifestyle, tourism, and healthcare clients with branding, campaign development, website design, media, and e-commerce services on a project and agency-of-record basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Integrated Marketing Services: Hanson Dodge generates revenue through integrated marketing communications services including branding, creative campaigns, digital marketing, website development, and media services. Revenue is structured through agency-of-record retainer arrangements and project-based engagements with client brands.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hanson Dodge is a full-service integrated marketing communications agency that provides branding, creative campaign development, website design and development (on CMS platforms such as Kentico and Episerver), media planning and buying, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy and implementation. The agency operates on agency-of-record retainer arrangements and project-based engagements, serving mid-size to enterprise brands across CPG, active lifestyle, tourism, healthcare, and footwear verticals.

Product overview

Hanson Dodge is a fully integrated, digitally deep advertising agency offering a unified suite of marketing services rather than a software product platform. The core offering encompasses branding, creative strategy, campaign development, website design and development, media planning and buying, and e-commerce solutions. These services work together as an integrated offering, with branding establishing brand identity, campaigns driving consumer engagement, websites providing digital experiences, media services ensuring reach, and e-commerce enabling transaction capabilities. The agency also offers proprietary frameworks like the '9 Steps to E-Commerce Success' as thought leadership tools for client education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hanson Dodge Integrated Marketing Services Full-service integrated marketing communications agency providing branding, creative strategy, campaign development, website design and development, media planning and buying, and e-commerce services to enterprise B2B and B2C clients across CPG, healthcare, tourism, outdoor/active lifestyle, and footwear verticals.
• Branding Services Brand strategy, brand story development, and brand identity work including logo design, positioning, and visual identity systems for challenger brands and established companies seeking to reconnect with consumers.
• Campaign Development Integrated marketing campaign creation across digital, social, print, video, radio, and out-of-home channels, including creative development, media planning, and campaign optimization.
• Website Design & Development Custom website design and development services built on CMS platforms such as Kentico and Episerver, featuring interactive tools, e-commerce functionality, and responsive design for desktop and mobile.
• Media Planning & Buying Strategic media planning, digital marketing execution, paid social, display advertising, and media activation across various audience segments and channels.
• E-Commerce Solutions Direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy, website development, and digital commerce solutions including platform selection, user experience design, and conversion optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Creminelli Fine Meats: 29% awareness increase, 32% YoY revenue growth from 2020 to 2021, 85% recommendation rate among Millennial Foodies
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• KenticocoreTechnology or IntegrationHanson Dodge is a Kentico Gold Partner, specializing in website development on the Kentico platform. The agency has delivered award-winning implementations including the Kentico Site of the Year for VISIT Milwaukee.
• EpiserversupportingTechnology or IntegrationHanson Dodge built the Porchlight Book Company website on the Episerver Content Management System, integrating brand messaging, editorial content, and e-commerce functionality.
• KEENcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnership with KEEN on multiple campaigns including Live Monumental national parks campaign, Call-To-Action campaigns, and ambassador programs. KEEN Utility partnership spans work boot marketing and X-Games activations.
• Outdoor Industry AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanson Dodge's Chief Strategy Officer Mike Stefaniak moderated panel discussions at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018, part of ongoing thought leadership engagement with the outdoor industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BBDO Worldwide: Global advertising network and direct ancestor of the agency's leadership (Boney from Energy BBDO, Pollard from BBDO). Offers integrated brand and campaign services at network scale, competing for the same enterprise AOR business Hanson Dodge pursues.
• McCann: Global advertising network and former employer of Hanson Dodge SVP of Business Development Melisa Leonard. Competes for the same enterprise creative AOR business, particularly with CPG, healthcare, and consumer brands.
• FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding): Global integrated marketing agency with full-service creative, media, and digital capabilities. Also a former employer of Leonard; competes for AOR relationships with the same enterprise brands Hanson Dodge targets.
• Havas: Global advertising and communications group; another former employer of Melisa Leonard. Competes for integrated brand and media AOR work with the same enterprise verticals Hanson Dodge serves.

Direct peers

• Digitas: Publicis-owned digital and integrated marketing agency with comparable brand-to-commerce capabilities. Directly overlaps Hanson Dodge's digital experience, media, and e-commerce practices, and has recruited from the same BBDO/agency talent pool.
• Energy BBDO: Chicago-based BBDO affiliate and Stacie Boney's former employer for 32 years. Closely matched mid-size creative agency competing for CPG and challenger brand AOR accounts (SC Johnson, Wrigley) — the same category Hanson Dodge serves.
• R/GA: Independently operated creative and digital agency (under IPG) known for integrated brand, digital product, and commerce work. Closely aligned with Hanson Dodge's brand-to-commerce service model and competes for similar challenger-brand AOR work.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Independent creative agency with comparable AOR relationships with consumer brands and a similar independent, founder-influenced operating culture. Sets the benchmark for independent agency creative output and competes for the same enterprise challenger-brand business.
• 72andSunny: Independently operated creative agency known for brand campaigns across CPG, active lifestyle, and consumer brands. Comparable in scale, positioning, and culture (multiple Best Places to Work awards) to Hanson Dodge.
• Droga5: Independently operated creative agency (Accenture Song) with a comparable integrated creative-and-strategy offering and strong CPG, consumer, and active lifestyle portfolio. Closely matched as a mid-to-large independent creative competitor.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hansondodge
• Facebookfacebook.com/hansondodgecreative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hanson-dodge-creative
• Instagraminstagram.com/hanson_dodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hanson Dodge