Originally published December 2010. Updated June 14, 2026.
Hanson Dodge is an independent Milwaukee-based full-service advertising agency that absorbed Comet Branding + PR in a merger effective January 1, 2011, integrating Comet's social media and public relations capabilities into Hanson Dodge's brand and creative platform. The combined firm — now branded simply as Hanson Dodge — is led by President Stacie Boney, employs roughly 100 staff, and serves national clients including NOW Foods, KEEN Utility, Ruffwear, the Utah Office of Tourism, VISIT Milwaukee, and Weiman.
The Comet Branding Merger
Comet Branding owners Al Krueger and Sara Meaney joined Hanson Dodge as equity partners on January 1, 2011 and continued to run the social media and PR division of the combined firm. The deal positioned Hanson Dodge — then operating as Hanson Dodge Creative — to serve active-lifestyle and consumer brands across paid, owned, and earned channels. Founding clients of the combined entity included Wilson Sporting Goods, Trek Bicycle Company, Wolverine Boots, Thule, and Kmart. The integration completed Hanson Dodge's evolution from a specialist active-lifestyle creative agency into a fully integrated independent firm.
