About
Curious People Tend To Find Each Other
It’s gotten us into a few rabbit holes, across a few decades, and into more communities than we can count. Thankfully, it’s also led to some pretty great work.
Years of Legacy
People Asking "What if?"
Of Napkin Sketches
OUR REASON WHY
WHY WE’re HERE
To create moments that become movements.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
A moment can change hearts and minds.
why we do what we do
The Things We Keep Coming Back To
it’s never just a project to us
Behind every project is a community, a team, a business, or a cause that matters deeply to someone. We remember that from the first conversation to the final deliverable.
BELIEF CHANGES THINGS
The right idea can give people something to gather around. Something to share. Something to protect. Something to move forward together.
LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN WE FOUND THEM
When the work you do has a direct impact on improving communities and lives, leaving things better than we found them is the least we can do.
everyone has something to contribute
Communities are stronger when more diverse voices are part of the conversation. Different perspectives have a habit of making ideas better.
things you should know about us
Every agency has a process. These are more like habits.
The kind that show up in meetings, brainstorm sessions, road trips, text threads, and just about every project we touch.
01
We Ask “What If?” A Lot
The obvious answer usually arrives first. We like hanging around long enough to meet the interesting ones.
02
We Bring Optimism With A Serious Work Ethic
We believe things can be better. Communities. Organizations. Experiences. The belief is important. The rolling up our sleeves part is a non-negotiable.
03
We Notice Things Others Might Miss
A word choice nobody else questioned. A detail hiding in plain sight. A conversation happening on the edge of the room. Sometimes the smallest observations lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
04
We Get Weirdly Excited About Progress
A sold-out event. A growing community. A student finding the right program. A visitor discovering a new place. We never quite lose our appreciation for seeing good moments happen.
IN good company
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dan
Janes
CEO
Kathy
Hagan
Co-CEO
Pasquale “Pocky”
Marranzino
Co-CEO
Brett
Gordon
President
Tracy
Broderick
President
Sarah
Hupp Foster
President
Brianna
Francis
VP, Communications and Strategy
Heather
Molina
VP, Insights & Media Partnerships
Jen
Carlisle
VP, Destination Strategy
Jake
Sillavan
SVP, Destination Strategy
Curtis
Thompson
SVP, Technology
Ronda
Thiem
SVP, Business Development
Matt
Clement
Executive Vice President
Daryl
Whitworth
VP, Destination Strategy
Melissa
Pert
VP, Media Director
Jeff
Martin
Chief Creative Officer
1977
Karsh Hagan
Founded for the love of big ideas. In 1977, Phil Karsh and Tom Hagan founded Karsh Hagan in Denver, Colorado.
1982
Madden
Started in a VW Bug Kevin and Jill Madden launched the company with a magazine, a dream, and a lot of miles across Southern Arizona.
1988 – 1993
More Communities, More Stories
What started in Tucson grew across Arizona as new guides helped more communities welcome visitors and share what made them special.
1996
The Internet Happened
We stepped into the .com world early, building websites and exploring what the future of marketing could look like.
2003
Crossing State Lines
New partnerships expanded our reach beyond Arizona and introduced communities across the country to the Madden family.
2013
Growing The Team
More clients, new capabilities, and a bigger vision pushed us into our next stage of growth.
2018
A Bigger View Of What’s Possible
Under new leadership, Madden expanded into a fully integrated agency built around strategy, creativity, media, and technology.
2019
The Animal Kingdom
We reorganized into agile teams affectionately named after animals. Surprisingly effective. Occasionally competitive.
2020
The Pandemic
The world changed. So did we. Going remote opened new doors, new perspectives, and new talent across the country.
Today