Paulsen 75

Maurice Paulsen opens his advertising agency in the Boyce Greeley building in downtown Sioux Falls, becoming the first of its kind in South Dakota. From day one, the work was about more than marketing; it was about understanding the people and places that make rural America what it is.

The agency grows alongside the clients it serves, building trust one relationship at a time in communities across the region. Partnerships with brands like State of South Dakota Tourism, Daktronics, and NorthWestern National Bank prove that rural expertise and creativity can drive results at every scale.

Maurice's son, Thane, joins the family business after graduating from South Dakota State University, bringing fresh energy and a deep commitment to carrying the mission forward.

After Maurice's passing, Thane steps into leadership at just 29 years old. It's a defining moment, one that shapes the agency's culture of resilience, grit, and showing up when it matters most.

The team at Paulsen creates the iconic name, logo, branding, and marketing for Warheads candies as they launch in the U.S. market. It's proof that big ideas can come from anywhere, even Sioux Falls, SD.

Gregory Scott Advertising joins Paulsen, expanding the team's capacity and deepening relationships with clients who value strategic partnership over transactions.

Paulsen makes a pivotal decision: focus almost exclusively on agriculture and rural lifestyle. It's not about doing everything, it's about doing what matters most, for the people who matter most. A new agency leadership team forms to support this evolution and build for the long term.

Kubota hires Paulsen for a project. What starts as a single engagement grows into a two-decade partnership that becomes foundational to the agency's growth and reputation. Around the same time, relationships with Northwestern Energy, Hubbard Feeds, and South Dakota Corn Growers Association deepen the agency's roots in ag and energy.

Paulsen's client roster reflects the breadth of rural America: POET, Mosaic, Raven Industries, AgStar Financial, LANDUS, Midwest Dairy, and Great Plains Manufacturing trust Paulsen to tell their stories and move their stakeholders.

Paulsen's leadership bench deepens as the agency navigates a rapidly changing industry while staying rooted in its mission: help rural America thrive. In 2021, Marcus Squier is promoted to President & CEO, stepping into a role built on decades of trust, relationships, and a relentless commitment to moving rural America forward. Around him, an evolving executive leadership and operations team begins to take shape, deepening the bench, sharpening the strategy, and building the foundation for what comes next. Strategic partnerships grow with industry leaders like Dairy Management Inc., East River Electric Cooperative, Basin Electric, Great Plains Ag, CoBank, Clean Fuels Alliance America, SPP, JCB, Mahindra, Corteva brands, and Purina. It's not just about one leader anymore; it's about a team committed to ensuring Paulsen doesn't just survive the next 75 years, but leads them.

Paulsen celebrates 75 years, not by looking back, but by leaning into what's next. Today, the agency partners with some of the most respected names in agriculture, energy, and rural communities, clients who trust Paulsen not just to communicate, but to help shape the decisions worth communicating. The work, the mission, and the impact have never mattered more.

Our next 75 starts now.