Two Influential Women Leaders, Former Broadcast Journalists Ink Deal to Merge Agencies
Kane Communications Group and Leonard & Finco Public Relations Form Single Agency
Milwaukee, Wis. – Kane Communications Group (Kane), a Milwaukee-based public relations, marketing and branding agency, is pleased to announce they are joining forces with Leonard & Finco Public Relations, located in Green Bay, Wis. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in Kane’s growth, providing purpose-driven public relations and marketing services that build reputations for organizations around the world.
Leonard & Finco is an award-winning PR agency with over three decades of experience across diverse industry sectors. CEO and former TV journalist, Susan Finco, will continue with the company, integrating Leonard & Finco into Kane and serving on Kane’s leadership team. Finco currently serves on many prominent boards, including as lead director for the Green Bay Packers, where she was the first woman on the seven-member executive committee.
Kane’s acquisition of Leonard & Finco is part of Kane’s strategic growth plan to expand into new markets and industries.
“I am excited about the synergies these two teams bring to our valued clients with additional service offerings. I look forward to seeing the growth of both Leonard & Finco and Kane through this collaboration,“ says Susan Finco, President of Leonard & Finco. Leonard & Finco’s Green Bay office will remain open with all employees retained. Additional employees are expected to be hired for the combined companies in the next year.
Leonard & Finco was established in 1992 as a partnership between two former WBAY employees – Charlie Leonard and Susan Finco. Finco took the reins as sole owner in 1999 when Charlie Leonard retired.
Since then, the firm has continued to grow and firmly solidify its place as the leading PR and communications firm in northeast Wisconsin.
Today, Leonard & Finco represents global, national, regional and local clients ranging from blue-chip companies to small businesses and nonprofits.
“Susan Finco and the Leonard & Finco team are extremely well-respected leaders in public relations,” notes Kimberly Kane, President and CEO of Kane Communications Group. “Bringing our agencies together allows us to offer clients in both markets an even more powerful mix of service offerings, resources and expertise, including Kane’s focus on ESG and sustainability communications as well as our marketing, advertising, creative and video services,” she adds.
Kane Communications Group was founded by Kimberly Kane, who spent 15 years in TV news, including as a reporter and anchor at Milwaukee’s TMJ4. The firm is a recognized leader in strategic public relations and marketing that delivers outcomes for its clients through research-based communications planning; public, media and community relations; brand development; marketing; content development; video production; internal communications; social media; corporate citizenship and sustainability communications; and more.
Scott Bushkie of Cornerstone Business Services assisted Leonard & Finco and Kane Communications Group as the transaction advisor.
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About Kane Communications Group
Kane Communications Group is a purpose-driven public relations, marketing, and branding agency that builds reputations and drives corporate citizenship for organizations around the world. Founded in 2013 by award-winning journalist, Kimberly Kane, the company has offices in Milwaukee, Racine and Geneva, Switzerland. Its mission is to build faith in facts and inspire meaningful outcomes. The company has been awarded some of the most coveted awards in the industry and the region for its communications, marketing and PR programs. In 2021, Kane was recognized in Inc. Magazine as number 141 on the 2021 Inc. 5000 Regionals: Midwest list and number 3,142 on the 2021 Inc. 5000 National list of fastest-growing private companies in America.
About Leonard & Finco
Leonard & Finco (L&F) is an award-winning communication and public relations firm; with a team of experts specializing in the development and implementation of complex, strategic communications plans incorporating education and outreach, media relations (traditional, online, digital and social), content and visual creation for platforms ranging from websites to social, branding and visioning, issues management, community/stakeholder relations and crisis management. Its experienced staff of professionals brings proven skills, connections and abilities to the table. L&F represents global, national, regional and local clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to organizations, small businesses and nonprofits.