Brogan & Partners

When you’re ready to volunteer, the Michigan Community Service Commission makes it easier to stop searching and start serving. See how in our first campaign for our new partners.

If you know Ellyn Davidson, CEO and owner of Brogan & Partners, you know she’s passionate about making a difference in the lives of others. But did you know…? ?? Ellyn received a BBA in marketing and operations management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an international business specialization from the London School of Economics. ?? She started in our media department where she quickly rose to media director, then moved into account management. In 2010, she was elevated from managing partner to president, and in 2017, she purchased the agency. ?? She was 36 years old, the mother of a toddler, a kindergartner and second grader, when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. And while fighting for her own life, she inspired hundreds of women to fight for theirs — personally and professionally. ?? She is a former member of the CDC Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women. ?? She is actively involved in the community as an executive member of the Michigan Region BBYO Commission, on the board of Winning Futures and on the board of Make-A-Wish Michigan. ?? She has received numerous awards to honor and celebrate her dedication to the community, including being honored as a Notable Woman in Marketing by Crain’s Detroit Business in 2018, receiving a Career Mastered Leadership in Action award, being recognized as an Esteemed Woman of Michigan by the Dr. Gary Burnstein Health Clinic, and being recognized as a RARE Everyday Hero by Winning Futures. ?? Under her leadership, Brogan began donating 5% of its profits in the form of pro bono work.

Congratulations to John Young, our incredible client at Oakland University, and his daughter for being awarded the 2024 Ted Lindsay Foundation Family Courage Award. Your story is inspiring, and we’re so proud to call you our partners.

Words of wisdom from our former creative director, Bonnie Folster ?

In 2017, our agency’s leadership and ownership transitioned to business whiz, Ellyn Davidson, who started as an intern in 1994. With Ellyn at the helm, we’ve continued to grow and expand our reputation throughout Michigan. And most of our new business nowadays comes from word of mouth and referrals from happy clients. ??

After a backlog of more than 11,000 untested rape kits was found in a Detroit Police Department storage unit, Michigan Women Forward (then known as Michigan Women’s Foundation) came to Brogan & Partners with a challenge: Create a campaign to make people aware of these forgotten victims and inspire them to donate to the cause. Our creative team began by giving the initiative a name: Enough SAID (Enough Sexual Assault in Detroit), inspired by what many women felt when they learned of this injustice. And a brochure, which was supported by a creative social media campaign, went on to win one of the highest regional honors in our industry. More importantly, it also led to millions of dollars in donations and public funding, as well as the discovery of 765 rape suspects.

We’re excited to share Brogan & Partners has been named one of Crain’s 2024 Best Places to Work in Southeast Michigan — earning the #9 spot overall and #5 in the Small Employer category. Thank you to Crain's Detroit Business and congratulations to all 2024 winners!?https://bit.ly/471JgzI

Here at Brogan, we have a long history of creating healthcare marketing campaigns, but none have had as much impact as “Cancer Opera.” This award-winning TV spot, produced as part of a St. John Health branding campaign, encouraged our own Ellyn Davidson to start doing self-breast exams. And at age 36, this healthy, active, mother of three found a lump. “I have breast cancer,” Ellyn said. “And I found it because of a television spot for the hospital where I delivered all three of my children. Without it, I’m honestly not sure I would have.” Seventeen years later, Ellyn is healthy, and incredibly thankful for this lifesaving campaign. (And because it kept her here with us, so are we. ??

Brogan & Partners and Make-A-Wish Michigan both turned 40! ?? Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate four decades of success in the advertising industry at our annual Wine & Wishes event. With your generosity, we raised more than $20,000 to help grant lifechanging wishes for children with critical illnesses. Still want to support? It's not too late! You can donate to our Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenge team here: https://buff.ly/3R1UiOk. ??: ARA HOWRANI

We’re thrilled to announce that Brogan & Partners has been honored with two Aster Awards for our work with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services! ?? Our “Your Nose Knows” TV/video spot and “Uterine Fibroids” poster both earned top honors in the healthcare marketing sector. Congratulations to all involved. To learn more about how we’re leading the way in innovative, impactful healthcare marketing, please visit https://buff.ly/3YCm3Sy.