Omaha full-service ad agency since 1962 with health care as a named specialty
About SKAR
SKAR is a full-service advertising agency in Omaha, Nebraska, with offices on South 108th Avenue. Wayne Smith founded it in 1962 under the name Smith Kaplan, and the Smith family owned it for more than five decades. Joleen David, a member of the family, served as president from 2000. In early 2019 Terry Kroeger, the former publisher of the Omaha World-Herald and former CEO of BH Media Group, bought the agency from the family and a partner group and took the roles of president and CEO, with David staying on as vice chair.
At the time of the purchase, Kroeger planned to widen the agency's offer into strategic planning, business consulting, public relations and crisis communications, and to look for acquisitions. Today its craft covers account planning, copywriting, design and media placement, and its main areas of expertise are health care, financial services and retail, along with dozens of regional brands and some nonprofits.
The team has 50 to 249 staff. The work spans advertising, graphic design and media planning and buying, followed by branding, marketing strategy, digital strategy, email, video, print and web design. Medical clients make up about 15 percent of its industry mix, behind retail and level with business and financial services. Clients are split mainly between enterprise and mid-market companies. SEO is not a stand-alone service, and the agency's home page does not describe search engine work.
No dental practices, dental groups or health care clients are named on the agency's public pages, and no client reviews appear on Clutch. The agency points to success stories and keeps an archive of classic campaigns from its long history, but none relate to dentistry. Rates run 100 to 149 US dollars an hour, with a minimum project of 5,000 dollars.
For dentistry, SKAR fits a different need from a dental SEO firm. A regional dental group or DSO planning a brand launch, a name change, or a TV, radio and outdoor campaign across Nebraska and nearby markets could use its media buying and creative teams. A single practice looking mainly for local search rankings, Google Business Profile work or review generation is likely to find a smaller search-focused specialist a closer match, or would need SKAR to confirm who handles SEO in-house.
SKAR's Website
SKAR at a Glance
| Founded | 1962 |
|---|---|
| Team size | 50-249 employees |
| Headquarters | Omaha, Nebraska, USA |
| Leadership | Terry Kroeger (President and CEO, from 2019); Joleen David (Vice Chair from 2019, previously President) |
| Languages | English |
| Pricing | 100 to 149 US dollars per hour and a 5,000 dollar minimum project. |
Dental Marketing Services
- Brand strategy and messaging
- advertising creative and copywriting
- media planning and buying (TV, radio, print, outdoor)
- digital strategy
- web design
- video production
- email marketing
- graphic and print design
Why Dentists Choose SKAR
- Serving regional and national brands since 1962
- Names health care as a core industry
- About 15% of client work is medical
- Staff of 50 to 249 in Omaha
- In-house media planning and buying
Key Strengths
- Buys TV, radio, print and out-of-home media for local patient campaigns
- Produces broadcast video ads alongside print and radio creative for practices
- Offers naming and brand messaging work for practices launching or rebranding
How the DSA Score Breaks Down
Points earned: 30.4 of 100 (profile 38 × 0.8 + client feedback 0). DSA Score: 86/100
Where SKAR Is Listed
Questions Dentists Ask About SKAR
Does SKAR offer dental SEO?
SEO is not a separate service, and its home page does not describe search work. The agency focuses on advertising, branding, design and media buying.
Does SKAR have health care experience?
Health care is one of its three main areas, and medical clients make up about 15 percent of its work. No health care or dental clients are named publicly.
Who owns SKAR?
Terry Kroeger, former publisher of the Omaha World-Herald, bought it from the founding Smith family in 2019 and became president and CEO.
How long has SKAR been operating?
Since 1962, when Wayne Smith founded it as Smith Kaplan in Omaha.
What does SKAR cost?
Rates run 100 to 149 US dollars an hour, with projects starting at 5,000 dollars.
Reviews of SKAR
No reviews on this site yet. Have you worked with SKAR? Your review helps other dentists choose.