MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. June 15th, 2026 — For the eleventh consecutive year, Ovative Group has been named to Star Tribune’s Top Workplaces list, ranking #38 in the large-size company category.
Ovative, a media, measurement, and creative firm, has spent more than 15 years transforming how brands measure marketing success through growth in revenue, customer, and brand equity. What started in Minneapolis has grown into a three-city firm with offices in New York and Chicago, and a team that has expanded from 200 to more than 500 employees in just a few years. This year, Ovative expanded its Chicago presence, signing a 31,000-square-foot lease at 111 N. Canal in the West Loop and welcoming its 100th Chicago-based team member. That kind of growth is the result of an intentional, people-first culture built on five core values: accountable, driven, inclusive, engaged, and genuine.
“11 years in a row. That doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because of committed people. Our team members who live our values, mindsets, and skillsets every day. Our clients who trust us to push them toward better performance. Our partners who strengthen our expertise and capabilities. Everyone in this ecosystem is invested in making Ovative better — and that investment pays out every single day. Appreciate all of you!” said Dale Nitschke, Founder and CEO of Ovative.
Central to that culture is Elevate, Ovative’s custom leadership and development platform that equips team members to drive deeper impact. Ovative’s proprietary Elevate Leadership Platform (ELP) gives its team a shared framework for growth built around values, mindsets, and skillsets. These pillars help team members self-assess, develop, and coach against key Ovative expectations. The goal is simple: clear expectations and real opportunities to grow.
Inclusion is equally foundational for Ovative. Its DEIB program, Champions of Change, empowers team members to take action through four key initiatives: cultural agility education, equitable operating practices, charitable giving, and skills-based partnerships. In 2025, team members completed a 10-month curriculum covering topics like microaggressions, racial identity development, and inclusive feedback practices.
Community investment remains a cornerstone of Ovative’s culture. In 2025, Ovative team members provided $400k of digital marketing pro bono services to local community organizations and awarded $45k in scholarships to students from historically marginalized communities.
Top Workplaces is an annual showcase of Minnesota’s best places to work, based entirely on employee feedback measuring engagement, organizational health, and satisfaction. See the full list of Top Workplaces here.
