Our Story
Built onLegacy
From a family printing business born in 1889 to a modern creative agency shaking up Michigan — Smash Creative Group is proof that humble beginnings and bold ideas can change everything.
More Than an Agency
Humble Roots.
Big Energy.
Smash Creative Group isn't a overnight success story. It's a story of summers in a print shop, lessons passed down through generations, and one founder's decision to bet on himself. We believe the best work comes from people who care — and we've built an agency that cares deeply.
The Timeline
How We Got Here
Where It All Began
Lee Printing Company was founded in Mount Clemens, Michigan — a cornerstone of the community built on craftsmanship, hustle, and ink on paper.
A Family Legacy
Ryan's grandfather, William Lesperance, purchased Lee Printing Company and carried the torch forward. He taught his son, Keith Lesperance, the business from the ground up, and later Ryan began working there too. William set the tone: quality and relationships matter most.
Learning the Trade
Ryan started working summers at the family shop, sweeping floors, running presses, and falling in love with the creative process. His dad, Keith, understood the value of teaching his son hard work and dedication at a young age — so he told Ryan he could come in and work, but only if he got up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym with his father first. Health and fitness were always a cornerstone of Keith's life, and those early mornings taught Ryan what commitment looked like before the print shop ever opened its doors.
The Leap
With only the shirt on his back, Ryan left the family business and started Smash Creative Group from scratch. One client at a time. One bold idea at a time.
SMASHing Forward
From 1–2 local clients to 120+ brands across Metro Detroit and the United States, Smash has grown into a human-first agency powered by creativity, automation, and heart.
The Epiphany
Brand Is an Unstoppable Force
While working at Lee Printing Company, Ryan had a moment that changed everything. He saw the direct correlation between a company's brand and the culture of its team — something most businesses completely overlook.
A strong brand isn't just a logo, color palette, or catchy tagline. It's the heartbeat of an organization. When the internal culture matches the external brand, companies become unstoppable. When they don't, even the best marketing falls flat.
That realization led Ryan to write The Shugg Effect, a book that explores what every brand should know about culture — and why the companies that get it right win.
Get on AmazonGet The Shugg Effect on Amazon
"Culture is the missing piece of brand."
— Ryan Lesperance
2019
The Leap of Faith
Ryan walked away from the only industry he'd ever known with nothing but experience, creativity, and a refusal to play it safe. No clients. No safety net. Just a belief that Southeastern Michigan needed an agency as bold as the brands it served.
That first year was grit. One local client became two. Two became ten. Word spread that Smash wasn't just creative — we were relentless, transparent, and genuinely fun to work with.
Today, that same energy drives every project we touch.
120+
Clients & Counting
Today
Smash by the Numbers
120+
Clients Nationwide
1889
Legacy Started
2019
Smash Founded
3
Core Leaders in Troy, MI
A Small Team With Worldwide Reach
Our leadership team is rooted in Troy, Michigan, but our talent network spans the globe. Full-time graphic designers, website developers, and AI developers work across time zones so we can deliver the best product, faster.
Troy-Based Leadership
Strategic direction from the heart of Metro Detroit.
Global Talent
Specialists around the world, aligned to your timeline.
Human-First Agency
People First.
Agents Second.
We are a human-first agency, powered by AI. Every strategy, design, and campaign starts with real people listening to real goals — and a real team paying attention to every client's needs, every step of the way.
To stay efficient, accurate, and always at the top of technology, we lean on a cast of world-class brand agents: Sam, Will, Greg, Alexis, Sarah, Betty, CiCi, Ace, Victor, and Pete. They're not replacements for our team — they're how our team delivers more, faster, and sharper for every client we serve.
Automation makes us faster. Humans make us Smash.
SEO Sam
Website Will
Graphics Greg
Alexis Ads
Social Media Sarah
Branding Betty
CiCi
Ace
Video Victor
Printing Pete
What Guides Us
Our Core Values
It's got to be cool!
It's got to be fun!
It's got to be transparent!
It's got to be accurate!
These aren't just wall art. They're the filter for every decision we make. We don't pretend to be perfect — but when we miss, we come back to what makes us Smash.
Ready to Smash It?
We're humbled by where we came from and excited for what's next. If you're looking for a creative partner that works as hard as you do, we'd love to meet you.