ZLRIGNITION has promoted Nick Grant and Sara Horstmann to Account Manager.

Grant joined ZLRIGNITION in 2007 as an account- and street marketing coordinator and has played a vital role in managing special events and activities for Just Eliminate Lies, (JEL), Iowa’s teen-led tobacco counter marketing group.

A native of Washington, D.C., Grant holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Drake University, where he also was co-captain of Drake’s 2006-2007 men’s basketball team.

“Nick will continue to play a critical role in helping our clients’ engage teens and young adults, and in utilizing social media to help clients achieve their communications and marketing objectives,” says Louie Laurent, president and CEO.

Horstmann joined ZLRIGNITION in 2008 as a media planner and buyer. Before joining the agency, Horstmann worked at Heartland Financial USA, Inc. where she coordinated major marketing projects including special events and media buying.

“Sara brings a sharp focus on producing results that meet or exceed client expectations. She is a valuable addition to our account service team,” adds Laurent.

Horstmann, who resides in Urbandale, holds a bachelor’s degree in art & design from Iowa State University.

DES MOINES — The American Advertising Federation has given its top award, a Gold ADDY, to What Town is Next, a multi-media campaign developed by ZLRIGNITION for the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control and its teen-led tobacco counter-marketing organization, Just Eliminate Lies (JEL).

The What Town is Next Campaign drew attention to daily death toll from tobacco use in the U.S. by comparing the death toll to the loss of an entire town of 1,200 people every day. The winning campaign combined the use of social media strategies including video on YouTube and blog posts with outdoor advertising, street marketing, outdoor, newspaper and television advertising, as well as public relations. The TV spots showed icons in small towns that were suddenly deserted.

The campaign, which earned Best of Class honors at the local ADDY competition and a regional gold, was one of 50,000 entries in the national ADDY competition and among only 100 that were selected for a Gold ADDY Award.

“This campaign delivered a compelling message to teens about the dangers of tobacco use and served up a powerful case for teens to resist pressure to smoke,” says Bonnie Mapes, administrator of the IDPH Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Division.

“The fact that our work has been judged to be among the country’s best communications is a source of pride, but even more rewarding is the fact that our work has contributed to a 33 percent reduction in teen smoking,” adds Louis Laurent, president and CEO of ZLRIGNITION.

JEL activities and other tobacco use prevention and control activities are funded by the State of Iowa from the Master Settlement Agreement with the tobacco industry, and are administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health.

ZLRIGNITION is a full-service marketing communications agency with offices in Des Moines and Kansas City. The agency provides a wide range of information-based marketing creative, media, interactive and public relations services to national, regional and local clients.

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