The 4A’s Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies (IAAS) has been an industry institution for over half a century, and Quigley-Simpson was thrilled with the opportunity to send our first participant this year. Kristin MacDonald, a member of our business development team, joined 35 other rising associates from agencies across Southern California and Arizona to undertake an intensive 14-week class and ultimately compete in the IAAS’s infamously fierce pitch competition.

Each year the program brings in a top brand to present teams of five to six participants with an actual marketing problem. This year’s client, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, provided a weighty, real-world challenge that required the competitors to draw on their classwork and experience across strategy, audience insights, creative development, and media planning to develop a campaign solution and deliver a 50-minute presentation before a panel of industry veterans. In a close competition, Kristin and Team Rush Hour pulled off a narrow win. 

“It was an invaluable opportunity to learn from and collaborate with really smart people outside of the agency, and very gratifying to see everyone’s contributions come together to produce an incredibly compelling pitch,” said Kristin.

Team Rush Hour included Shane Centkowski, Account Executive at David & Goliath; Lara Sassounian, Associate Account Executive at Davis Elen; Anita Tjahyadi, Media Strategist at Liquid+Arcade; Rebecca Waddell, Supervisor Business Solutions at Horizon Media; and Hailey Young, Associate Traffic Manager at Deutsch.

Quigley-Simpson congratulates the team and looks forward to sending another participant next year.