LEVEL Named OBIE Finalist

March 1, 2011 (Washington)

March 1, 2011 (Washington) – LEVEL was today named a finalist for one of the biggest prizes in advertising, an OBIE Award, by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). The OBIE Awards recognize creative excellence in outdoor advertising and are the oldest awards program in the advertising industry.

"We were excited when we secured a venue that had not been previously available. The skyway window overlooking the new Target Field was just crying out for a baseball", Said Gregg Byers, LEVEL Creative Director.

LEVEL is one of 67 agencies competing for the coveted OBIE Best of Show. Competition this year was fierce, with more than 1,000 executions being judged by an all star lineup of industry talent.

LEVEL was nominated for its broken glass window creative for client Medica in the Street Furniture/Transit/Alternative Campaign category.

"Outdoor is the simplest medium, and therefore the most difficult to create for. When you see it, you know if you've got a great message or not. You know it instantaneously," said François de Gaspe Beaubien, Zoom Media & Marketing, and one of this year's OBIE judges. "You only have a few moments to grab the essence of the message, so it has to be creative that reaches out and grabs you."

The 2010 OBIE Award winners will be announced at the association’s 2011 Gala Dinner on April 13. The event will be held on the closing night of the OAAA/TAB National Convention & Trade Show at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The awards presentation will be hosted by Tracy Wong, executive creative director/chairman and founding partner of WONGDOODY. Wong served as the 2011 OBIE Chief Judge.

Members of the press interested in attending the event should contact Nicole Hayes at (202) 833-5566.

ABOUT LEVEL
LEVEL is a global brand and marketing firm headquartered in Minneapolis. LEVEL was founded 20 years ago by John Foley, CEO and author of Balanced Brand, How to Balance the Stakeholder Forces that can Make or Break Your Business. For further information about LEVEL visit www.levelbrand.com or call (612) 338-8000.

ABOUT OAAA
OAAA is the trade association for the more than 800 outdoor advertising companies that make up 90 percent of the industry's revenue. For 120 years, the association has been dedicated to leading and uniting a responsible outdoor advertising industry that is committed to serving the needs of advertisers, consumers and communities. Outdoor advertising companies generate $6.1 billion annually in ad revenues and donate space to charitable organizations in excess of $400 million each year. For more information, please visit www.oaaa.org.