Champion Adds Zimmerman To PR Team

Leading Dallas-based agency bolsters talent to maintain stellar service to growing client list

When you’re hot, you’re hot.
And Champion Management Group LLC is red hot.

The Dallas-based public relations agency has added multiple new national clients to its blue-chip roster over the past several months, and is consequently beefing up its professional team to ensure that it maintains the level of outstanding service its clients have come to expect.

Champion’s latest addition is Jami Zimmerman, who joined the agency on Feb. 22 as its new Vice President of Public Relations. Zimmerman is a skilled storyteller whose public relations and communications career has spanned more than 20 years. She was most recently Director of Corporate Communications for RAVE Restaurant Group, the parent company of Pie Five Pizza Co. and Pizza Inn, where she spearheaded all aspects of communications from media training and messaging to brand positioning and crisis communications. Prior to joining RAVE, Zimmerman was the Director of Public Relations for Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, where she guided the brand through a period of unprecedented growth and evolution.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Jami has joined our team,” said Ladd Biro, Champion’s founder and co-principal. “Her PR and communications expertise adds tremendous depth to our agency, and her restaurant industry experience meshes perfectly with a large part of our client base. She is exactly who we needed at just the right time.”

Founded in 2002 by veteran marketing executive Ladd Biro, Champion has experienced exponential growth since late-2011 when Biro partnered with entrepreneur Eric Spiritas, a business development pro. The company now ranks among the nation’s largest PR agencies in the foodservice space, representing such blue-chip brands as Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Cicis, Nestle Toll House Café, Farmer Bros., Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, Zoup!, Salata, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, Main Event Entertainment, Front Burner Restaurants, FreeRange Concepts and Firebird Restaurant Group. The agency’s clientele spans a wide array of industries including high tech, event production, sports and entertainment and not-for-profits.

“With an impressive client roster that includes some of the most innovative concepts and high-profile personalities in the restaurant industry, it’s an exciting time to be joining the Champion team,” said Zimmerman. “Champion has built a reputation for creative brand building that gets results and I’m happy to be a part of their phenomenal growth story.”