CMRignite president honored as young professional mastermind at Mayor’s masked ball

CMRignite President David Bowles was honored as a Young Professional Mastermind at the Mayor’s Masked Ball in Milwaukee on March 29, as the agency marked another major milestone nearly 30 years after its founding. CMRignite is based in Milwaukee but has a sizable DC office and was one of the featured agencies at the 2024 Mid-Atlantic MarCom Summit. The firm specializes in “cause and behavior” marketing campaigns, helping organizations tap into the power of social causes to benefit communities. It describes itself as a social impact agency focused on driving real change.

CMRignite has spearheaded numerous campaigns promoting public health and social good, including efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence among communities of color and the well-known anti-smoking message, “Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray,” which contributed to a reduction in youth smoking.

The agency was founded by Bowles mother, Jacque Moore, in 1995. Bowles became president of the company in 2021 after previously leading its strategy, planning and business development. Under his leadership, the agency experienced significant growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring a Washington, D.C.-based marketing firm and expanding its staff from 10 to about 70 employees. Bowles credited his recognition at the Mayor’s Masked Ball to the opportunities created by his mother.

That rapid expansion earned CMRignite a spot on Inc. magazine’s list of the 5,000 fastest-growing U.S. companies, thanks to a 709% growth rate over three years.

Despite its growth, the agency remains committed to the inclusive culture it has cultivated since its founding. The company’s staff is majority BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and includes individuals with disabilities — a reflection of CMRignite’s longstanding values. “We understand the value of being truly multicultural and what that means,” Bowles said. “We call that ‘Total Market’ — making sure that our team looks like the entirety of America.”

“I feel honored to continue my mother’s legacy, but I also feel responsible to give back by being a leader others can look up to,” he said. “Never give up despite the adversity you’re going to face. A lot of these young people, they’ve seen it. They’ve lived through it. But if you want to be successful, you have to work for it. You have to hustle. Sometimes you have to work twice as hard to get half as much.”