Company: Capital Outdoor Advertising
Markets: Virginia and North Carolina
Headquarters: 1528 Old US 264-A, Zebulon, NC 27597
Phone: 919-873-9020
Capital Outdoor Advertising operates a billboard plant based from their headquarters in Zebulon, North Carolina. The company has 800 faces in North Carolina and Virginia.
Insider caught up with Robert Sykes, President, for a conversation about the company.
Can you share some history about Capital Outdoor Advertising?
Capital Outdoor Advertising actually began back in the ‘80’s after Steve Bryant re-entered the business for the second time after a stint as the Regional G.M. for National 3M. I was with Whiteco at this time in about my 12th year as Regional Manager of the South Atlantic Region (NC/SC/VA).
Steve and I competed, served together on the NCOAA Board of Directors, fought very bad legislation, and became friends. After Whiteco sold I joined Steve as company President in 1999. Capital was soon acquired by Lamar in 2001. We then started over (again), and currently have approximately 800 faces in NC/VA.
Give us some details about your billboard plant?
Those 800 faces are spread all across North Carolina and Virginia. They are mostly interstate, US highways, with some inner metro. The client base is 85% – 90% local, long-term advertisers with relationship-based history. We have one Real Estate Director, Al Harkins, with 40 years of experience, Stuart Robertson in Sales with 16 years’ experience, Bill Bradshaw in Sales, with 35 years’ experience. Then there’s Steve and I, both 40 plus years. Clay Bryant is now becoming involved in Operations, Cheryl Adams is my assistant, who everyone knows after 15 years, keeps me organized. Nick Johnson runs our in-house Art Department, as well as organization of vinyls, schedules, shipping etc., (20 years). Our financial support staff is Brad Comer, Natalie Comer, and Angela Wood. They take care of all billing – payables, receivables, reports.
The plant is a combination of acquisitions and development. So far, all static faces.
Any plans to add digital signs to your plant?
We currently have about a half dozen sites under consideration for digital, but nothing immediate.
What’s the most interesting project you have worked on?
In 40 years, I’ve worked on a lot of interesting and unique projects, but my greatest enjoyment is meeting individual business owners, small or large and introducing the value and power of outdoor for the first time. There’s no better satisfaction than creating a new relationship and knowing our medium is making a positive impact on their business. That’s what keeps you going.
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