Lamar Advertising CEO Sean Reilly rang the NASDAQ opening bell yesterday.  He was surrounded by Lamar family members, board members and executives.  Here are his remarks:

Good morning, and on behalf of everyone at Lamar. I’d like to extend a thanks to NASDAQ for hosting us. It is absolutely wonderful to be back here and celebrate 30 years of being a public company. When we were when were last here in 1996, we were a regional operator with grand ambitions, seeking to be something greater.

Today we are the largest out-of-home company in the United States and the most valuable outdoor advertising company in the world. We operate over 360,000 displays that generate this year approximately $2.4 billion in revenue. Our footprint spans from coast to coast including the largest network of large-format digital billboards in the world.  We are also a real estate investment trust, and our distribution has compounded at an annual rate of nine percent since our election to be a REIT in 2014. So, to paraphrase my father, we have come a long way, baby.

But the Lamar story extends earlier than 1996. In fact, next year we will celebrate our 125th anniversary. And of course, a lot has changed in 125 years. Other media channels have evolved. Some have flourished. Some have faded. Some actually questioned our future and the future of our industry. But we have prospered. We have prospered because we allow our advertisers on a beautiful canvas, to get their messages out before a vast population. Now, how we’ve done that has evolved over the years, but what has never changed is our values and our value proposition. As I reflect on our success, particularly the last 30 years, I feel a profound sense of gratitude. I am grateful for those who came before us and built this company.

We stand on their shoulders. I’m grateful for the board and our executive team. I’m grateful for our advertising partners and our landlord partners. But most importantly, I am grateful for 3,500 employees. Many more decades of success.

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