Dave Odegard Celebrates 60 Years in Out of Home

Dave Odegard, Sales Executive, Lamar Advertising Kansas City Office

Dave Odegard has over 60 years experience in the OOH industry.  He started at Naegele Outdoor after graduating from the University of Minnesota, rising to the post of National Sales Manager.  In 1974 he moved to New York and held executive positions at the Institute of Outdoor Advertising, promoting out-of-home to agencies.  He founded a poster company which he sold to Naegele Outdoor.  He purchased City Sign Service, changed the name to Odegard Outdoor, grew the company and sold it to Lamar Advertising in 1998.  He stayed on at Lamar as a general manager and subsequently as top biller in the company’s Kansas City office.  Billboard Insider talked to the 83 year old Odegard this week.

How did you enter the out of home industry. 

I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Advertising.  Naegele Outdoor was looking for a campaign coordinator and I was hired.

Barb and Dave Odegard

What’s one of your favorite out of home success stories. 

All my sales are distinctive but I remember mu first 25 showing to Chrysler Plymouth – I not only made the sale but also got a lease for a rooftop billboard

What’s the key to staying on top of your game at 83? 

I  love to close a sale and build a relationship.
I hear you were a world class hurdler. 
I was an All American Hurdler in 1960 and was ranked 12th in the world by Track & Field magazine.
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8 Comments

  1. Dave,
    Great to see you doing what you do best and still loving it.
    Keep on selling.

  2. Congrats Dave. What a fantastic “run”!

  3. The Naegele’s are still very proud of you! Bob is cheering for you still!

  4. Barbara Paulson-Smith Bolitho from freezing Hayward, WI says
    CONGRATULATIONS!!! Awesome Career, well done and you look Handsome as ever!

  5. Casey,
    So good to hear from you. Thank you very much for checking in. We definitely go a long, long way back.
    Hope you are safe and well.

    Dave

  6. Wow!!! So good to hear from you, Jim. Are you still a Michigander? Hope you are safe and well
    Thank you so much for checking in.
    Dae

  7. Hi Ellis,
    Thank you so much for your recent call, and for your post
    I think about Bob every single day.
    Love you…love you…love you!!!
    Dave

  8. Wow!! Incredible! So wonderful to hear from you. Barbara, we live about ten minutes from the house on 62nd Terrace, where you were a part of the Odegard family. Good memories. What in the heck are you
    doing reading billboard websites? Barb is in Mexico right now visiting a lady friend, but she saw that you had responded and alerted me. I hope you are happy, safe, and well. We will always love you.
    Dave