With the new year Billboard Insider is starting Company of the Day over alphabetically. We will run the feature Monday to Friday so it will take 1.3 years to cover the 330 companies in our database. Insider wishes to thank everyone who’s been willing to do an interview. We learn from each other!
Company: Transformation Media (formerly known as 84 Outdoor
Markets: 10 eastern states.
Headquarters: 1019 Route 519, Building #1, Eighty Four, PA 15330
Phone: 724-228-3469
84 Outdoor (now Transformation Media) was formed the late 1990’s, when the founder of 84 Lumber Company, instructed his site investigators to locate sites for billboard structures as they searched for new store locations. These structures were built to meet the advertising needs of 84 Lumber Company and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa, a property in Western Pennsylvania owned by the Hardy’s. The thirty plus locations, mostly in Western Pennsylvania, were the nucleus of what would become 84 Outdoor. Today, 84 Outdoor owns and operates structures in ten eastern states. In 2016, the company was renamed Transformation Media. Mark Gamble is the company’s vice president.
Mark, how did you enter the outdoor business?
At twenty, I went to work with Peterson Outdoor (POA Acquisitions) in Orlando climbing signs in operations and eventually transferring into real estate. Thirty years later, I have had the good fortune of working with a number of talented people in a variety of settings from publicly traded, Clear Channel Outdoor to private equity groups including Advantage Outdoor, Bressler Outdoor and NextMedia Group. Last September, I joined Transformation Media (formerly 84 Outdoor) as Vice President of operations.
Holding senior management positions with several of these companies, I was active in numerous acquisitions both small and large across the country. The experience I gained by seeing the successes and challenges of many of those companies has helped shaped my management approach. I am excited to share my experiences with our talented group at Transformation Media as we plan for future growth and launch our business in new directions.
Was 84 Outdoor sold or was the company simply rebranded last year?
84 Outdoor was one of several businesses operated by 84 Lumber’s founder, Joe Hardy. Last spring Joe and his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, CEO of 84 Lumber, decided to bring 84 outdoor under the folds of the larger parent company, 84 Lumber. We officially renamed 84 Outdoor, Transformation Media on December 12th with a plan of providing broader advertising solutions for our customer base through the combined efforts of our outdoor operations, in-house sign shop and marketing staff.
Do you have any digital billboards? If so whose signs do you use and what have you learned?
We currently own seven digital units manufactured by Formetco and Watchfire with plans to add more in 17. We have several units in high-demand areas but we plan to reposition some of the displays to more advantageous areas to develop networks that will provide our clients with broader market coverage.
Paid Ad
