Billboard Insider caught up with Jim McLaughlin. McLaughlin has almost 50 years experience in the out of home advertising industry and sits on the board of the OAAA
Jim, what have you been up to since retiring as CEO of Link Media Outdoor in 2020?
Hi Dave, great seeing you in Nashville at the convention.
Well, the first thing I did was move to the Palm Beach, Florida area where I’ve wanted to live since I was a youngster. One set of grandparents moved down here when I was 6 years old, and I fell in love with it way back then. So, that’s been the plan for decades.
Then, I decided that it was time to dust off the golf clubs and start playing again after a, roughly, 20-year hiatus. I’m now playing 2-3 times a week and loving it for the most part. The part that’s not fun is trying to make a comeback with a 20-year older body. Ugh! But the handicap is coming down and I’m making good progress.
On the work front, I’m really enjoying working with 3 different groups in the US and Canada in advisory/board roles, and as you mentioned, I’m still on the board at the OAAA. All the companies are either in the outdoor industry now or soon will be. It’s been very rewarding to be able to use the 50+ years of experience to help others either build their companies and/or find ways to enter the business. And I like the fact that I can stay involved in the profession that I truly love, outdoor.
What did you learn at the spring OAAA show?
What was clear was that billboards and other out-of-home categories seem to be continuing to stay relevant in a big way with advertisers, large and small, in a world that is rapidly changing technologically. We continue to find ways to get it done. What was also clear is that there seems to be a lot of new blood entering the medium who appear to have all the appropriate skill sets to take us to the next level and continue the fight for media dollars in the future. I talked with, listened to, and saw a lot of talented younger folks that seem to have it together and I left the convention feeling like we’re in good hands going forward.
I hear you’re hiring sales reps…
Well, I’m not actually hiring, but rather looking for talented salespeople for the companies with whom I’m working. We’re looking for smart, self-starters who like to make good money, enjoy working for family-oriented employers who appreciate people and who reward well for good performance. Additionally, we’re searching for construction workers to help fabricate and install structures. Most of these positions, sales and construction, would be in the mid-western states, but there are some other spots open in other areas of the country. So, if any of your readers think they might like a change or know of anyone that can help us fill these roles, they should let me know and I’ll put them in contact with the appropriate company. All the groups are growing rapidly, offer exciting/challenging opportunities for the right folks and are great to work with.
You can reach Jim McLaughlin at jmclaughlin50@me.com
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