Company:  Departure Media, Inc. Airport Advertising (DMI)

Markets:  Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa

Headquarters:  180 Meeting Street, Suite 350, Charleston, SC  29401

Phone:  843-571-2299

Email:  info@departure-media.com

Departure Media operates airport advertising concessions in 14 US airports:

• Augusta Regional Airport
• Augusta General Aviation Terminal
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
• Dayton International Airport
• Des Moines International Airport
• Frogmore Airport
• Gainesville Regional Airport
• Hilton Head Island Airport
• Kansas City International Airport
• Little Rock Clinton National Airport
• Norfolk International Airport
• Peoria International Airport
• Richmond International Airport
• Pete-Clearwater International Airport

The company is a 100% woman-owned business with 15 employees.  Leslie Bensen, the company’s founder and CEO, formed Departure Media in 1996 after working with Ackerley Airport Advertising.  In 2022, DMI won a ten-year contract with the Kansas City International Airport and in 2023, secured contracts with the Des Moines International Airport and the Peoria International Airport.

Leslie, how did you get into the out of home business?

I was looking for employment after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill and saw an advertisement in the Charlotte newspaper for a marketing position at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.  I applied and was offered the position to work with the Charlotte Airport, Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Fayetteville Regional Airport, Wilmington International Airport, Charleston International Airport, and the Asheville Regional Airport.  That was a long time ago! After 10 successful years working with the large national firm, I launched Departure Media, Inc.”

Tell us about Departure Media.

Departure Media Airport Advertising is the largest prime ACDBE Advertising Concessionaire in the country.  As a 100 percent woman-owned business, we are certified throughout the United States as a W/MBE, DBE, and ACDBE (Women/ Minority Business Enterprise; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise; and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise).  I founded Departure Media in 1996 and our headquarters is based in Charleston, SC.  Departure Media designs advertising display environments to enhance airport terminal aesthetics, create an improved passenger experience, and generate revenues for airports.

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