Stephen Freitas Farewell Remarks

Stephen Freitas stepped down as the OAAA’s Chief Marketing Officer at the end of the year.  Stephen has been a competent and classy act.   Look no further than the farewell remarks he gave at an online OAAA roast last week.

As I reflect on a 30-year career in the out of home business I am struck mostly by the congeniality of our industry. Over the years, I have been lucky enough to count many people as authentic friends. That’s what makes this industry very special and what will have made my time in this industry so unforgettable. The friendships.

There have been many fond memories created over lunches and dinners. Many, many meetings. Lots of laughs and sometimes tears. People make the difference and our people are remarkable.

I have witnessed the out of home business transform in profound and important ways over the past 30-years. I remember when an executive search firm contacted me about a marketing job in Oakland, California. They asked if I’d heard of Patrick Media. No. They said, maybe you knew the company by its former name…Foster and Kleiser. Maybe.

When I arrived for the interview, I discovered the job was at a billboard company and I scratched my head. I’d never really considered where billboards came from or that companies actually owned them. I saw them every day on the San Francisco skyway. They had always been there. On that afternoon, I really didn’t know what to make of billboards. But after what turned out to be a 3-hour interview…I was hooked. And since that day, I have never stopped marveling at the artistry and cultural importance of our glorious ad medium. My friend Rick Robinson would call it the People’s Space.

When I arrived at OAAA more than 20-years ago, I was welcomed by a trio of like-minded marketers. Jodi Senese, Tommy Teepell, and Rocky Sisson remained trusted advisors through the years. Rocky also retired and Dan Levi stepped in. I often referred to them as the Three Musketeers and I was honored that they allowed me to play the part of their d’Artagnan.

There are so many other people I’m grateful to and I can’t possible name every person who has left an indelible mark on my heart. But please know I appreciate each and every one of you.

Along my journey, a few particular people did have a transformative impact on my character and understanding about the OOH business.

Karl Eller once told me, “everyone is always working an angle. Just do your job every day and the rest will work itself out.” That what I’ve tried to do…my job…every day.

When Eller was purchased by Clear Channel I had the pleasure to work with Lowry Mays. I asked him once, why he had chosen to invest in radio and out of home. He told me, “the most profitable margins come from businesses with no cost of goods sold.” That was the day I truly began to understand the enormous financial value of the out of home business.

And then came Nancy Fletcher. No one taught me more about leadership than Nancy. Her grace and poise transcended everything we achieved at OAAA and I remain grateful for the opportunity to learn from her, every day for 20-years.

But the story doesn’t end there. Over the last two-years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Anna Bager. What a force of nature. Anna’s enthusiasm is infectious. The possibilities she sees for our industry’s future is stunning. She has shown me this old dog can and has learned new tricks and I know with certainty, the out of home industry is in good hands.

It would be remiss on my part if I didn’t thank the amazing team at OAAA. So many wonderful and dedicated people have been part of the OAAA family during my time there. I am grateful for their friendship, too. Ken Klein…the person who helped me stay on course when my crazy ideas started to drift sideways. Marci Werlinich…the rock…the person who would shake her head when I pitched a big idea…which was usually an expensive idea…but always found the budget. Steve Nicklin…the person who always brought me back down to earth when I needed grounding. Kerry Yoakum, Eric Rubin, Erica, Carol, Rosie…each of you are remarkable and you serve this industry well.

And finally, Christina Radigan. I wish you well and am confident our industry’s marketing endeavors are in capable hands as you now write your chapter.

People who know me, know my love for Shakespeare. So, to end allow me to share this quote from Twelfth Night, “I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.”

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One Comment

  1. Class act Mr. Freitas. You will be missed!