Adams Outdoor Advertising

Adams Outdoor Advertising is a privately held out-of-home (OOH) media company specializing in billboard advertising. Founded in 1983 by Steve Adams, the company's mission is "To reinvent the medium known as outdoor—to prove that OOH advertising is more powerful than anyone has yet to imagine". Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Adams Outdoor Advertising is recognized as the nation's fourth-largest privately held operator in the out-of-home sector.

The company offers a comprehensive suite of advertising solutions, including static billboards, digital billboards, and programmatic advertising. Beyond traditional billboards, their services extend to transit, mall, and zoo advertising, providing clients with campaign development and strategic placement in key locations. Adams Outdoor Advertising operates across multiple U.S. states, including Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Kevin Jones as CEO in May 2024, succeeding Kevin Gleason, who transitioned to Executive Chairman of the Board. Louise Lopez joined as Chief Financial Officer in November 2024. The company has demonstrated a strategic growth trajectory through a series of acquisitions in late 2025 and early 2026, expanding its footprint and digital asset portfolio in markets such as North Carolina, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Adams Outdoor Advertising emphasizes creative innovation and data-informed strategies to deliver high-impact advertising campaigns.

Latest updates

Adams Outdoor Bolsters Northeast PA Presence with Encore Billboard Acquisition

Event summary

  • Adams Outdoor Advertising acquired 15 billboard assets, including 13 static and 2 digital faces, from Encore Outdoor Advertising.
  • The acquired assets are located in Wayne, Pike, and Lackawanna Counties, Pennsylvania.
  • Adams now operates over 600 billboard faces in the Northeast Pennsylvania region.
  • Max Drachman and his firm served as advisor to Encore Outdoor Advertising in the transaction.

The big picture

Adams Outdoor Advertising’s acquisition of Encore’s assets reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the fragmented out-of-home advertising market. This ‘tuck-in’ acquisition, while relatively small in scale, demonstrates Adams’ strategy of increasing regional density and expanding its footprint in established markets to enhance its ability to serve both local and national advertisers. The deal underscores the ongoing shift towards digital out-of-home advertising, although the pace of adoption remains a key factor in overall industry growth.

What we're watching

Integration Risk
The success of this acquisition hinges on Adams’ ability to efficiently integrate Encore’s assets and operations, avoiding disruption to existing client relationships and revenue streams.
Competitive Landscape
Continued consolidation within the out-of-home advertising sector will likely intensify competition for remaining independent operators and attractive asset clusters.
Digital Adoption
The two digital billboard faces acquired represent a small portion of Adams’ portfolio; the company’s ability to drive revenue growth through digital advertising will be a key indicator of overall performance.
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