Bio

Nichols Media Group is a privately held organization with a focus on developing business opportunities to include; Entrepreneurial Investment Groups, Advertising and Marketing Strategies, Multimedia Opportunities, Entertainment Partners and Sponsorships, Developing & Increasing Sales Revenues for small and medium size businesses which include: Fortune 500 companies. The ability to create inside sales teams, to enable product tests and launches. We also develop advertising venues by creating additional resources for revenue, sponsorships, broker representation and out of home media -- whether, it is media buying or development. We invest in Entertainment Facilities to operate, manage and expand nationally. Brand development, web site traffic growth, web site advertising revenue.

Outdoor Advertising History

Steve Nichols has worked in the outdoor advertising industry for more than 30 years and is also credited with a plethora of additional entrepreneurial endeavors. Nichols has a passion for business and the skill set to build successful companies from the ground up.

Nichols started his career in the outdoor industry in 1986 with Penn Advertising inBuffalo,NY. While at Penn he earned top honors including: top billing account executive (Buffalo, NY) promotion to sales manager (Syracuse, NY) and million dollar plus biller as a regional sales director.

Nichols finished his career at Penn Advertising as a general sales manager out of the Buffalo office. Following his resignation from Penn Advertising in 1994, Steve founded Nichols Media Group, LLC. in the Buffalo, NY area where he was born and raised. Over the next decade and a half he would own and operate four successful outdoor advertising operations.

In 1996, Steve Nichols, along with partner Larry Vann, founded Nichols & Vann Advertising. Over the next four years these partners developed a thriving outdoor advertising business.

“I started as well as owned and operated an outdoor advertising plant in the greater Buffalo and Rochester, New York area which was called (Nichols & Vann Advertising).”

In just under two years, Nichols & Vann Advertising had built over sixty billboard sites and larger outdoor firms were very interested in what they were accomplishing. Lamar Advertising acquired Nichols & Vann Advertising Inc. in the greater Buffalo/Rochester, NY area in 1998. Following the acquisition, Nichols immediately shifted his focus to new markets including Cleveland, OH and began development in an area known as Brookpark. He recognized the lack of billboard locations along the I-480 (which was a prime location being it was an eight lane highway). Having gained a reputation of success in Buffalo, NY the assets of Nichols & Vann Advertising, Inc. in Cleveland, OH were acquired in 1999 by media giant Eller/Clear Channel. In 2000, Outdoor Systems/Viacom (currently CBS Outdoor) and Lamar acquired the billboards Nichols & Vann Media, LLC. built in the Detroit markets of Wixom and Novi.

“I was excited to move on to areas that were a bit further but carried the torch single handily. These markets were suburban Boston (Westport and Fall River) and then downstate to NY and the State Capital, Albany, NY. These markets were great experiences and challenges. I think looking back, as I was followed by the Big 3 players in the industry; I had a knack for getting boards in unique locations that occasionally acquire a significant challenge to the local and state ordinances.”

Steve Nichols relocated to Windermere, FL in May 2002. Having lived in upstate New York most of his life he could not get western New York out of his blood, the cold weather yes, but not his love of Outdoor.

“I was able to secure a long term Concessionaire contract with the Rochester International Airport for 15 years. It was called Premier Billboards of Rochester, NY. Yes, the most Premier billboards in Rochester. It was like a ghost reappeared after selling to Lamar originally in 1998. Well, I was back. Old friends and acquaintances welcomed me back with open arms. I was close to my family once again and enjoyed the camaraderie of western New York, and yes the Buffalo Bills. I had no intention to selling this inventory, but as fate would have it a family tragedy took place and changed my outlook.”

Steve Nichols founded Premier Billboards of Rochester, NY, Inc. in the summer of 2010.

As Premier started to make inclinations of expansion in Rochester, NY they were acquired by Lamar in April 2012.

Steve Nichols continues his leadership and talents with Nichols Media Group, LLC. No task is too small and experience is a given from leasing the locations, understanding the zoning, spacing, local ordinances, to the structure needs, construction sites, and operations and finance.

While Steve resides in Florida, to this day, he is still heavily involved in the outdoor advertising industry. Whether it be mergers and acquisitions, media buying or general consulting; this will always be his first love.

Entrepreneurial Experiences

Adventure Landing

Steve Nichols is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. His business ventures have included everything from restaurants to family fun parks.

Since coming to Central Florida in 2002, Nichols secured ownership as one of the founding owners/members of Adventure Holdings, LLC. parent company of Adventure Landing (a family entertainment facility) with eleven locations nationwide. This has given him hands-on experience in the recreation and entertainment industry. Adventure Landing received the prestigious Top FEC in the World in 2003 at the IAPPA convention. Adventure Landing was sold in 2011.

Buffalo Bills

“In 1987, I developed the Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders, “The Buffalo Jill’s” into an independent organization and eventually into a licensee spin-off making them the first and only independently held cheerleading organization in the NFL at the time. The cheerleading organization for the Buffalo Bills has been with the team since the early 60’s. During my tenure, I was honored to accompany the Bills in performances in an unprecedented four straight Super Bowl Games as well as trips with the NFL to Berlin, Germany and London. The success of the organization attracted the attention of other NFL teams, and since then several have duplicated our business model. The corporation was sold for profit in 1995 to the official sponsor, a first in the NFL. During the time that I had the cheerleading organization, I was also an independent endorsement consultant for Jim Kelly (Jim Kelly Enterprises), the Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame Quarterback. In addition to developing endorsement opportunities, I served as a member of the Board of Directors for “Kelly for Kids” and helped to organize its annual charity event. During this time I also received awards for outstanding service to The American Red Cross Children’s Hospital, the Leukemia Foundation, Veterans Hospital, and the American Cancer Society.”

MRI Network & Other Opportunies

“I acquired the franchise Management Recruiters International in 2003. As part of the MRI World Network, it was a pleasure to draw from my experiences to offer my clients a level of professionalism and enthusiastic drive to insure their success in building a team. My associates and I knew what it took to succeed and worked hard to make sure that each and every client / candidate reached his or her highest goal.” Steve Nichols sold his MRI franchise in 2007.

“In 1999, I served as a founding investor in Kanoodle.com, one of the fastest growing pay-for-placement search engines in the country. This experience has further developed my entrepreneurial and leadership skills and has broadened my field of expertise to include high-technology business.”

Honors & Awards

Florida Hospital for Children

Board of Directors, Florida Hospital for Children at The Walt Disney Pavilion, January 2008 to 2011

Make-a-Wish

Board of Directors, Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western New York, and continues to be an Honorary Board Member
Chairman of the May 2002 Wish Gala for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Western New York.
Nominee for the National Board of Directors for the Make-a-Wish Foundation after one year of service and received the 2002 Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Service

YMCA & Other Honors

Board Member, Y.M.C.A. of Central Florida (Dr. Phillips), 2003 to 2009

Finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 2001
Finalist for Top Executive under 40 in Western New York, 2000
Guest speaker and student mentor at Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business
Alumni Hall of Fame 2008 Inductee, Pembroke High School in Corfu,NY

Some Previous clients

Hendrick Motor Sports

www.hmsracing.com

November, 2013

Signed a consulting agreement with HMS Racing for the year 2014. Responsibilities will be to secure additional Sponsorship Associations for the Hendrick Race Teams of Jeff Gordon #24 and Dale Earnhardt #88. A SPECIAL congratulations to the # 48 Team of Jimmy Johnson of HMS Racing for securing his 6th Championship Title. HMS is also the Team owner of the #5 Kasey Kane car.

Forest City Development

www.mytownsquarelasvegas.com

October 2013

Entered into an Agreement with Forest City Development Company the Management arm for Town Square Plaza Las Vegas. The 1st Qtr of 2014 a new Monument Structure will be constructed at the entrance of Town Square on Las Vegas Blvd. This back to back Digital Monument structure will enable tenants and manufactures of products that are sold on site to display their ads. Nichols was tasked to visit many of the Forest City Sites to analyze Outdoor Advertising Opportunities through their Cleveland, Ohio corporate offices.