A BILLBOARD IS A LIVING THING

1. FROM MEDIA PLANNING TO MEGABOARD CONSTRUCTION

Although I have a degree in mechanical engineering, I have been in media business since the beginning of my career. My first job was about media planning in Publicis in 2001. I worked on target group definition and elaboration, brand positioning through the lease of all types of media, etc.

Back then many mechanical engineers were getting employed in media planning, since the job is very precise and its logic is similar to that of engineering sciences.

I needed only a couple of days to get the hang of it. That’s why some colleagues thought that I had already had experience in the field. I understood what each medium was delivering, its value, how to plan, optimize, how to determine and define a target group, etc.

In those years media planning was blooming and there were many opportunities to learn something new, and I wanted to understand and know everything, and that’s why it was interesting for me.

In 2003 I got an opportunity to continue my professional development in the field of mechanical engineering in Energoprojekt company. I was in charge of equipment procurement for all construction sites abroad, from a bolt to an excavator.

Although I grew fond of communications, I missed working in my profession. I gladly accepted the given opportunity.

After two years, still a young engineer, I realised that my prospects for advancement in that company were depleted and I started searching for something new. The next chapter was traffic signs manufacture. I worked 3 years on manufacture and installation of traffic signs and on that job I became familiar with digital printing, which was very useful in OOH.

Knowledge and professional development always lead you to something, even though it does not always seem like that.

In addition to the mentioned job, which often required 3 days and nights away from my family, I also had my own IT company, which required equal efforts. In the end of 2007 I craved for new challenges and the chapter of my IT entrepreneurship was over.

In spring 2008 the Austrian Megaboard wanted to enter the Serbian outdoor advertising market, and called me to open a company on their behalf and make sure megaboards were installed on good locations.

As the technical director I created the network of 5 poles for megaboards: one on the “Gazela”Bridge, before the turn for the Fair, one on the motorway towards Zagreb, 1.5 km after “Zmaj” petrol station, and 3 megaborads on the way to the airport.

2. ALMA QUATTRO

After almost 7 years, Megaboard and Alma Quattro merged. The documentation handover lasted a month and after coming to Alma Quattro and meeting with Sanja Pešić every day, in July 2014 I became a member of Alma Quattro’s staff as someone in charge of the network of big format media.

During these 5 years I have become in charge of several new activities.

I am in charge of all the activities that must be carried out in order to realise one campaign. My job includes constant rounds of the entire network and, therefore, I am familiar with everything. That’s why I say that a billboard is a living thing, which has to be monitored.

Among other things, it includes management of printing for all formats, and for almost 2 years I have also been in charge of the installation of all the media. The last addition is the innovate network and my collaboration with the innovation manager of the company. I have assumed the responsibility of notifying the sales department of any problem or irregularity on the network, in order to react promptly and increase the quality of our service.

Colleagues like to joke and say that I am tall enough to reach a billboard and fix any problem without equipment.

Alma Quattro stands out from other companies because of the Western system of work, which I experienced while working in a foreign company.

Procedure, procedure, procedure.

We exactly know who is in charge of every segment of the work; everything must function as a Swiss clock for a campaign to start on time and with the expected quality. That’s what is expected from us, but also from our independent contractors and our colleagues who are freelancers.

We stand out by the standard we require, the quality of media and maintenance of media, printing, posting schedule, etc.

As a mechanical engineer I like everything to be on time and I don’t like delays, my delays included, and that’s what I apply to business as well.

A billboard is a living thing. We have night standbys, shifts and media controls, since it is important to have the first information from the field in order to secure high precision and quality.

Alma does its work in the best possible way, but the difference is certainly made by that “fine tuning”, to which I am trying to contribute.

On the other hand, we undertake all the measures to protect our staff. Working at height is discontinued for even a drizzle, during summer posters are pasted up early in the morning when it’s not too hot, during winter around the noon, when the temperature is highest.

AQ team is the most important and it should be cherished and nourished.