Brooklyn Outdoor - Entrepreneur of the Year

Company: Brooklyn Outdoor, Detroit, MI
Company Description: Brooklyn Outdoor is a Detroit-based out-of-home advertising agency with satellite offices in Los Angeles and Chicago and coverage coast-to-coast. We specialize in traditional outdoor, digital advertising, hand-painted murals, experiential marketing, and transit advertising. Our team utilizes our relationships to connect the ideas and communities that bring campaigns to life.
Nomination Category: Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Entrepreneur of the Year - Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations

Nomination Title: Advertising Entrepreneur of the Year: Candice Simons

When I think of a trailblazer, no one comes to the forefront of my mind like Candice Simons, President + CEO of Brooklyn Outdoor. Starting an outdoor advertising firm in Detroit during a recession wasn’t applauded by most, but Simons saw light in the dark. And, she was right! Still, she persists to see opportunities where they haven’t previously existed.

Although Covid-19 has come with a host of unprecedented and unforeseen challenges, it has not stopped Simons from dreaming big. Simons' keen ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles has once again allowed her pivot - only this time through a global pandemic - and bring a new stream of revenue to the company.Simons sought out and procured a real estate deal in Chicago with 1 million in annual revenue potential for Brooklyn Outdoor.

Simultaneously, she is partnering with the city of Detroit to build out a brand-new bus shelter advertising pilot program in Detroit to be completed by the end of the year, with another million in revenue potential for Brooklyn Outdoor in 2021. The bus shelter program will provide a brand-new stream of revenue for the Detroit Department of Transportation, as well as increase safety and improve the city’s infrastructure.

Simons is a member of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) planning committee and marketing committee. Not to mention, she is newly appointed to the out-of-home industry-wide diversity and inclusion board with other industry leaders. At this time, it is so vital to recognize the underrepresentation of minorities in leadership roles and throughout the industry. More importantly, it is time to make a change and Simons is the epitome of a changemaker.

In 2019, Simons was nominated by her peers and received the first ever “Rising Star Award” from OAAA. Simons accepted the award on the national conference stage surrounded by hall-of-fame and lifetime achievement award winners. This award recognized Simons as an enterprising person and industry leader to watch. This, along with being selected as a judge for the Obie Awards in the same year, is her biggest and most proud accomplishment to date.

In the same year, Brooklyn Outdoor was also recognized as one of Ad Age’s “Best Places to Work” and Michigan Celebrates Small Business’s “Michigan’s 50 Companies to Watch.”

While proving herself as the fearless leader of Brooklyn Outdoor, Simons continues to impress us with her serial entrepreneurial spirit. She shares her love and passion for the city of Detroit through her lifestyle blog, j’adore Detroit. This online publication has become a source for connecting people in the community online and in real life as well. She has dedicated the headquarters of Brooklyn Outdoor, a 2,000 square foot industrial-chic loft as a place to host events and for people to connect.


In 2019, Simons opened the doors of j’adore Detroit to become the monthly meeting space for the women’s entrepreneur networking group, in which Simon’s was the leader and entrepreneurial role model. The group involved bringing together current and aspiring female entrepreneurs into the space where they could connect, educate, and uplift each other.

Simons is truly one to watch!

1. Securing a real estate deal in Chicago securing a potential of 1 million in yearly revenue
2. Keeping all staff employed through the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Building out a brand-new bus shelter advertising pilot with another million in revenue potential for Brooklyn Outdoor in 2021 and brand-new stream of revenue for the city of Detroit
4. 2019 OAAA Hall of Fame “Rising Star Award”
5. Silver Obie award winner and Judge at the 2019 Obie Awards
6. 2019 Ad Age Best Places to work
7. Implementing the EOS system to create an outstanding company culture.
8. Michigan Celebrates Small Business “50 Companies to Watch”,
9. Corp! Magazine: Most Valuable Entrepreneur 2020,
10. Metro Detroit’s Best + Brightest Places to Work 2020