People

Inspiring Impact

Nate Shapiro and his brother Adam spent their summers working as umbrella boys in Ocean City, Maryland and dreamed about owning a business together related to the beach. In 2011, the concept of Ballyhoo was born.

You’ve probably seen Ballyhoo Media’s advertising and didn’t even realize it. Their boats operate 365 days a year, splitting time between traditional outdoor advertising, experiential marketing, personal messaging and special events. “Miamians can see us advertising throughout Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach as well as hosting corporate events, watch parties, philanthropic gatherings and wedding proposals all over the city,” says Nate Shapiro, Co-Founder & Director of Business Development. The name “Ballyhoo” has a double meaning that combined together makes a perfect fit for the brand. The first definition of Ballyhoo refers to an “extravagant form of advertising or publicity”; the second definition refers to a “bait fish that is seen skimming the surface of the water.” The company is a true family business founded by brothers Nate & Adam Shapiro (CEO & President), uncle Jeff Goldberg (Chairman) and good friend Tyler Zlatin (Director of Marketing). “We are always striving for growth and pushing for new ways to make an impact,” he says. “Look out for a new series of movie nights and other televised events in new waterfront locations around the city. We are also excited to have partnered with the 2020 Super Bowl Committee for next year’s festivities.” Recently they worked the environmental group Surfrider to host a fund-raising Super Bowl Beach Party at Virginia Key Beach Park; BallyhooBoats.com.

“While the majority of our business is in outdoor advertising, we’re more than just a floating billboard. We’ve used our platform for incredible community experiences and plan to continue doing so for a very long time!”