Meet the CEO of Aronson Advertising Inc.

While most kids were coloring, Larry was learning about what it meant to work. His first job ever was selling gum to his classmates in the fourth grade, and later in the fifth grade, he ran a paper route. He always knew he wanted to work for himself, but until he started his own business he worked in a stockroom shipping barbershop posters, as a busboy, for a family printing business, and held numerous other jobs.

Journey to CEO

His last employer before he went into business for himself after college was at First Investors. Larry sold mutual funds and insurance, and within his first six months at the company, he became a top-ranking salesman. In 1985 he left First Investors to start an automated calling business named Leads Unlimited Inc. in the basement of his parents’ house. Leads Unlimited Inc. grew and within one year he was acquired by the equipment manager Cybertronics. Then, in late 1989 he started a service reminder business for car dealerships called Service Systems. After growing into a company of 150 employees in five years, he sold it to Reynolds and Reynolds in early 1995.

When his contract with R&R ended in early 1997, he worked in an advertising agency, and Larry opened his own in 1999: Aronson Advertising Inc. Specializing solely in traditional marketing for vehicles at its inception, the agency consisted of four people—who still work at Aronson Advertising Inc. today. Now Larry is in the midst of building this automotive advertising agency, which currently has over 70 employees. Aronson Advertising Inc. didn’t come without its challenges though. For example, digital advertising barely existed 10 years ago, so changing the business model for Aronson Advertising Inc. and staying ahead of the changing market took a lot of hard work. It paid off. In just three years, the digital department has grown from a few people to 40+ employees and brings in over 35 percent of the total business revenue.

Just a Regular Guy

Considering his accomplishments, Larry remains down to earth. When asked whether he considers himself successful, he explained that his success is defined by the state of his family, which he’s quite pleased with and he’s looking forward to watching them become successful and happy. Sure, he agrees he has done well in business, but he enjoys the little things like spending time with his wife, three children, and grandchild, growing a business, interacting with clients, and cycling.

Bonus Fun Facts

• The first car Larry owned was a used Pontiac Firebird that was given to him his senior year of college. The first car he bought was a brand new 1986 red Corvette, but his favorite car of all time is a Porsche.
• When the weather’s nice he bikes 30-40 miles three to five times a week. He’s even done extreme biking in the Colorado Rockies where he rode for a total of 125 miles and climbed 11,000-ft. in elevation in one day.