“My wife didn’t know anything about it and she was quite shocked. It took about 15 years before she ever forgave me.” – Lawrence H. Garrett
WHO WE ARE
A legacy Built on Steel. A future Forged in Innovation.
Formetco’s story began in 1968 when Larry Garrett—a Pennsylvania farm boy turned visionary entrepreneur—acquired Armco Steel’s billboard division and launched a business from his basement with nothing but a business phone and a bold idea. He named the new company Formetco, short for “Formed Metals Company,” honoring his past in metallurgy and belief in American steel. Formetco started as a single-man operation. In late 1968, he enlisted wife’s cousin John Gibb to manage sales, and Formetco grew into a family-led enterprise. Today, it stands as the largest full-service outdoor advertising and scoreboard manufacturer and supplier in the United States. With a customer-focused mindset and multi-generational leadership, Formetco remains privately held, family-operated, and deeply committed to innovation, quality, and integrity. Our management team, including founding family members and industry veterans with over 150 years of combined experience, continues to push the industry forward—while maintaining the core values our company was built on: hard work, customer service, and American manufacturing. Nearly every billboard in America has a component built or sold by Formetco.
what we do
we innovate, we manufacture, we deliver confidence
Formetco provides complete solutions across the out-of-home (OOH) and sports display industries through four primary business units:
- Billboard Hardware & Safety Systems
- Digital Billboards, Content Management & Asset Monitoring Software
- Scoreboards
- Structures for Billboards & Scoreboards
With in-house engineering, R&D, software development, U.S.-based fabrication, and nationwide service, we offer true end-to-end solutions for complex projects of any size. Our proprietary digital technology is designed and tested for performance and durability. We assemble products in the U.S. in over 280,000 sq. ft. of facilities across Georgia and Minnesota. Every component undergoes rigorous photometric, thermal, and environmental testing to ensure long-term system integrity. And we don’t just build products—we build trust. Whether it’s a digital scoreboard for a school, a fanless LED billboard for an operator, or a patented safety product, Formetco delivers peace of mind through customer-focused partnership and long-term commitment.
More than a vendor. A Partner you can trust.
For more than five decades, Formetco has built its reputation on reliability, expertise, and integrity. As a family-owned company, we are committed to long-term partnerships, backed by full-time engineers and designers, dedicated service teams, and ongoing quarterly training to ensure our customers’ continued success. Beyond the products we build, we invest in the communities we serve — actively supporting organizations such as Make-A-Wish, Rainbow Village, Gwinnett Rotary, Miracle League Baseball, and local student programs through scholarships and engagement initiatives. At Formetco, our values guide everything we design, manufacture, and deliver.
Our Leadership
Matt Xander
PRESIDENT/CEO
Matt Xander
PRESIDENT/CEO
Jock Gibb
VP of Sales & Marketing
Todd Heller
VP of Digital Products
Robbie Franklin
VP of Hardware Production & Facilities
Shelley Cox
VP of Administrative Operations & Transportation
Shelley Cox
VP of Administrative Operations & Transportation
John Gibb
EVP of Corporate Relations
John Gibb
EVP of Corporate Relations
Eric Pogue
VP of Strategy & Finance
Eric Pogue
VP of Strategy & Finance
Matt Leech
VP of Strategic Partnerships
Daryle Ridley
VP of Information Technology
Daryle Ridley
VP of Information Technology
Jim Shimmin
VP of Digital Technology
OUR CLIENTS
