New Member Welcome
The “Reunion” as these events are dubbed, is widely recognized as a central hub for the Sign Biz Network and industry thought leaders to connect and share solutions to mitigate supply chain challenges, improve business operations, make use of innovative products, discover project resources, and alleviate production challenges. The 33rd Anniversary featured a 12-hour day with two components: A full day of education, followed by an evening awards and recognition dinner with rousing Gala Games to cap off the night. Read the full story about Award Winners and Gala surprises in this post.
Early Saturday morning, attendees enjoyed “show and tell” with a stunning Van Ladder Bucket Truck brought to the host hotel exclusively for Sign Biz Members to investigate.
After this, the formal program kicked off with Sign Biz, Inc. President, Teresa M. Young welcoming a full slate of new business owners, first-time attendees to a Reunion. These were: Dan Basinger & Mark De Wilde with team members (OR); Cory Mcknight and his team (ID); Josef Roberts and team (GA); and finally Michael & Gwen Snow (CA). A special shout-out went to the newest member of the Sign Biz family, first granddaughter for Sign Biz business owners Blake and Suzanne Haynie, healthy baby Jacey Leslie McClure born May 2nd.
Address "Frames" the Day
Following this welcome, Young’s opening address gave a 10,000-foot view and synopsis of her “Four Food Groups for Business Health” framework. Her article by the same title, originally published in Signs of the Times magazine, April 2020, highlights business requirements for continued growth and proper management.
She encouraged attendees to view the content of the day with an eye to the four quadrants – Passion, Communication, Orchestration and Destination – which are elements of the business journey. “I said in my opening address, one conversation can change the trajectory of your business. At this event, we witnessed that over and over again,” Young adds.
A Big Day
Known for its stout educational program, the Reunion featured fourteen education events, including three General Sessions, the first presented by Megan Ritter, 3M. She provided a revealing look at three macro trends and a deeper dive into four vertical markets, complete with confidential research material from 3M, which will be featured on the School of Sign Arts website in the near future.
The second, a paneled General Session that curated the most significant Innovation and Pinnacle award winning products of the last two years; and a third General Session that highlighted successful models for large project bidding, management and design, featuring not only three Sign Biz Milestone Members, but also the key role that sponsor The Sign Pack can play in winning bids and relieving design bottlenecks.
The day also included six in-depth topical sessions known as POWOWs; plus an enlightening luncheon keynote by Mark Kissling, Editor in Chief of Signs of the Times magazine; and more than 18 presentation PDF files plus countless spec sheets and promotions on thumb drives for attendee review back home.
From eye-opening corporate “refresh” trends, to three big paneled General Sessions and six POWOWs (Power of What Owners Want roundtable events), this exciting Reunion yielded game-changers at every turn.
“We really enjoyed the reunion, and that bucket truck is on my wish list!”
~ Justin Seibert, The Sign Brothers
The POWOW sessions were booked solid with table attendees. One of the highlights was the Adhesives roundtable presented by Paul Allibone of HB Fuller – it was standing room only. Corebridge had a full table and a large screen presentation of every facet of the software’s workflow and calculation systems.
“Had a great time — THE BEST REUNION YET! “
~ Stefanie Dacy, 3V Signs
After the Flexi roundtable presented by SAi’s Bobby Cagle, Pat Dacy committed to getting the latest version immediately. Another popular table was for Cool Tools presented by JDS Sign Supply, with items to improve both installs and sales. Megan Ritter joined the experience as presenter for the table on fleets, how to service and ideas for prospecting. The Go Big, Go High POWOW was moderated by Justin Seibert, for routers and bucket trucks as the “next big equipment” to consider, with Van Ladder’s team addressing questions as well.
AMPED INNOVATION
“This year has been unparalleled in terms of exhibitors and attendees presenting their latest developments of the past two years,” Young added. “Across the board, sales are up, and even exceeding capacity and manpower. Some unique solutions presented at our symposium were undeniably timely: Cut number of needed installers and install time in half with a remarkable new kind of bucket truck. That’s what Van Ladder Bucket Truck brought, putting the truck on everyone’s wish list. Then with the front-line tips from our Bid2Permit session, plus The Sign Pack, the direction you take for bidding is transformed.
“Your in-house team can also be free to work on production, while these 3D renderings, permit-ready technical drawings, design layouts and video presentations are masterfully crafted for projects. Speed and versatility breakthroughs with the new Mutoh ADA printer and cross-purpose media from Arlon, not to mention the Innovation Award-winning Solar power system from Salle, and the beautiful new blade signs from Gemini – each one will change the way the industry creates, presents and/or manages projects,” Young adds.
“Thank you for hosting such a nice event for everyone this weekend. I’m always impressed by the projects shared by the attendees and the thoughtful questions they bring to the table.”
~ Megan Ritter, 3M
THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
3M- Megan Ritter; 3V Signs -Patric Dacy; Arlon- Billie Graiff; Corebridge- Dean Sharp; DJ -Lance Williams; Fellers -Lisa Smoke & Pat Daley; Gemini -Jason Reiman & Brad Lunning; Glantz- Sara Shaeffer & Jason Holland; GrandMark Signs – JoeTindall; HB Fuller -Paul Allibone & Mark Weir; JDS Sign Supply -Josh Robertson & David Haan; Keen Signs -Lane Keen; Mutoh- Derek Moffet; SAi -Bobby Cagle; Signs of the Times Magazine – Mark Kissling; The Sign Pack -Ricardo Trzmielina & Matheus Ostafiuc; TubeliteDenco – Dan Brown; Van Ladder -Jim Troe & Dave Peterson; Videography by Case Cain of Carbon Film; Adrianne Harvey, Pamper My Present; Kay Smith, Atlanta Balloon Designer; Advisory Board Team – Greg & Mary Bullock; Stefanie Dacy; Linda Levitan; Jay & Yesha Patel; Michael Quigley; Justin & Michael Seibert; and Tim Smith; and the Sign Biz Home Office Team: Teresa Young, Scott Mead, and David McCutcheon!
About Sign Biz® Inc.
Sign Biz®, Inc., founder of a worldwide chain of independently-owned digital sign & graphics businesses, provides research, education, technical support and hands-on training to digital sign and graphics industry professionals. Consulting, project management and ongoing education programs and publications have supported professionalism in the sign industry for more than three decades.
Sign Biz, Inc. 24681 La Plaza, Suite 270 ~ Dana Point ~ California ~ 92629 Phone: (800) 633-5580
