April 9-11, 2015 (Las Vegas, NV)– Packed with business owners and top executives representing the leading sign industry companies, industry organizations and Fortune 500 manufacturers, the Sign Biz convention attendees gathered in April to exchange best practices and learn of latest innovations for sign industry professionals. The entrepreneurs and staff in attendance at this summit, dubbed “The Reunion,” received exclusive updates, training, and partnering opportunities for dynamic signage, EMC signs, insurance, ADA signage, graphic applications, and new printing technologies.
Star-Studded
The exclusive Reunion event, headed by Sign Biz Inc., was hosted at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas and supported by a powerhouse line-up of 17 “top brass” education sessions – including bucket truck training, insurance workshop, dynamic sign technology for sign shops, and commercial print for the trade – and featured representatives from some of the best-known names in the manufacturing, education, and sign supply sectors including Samsung, Premier Mounts, Zoo Printing, 3M, Gemini, Brawn Consulting, Cyrious Software, Roland DGA, Der Manouel Insurance, Denco Sales, Dave Fellman, N. Glantz, Montroy Supply, RTape, SAi, Wolfpack Sign Group, Utility Crane, Elliott Equipment, Beacon Funding and Vantage LED.
“The Reunion education platform is a non-competitive and transparent environment for the entire signage ecosystem to exchange ideas and best practice, create closer vendor relationships and collaborate on best practices around financial management, sales strategies, and new technologies. Add to this the close-knit friendships that are built here, the ISA Expo adjunct to our event, plus a beautiful and inspiring awards program and dinner Gala, and you have an extraordinarily powerful annual event to propel every business to new heights,” explains Teresa M. Young, CEO of Sign Biz, Inc.
Speaking at the event Stefanie Dacy, Co-Founder of 3V Signs & Graphics summed it up: “You get to talk to other Signbizzers and they get it; they get your business. And then there are the partners who present and bring solutions and packages you don’t have enough bandwidth to pull together on your own. And you get to hear the firsthand accounts of Wolfpack adventures, doing business in Vegas and how the next generation is carrying on the business. This is a priceless event. So very glad and grateful we signed on the dotted line and started this journey 5 years ago. Put it on your calendar for next year in Florida!”
The workshops were selected based on votes from Sign Biz Members pursuant to a ballot sent out last November. “Of the 44 workshops curated for the list, 17 received top votes and made the cut. We want to showcase businesses leading the way with pure educational content, whether it is from a Member, a service provider, a manufacturer or a supplier,” explains Young.
We are privileged to be part of the innovations taking place within the Sign Biz Network, especially when it comes to dynamic sign technologies. They’ve made great progress in DS over the past eleven years. ~ Jonathan Brawn, co-founder and partner, DSEG.org
Wanda Allen
Keynote speaker at the plated luncheon was Wanda Allen, national speaker, coach and author. Her book, “Follow Up Savvy” is a top business selection, and Wanda is a contributing author to Amazon’s #1 Best Seller, “Selling With Synchronicity.” “As the presentation drew to a close, you could hear a pin drop. Wanda’s insight into how follow-up changed her life was profound,” wrote one attendee. (Photo: Young (L) with Wanda Allen)
The Dinner Gala
As in the past 26 such events, a special evening dinner event culminates the convention. This year, in keeping with the “movie” theme used throughout the custom-built convention website, workshop posters and Planet Hollywood venue, all dinner guests were greeted by paparazzi! As cameras flashed and video rolled, guests were quizzed by “reporters” and paparazzi arranged for the event. Guest just loved the drama and flair this added!
After a hosted cocktail hour, guests were seated at banquet tables for a formal dinner, and treated to Hollywood-style gift bags with gems, vintage-inspired glass coasters, and more. During dinner, the program unfolded, commencing with Vantage LED’s Deacon Wardlow, who gave an entertaining and thought-provoking presentation. Milestones and Sales Consultant awards were next.
The Sign Biz Network has created more million-dollar performers than any other sign chain to date. At the evening Gala and dinner party, five new members of the Half Million Dollar Milestone Award were inducted for annual sales achieved of $500K or greater for the first time. A $750,000 Milestone Club Member was also recognized, as well as a $3Million Milestone honoree (see separate press release). This year also featured the 19th Annual Sales Consultants of the Year Awards and the Ace of Space Best in Show award for shop design (see Winners on YouTube!).
A Gala highlight was the moving tribute for Paul K. Strauch in recognition of his 25 years of service to Sign Biz and Members worldwide as VP of Worldwide Product Development. He received the Distinguished Emeritus status and was showered with gifts and a carved rosewood plaque. At one point, there was not a dry eye in the crowd, and the presentation culminated in a standing ovation for Strauch. The evening culminated in an inspired team-led lip-syncing completion with favorite DJ Jared at the controls!
The event evaluations and feedback earned it a “perfect” score for educational workshops, networking, mentoring sessions and fun!