ISA Announces Inaugural Class of ISA Elite

ISA Elite is designed to combat one of the most pressing issues facing the sign and visual communications industry as older workers retire. Sign industry leaders continually say they are concerned about replacing workers in both skilled and management positions. ISA Elite is the latest program in ISA’s comprehensive workforce development initiative.

The ISA Elite sponsors winners to attend ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas including special networking events, education and, of course, its sold-out trade show. The event is sponsored by the International Sign Association, the sign and visual communications industry’s leading trade and advocacy association.

“Our industry offers a variety of outstanding careers and we’re thrilled that so many young professionals are choosing to come into visual communications,” said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. “It’s exciting to see this next generation of leaders bringing enthusiasm for the ways we help build stronger businesses and communities through our products. They will be the bridge to the sign industry’s workforce of the future.”

Those being honored in 2015 are:

Angela Bailey, Signage Legislation, Daktronics, Sioux Falls, SD;

Matt Baker, Co-Owner / Operator, Bakers’ Signs & Manufacturing, Conroe, TX;

Joshua Barnett, Co-Owner, Ink’d Out LLC, Newport News, VA;

Ryan Brady, CFO, Brady Sign Co., Sandusky, OH;

Corey Burns, Designer, Ziglin Signs, Union, MO;

Jasper Sterling Burton III, Custom Applications Specialist, Cuerden Sign Co., Inc., Conway, AR;

Steven Carter, Project Manager, Barnett Signs, Mesquite, TX;

Keith Chapman, Vice President of Business Development, Mid Florida Signs & Graphics, Leesburg, FL;

Lance Cossey, President, Scott Services Company, Birmingham, AL;

John C. DeBold, Head Installer, Graphic Options, Farmington, MO;

Daniela Echeverry, Assistant Manager, Imagen Digital, Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia;

Kevin Fink, Graphic Designer, Toledo Sign Co., Toledo, OH;

Michael Garavaglia, Director of Environmental Design, Ideation Signs & Communications, Inc., Royal Oak, MI;

Garrett Gibson, Apprentice Sign Installer, Ramsay Signs, Oregon City, OR;

Todd Hayes, President, Sign Design of Florida, Inc., Leesburg, FL;

Taren (Sitter) Heindl, VP of Maintenance Operations, Icon Identity Solutions, Elk Grove Village, IL;

Jon Holthaus, Sales Representative, Holthaus Lackner Signs, Cincinnati, OH;

Matt Humphrey, General Manager, Bristol Sign Company, Bristol, VA;

Kendra Jennings, Senior Project Manager, Cummings Resources, Knoxville, TN;

Marisol Kathleen Juarez, Project Manager, Southwest Signs, San Antonio, TX;

Anthony Karnowski, Vice President, Sirius LED Signs, Englewood, FL;

Starr Mershon, Service Manager, Universal Sign Company, Scott, LA;

Troy Metcalf, Production & Installation Manager, Designer Sign Systems, Blaine, MN;

Stephanie Poyant Moran, Sales Executive, Poyant Signs, Inc., New Bedford, MA;

Alex Schlosser, General Manager, Schlosser Signs, Inc., Loveland, CO;

Nicholas John Stauff, Regional Sales Manager, The Howard Company, Inc., Brookfield, WI;

Bethaney Taylor, Service/Install/Purchasing Manager, Signarama Peterborough, Peterborough, ON;

Ryan Trapp, Structural Designer, Poblocki Sign Co., West Allis, WI;

Wayne E Vandenberg, CEO, Zircon Graphics, Lethbridge, AB;

Chad VanEffen, Account Manager/Outside Sales, Signs by Crannie, Fort Myers, FL;

Lauran Wang, Owner, Mustang Sign Group, Kennewick, WA;

Johnathan Warren, Marketing Manager, KeyedIn Solutions, Minneapolis, MN;

Andy Wasserstrom, Director of Business Development, Advance Sign Group, Columbus, OH;

Jorden Weiner, President, Dvision 10 Signs, Lynnwood, WA;

Christopher Wesbrooks, Purchasing, Charles Hampton’s A-1 Signs, Inc., Burns, TN;

Nathan Young, Training Development Director, YESCO, Salt Lake City, UT.

Members of the class receive three nights’ hotel stay at ISA International Sign Expo, entry to the sold-out tradeshow floor and unlimited education sessions. Special networking events also will connect the ISA Elite to industry leaders and fellow young professionals.

To learn more about ISA International Sign Expo or to register to attend, visit www.signexpo.org.

About ISA
The International Sign Association (ISA) represents manufacturers, suppliers, and users of on-premise signs and sign products from the United States and 60 countries around the world. ISA and its Affiliated Associations work to support, promote, and improve the worldwide sign and visual communications industry, which employs more than 200,000 American workers and has an economic impact of $37.5 billion.

About ISA International Sign Expo

ISA International Sign Expo is the on-premise sign and visual communication industry’s largest expo. Held each spring, the event features the latest products that showcase the breadth of the sign and visual communications industry along with education and networking events. The event has been named to the Trade Show News Network’s List of Top 250 Trade Shows and ranked in the Top 100 Largest Events by Trade Show Executive three consecutive years. Learn more at www.signexpo.org.