As the year winds down and the smell of peppermint lattes fills the air, we’re feeling extra thankful, and not just because of all the holiday drinks and treats! Most of the signs we build start with a local business or town growing their reach, or trying to keep customers informed of what’s going on or where to go. From the small-town staples to the big ideas lighting up Colorado, we’re lucky to help tell their stories, one monument, message center or wall sign at a time. This month we’re tipping our hard hats (because we can be old-timey like that) to the businesses that keep our communities connected all year long.

Community in Color and Light

Colorado’s communities are built on small businesses, and they’re held together by the signs that guide, welcome, and celebrate them. Every new sign that goes up adds color, character, and a little extra personality to the streets we live and work on. It’s not just about making something look good (though, let’s be honest, that part’s fun). It’s about helping people find their favorite lunch spot, navigate a new park, or spot their hometown spirit the moment they drive in.

Great signage quietly supports connection. When a business, school, or town invests in a professional sign, they’re doing more than adding a logo to a wall, they’re helping their community feel cohesive, recognizable, and connected to where they are. And that’s something we’ll always get excited about building.

A Few Signs We’re Grateful For

The Town of Windsor

We’ve said it before; we love a good challenge. And our work with the Town of Windsor checked every box (and then a few hidden ones as well). What started as two new monument EMC signs and a repair of the town’s existing stone highway entrance monument turned into one of the most complex permitting adventures we’ve ever taken on. Because one the sign sites sat on county-owned land, the project involved navigating easements, right-of-way agreements, and coordination with CDOT. It was the kind of process that makes you double check your coffee supply.

Once the paperwork marathon was behind us, installation brought its own hurdles, from detailed land surveys to some creative earthwork and grade adjustments, all to make sure the new monuments could be seen from the road. But in the end, it was worth every shovel, stake, and spreadsheet. The result? Two beautiful, highly functional message centers that keep the community informed and connected, and a project that felt truly special with Schlosser being one of the town’s newest businesses. 

Windsor Charter Academy

Our partnership with Windsor Charter Academy is one of those projects that reminds us why we love what we do. It’s been built piece by piece, phase by phase, as inspiration (and budgets) allowed. It included the essentials, branding the building with channel letters address numbers and an EMC monument sign, and grew from there into a space that captured the mission and spirit of the school. Over time, we added an additional monument, a bronze plaque, parking lot directionals, and even some impressively big vinyl murals that turned blank walls into storyboards of school spirit.

The final touch? A collaboration with our friends at Daktronics to install a brand-new scoreboard that lights up more than just game nights, it’s a centerpiece of school pride and connection. Getting to grow alongside the school, helping their vision evolve with each new phase, has been one of those rare projects that feels as meaningful as it is memorable.

What We Learn from Our Clients

If there’s one thing this year has shown us, it’s that our clients have just as much to teach us as we have to offer them. Every project, whether it’s a complex, multi-agency collaboration or a slow-and-steady phased build, gives us a new perspective on connection, creativity, and what it means to show up for a community.

From towns advocating for clearer communication tools to schools dreaming up spaces that feel like home for their students, our clients remind us that great signage isn’t just about fabrication or install days. It’s about listening, problem-solving, and finding the sweet spot where vision meets real-world logistics.

Their trust pushes us to keep innovating, keep refining our craftsmanship, and keep showing up with the same curiosity and commitment we bring to every project. They help us become better and that’s something we’re grateful for.

Here’s to What We’ve Built Together!

As we wrap up another year of designing, estimating, fabricating and installing, and (let’s be honest) navigating more than a few surprise challenges, one thing stands out above everything else: the people we get to work with. Our clients shape the way we think, the way we build, and the way we continue growing as a team.

They remind us that a sign is never just a sign, it’s a connection point. A welcome. A direction. A memory. A spark of excitement for what’s ahead. And being invited into those moments, whether it’s a town updating a community landmark or a school creating spaces that inspire students, is something we take to heart.

So, as the year winds down and the holiday lights flicker on, we’re raising a metaphorical hard hat to the businesses, schools, towns, and teams who trusted us with their stories. Thanks for letting us be part of the process. Thanks for the lessons. And thanks for giving us a reason to keep building signs that help Colorado connected and glowing, one project at a time.

And if you’re planning a new sign, dreaming up a refresh, or ready to make your next big idea a little more visible in the new year, we’re here and ready to help. Let’s build something great together.