Manager's To Do

Becoming a COO for AI and Department Reevaluation Top January’s List

Cross-training all employees is also on the docket.

Published

4 months ago

January 2, 2024

Signs of the Times Staff Signs of the Times January 2024 Issue

DEC. 31-JAN. 6

TECHNOLOGY Throughout 2024, Patrick Clifford, Clifford Signs (Kokomo, IN) will be acquiring the skills needed to become a chief technology officer (CTO). “The dominance of AI in our future is unquestionable,” he says. “For any company looking to thrive amidst the impending wave of changes, embracing new AI technology tools is essential. This signifies another phase in the industrial revolution, and it is set to occur swiftly.”

JAN. 7-13

SUPPLIES James Cota, JC Signs & Graphics (Clear Lake, MN) plans to inventory material in stock, mainly aluminum, acrylic and channel letter material, to see what they are low on and can order in bulk to save money.

FLEETS “Going to wrap our new company van,” reports Chad Lawson from Sign Pro of Skagit Valley in Mount Vernon, WA.

JAN. 14-20

PRICING To better integrate his company’s new HP R2000 Latex Printer, Derek Collins, Advanced Display (Kent, OH) will update pricing for direct-print items. “Yard signs and the like need to be re-priced so I can get more work to put on the damn thing,” he says.

JAN. 21-27

SOCIAL MEDIA Revamping the company’s social media efforts is on the list for Kevin Obregón, Brown Graphics (Dallas). Specifically, he aims to record the most interesting processes, installations or teachable moments and post judiciously.

EMPLOYEES “Get more people cross trained!” is a January goal of an emphatic Jennifer Jackson, Wrico Signs (Mobile, AL).

JAN. 28-FEB. 3

ANALYSIS John Johnson from A-Plus Signs in Fresno, CA is reevaluating all departments to make sure the company is ready for a slowdown if it hits. “We need to be ready to make quick decisions on how to mitigate it,” he says. “We learned what not to do in 2008, so hopefully those lessons learned will help us.”

Show offs! This vertigo-inducing photo compelled many comments from our community, including “A big salute to these brave guys in the industry” and “Thank goodness they’re wearing helmets, lol.”

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