In 2021 Signs of the Times launched the Brain Squad, a survey group of owners and top managers from sign companies in the US and Canada. Every month we reach out to the Squad to hear from as many sign pros as possible, and their responses provide much of the valuable data and content you see in the magazine’s pages.
In return, the Squad gets insights into the sign industry with access to their fellow members’ responses. And as an added bonus, we send new members an official Brain Squad T-shirt upon completion of their first survey.
Flip through the following slides to meet some of our 400-plus Brain Squad members, shown sporting their new tees in their natural habitats. To join the Squad and receive your own complimentary T-shirt after completing your first survey, read the qualifications and sign up at signsofthetimes.com/brainsquad. Then send us a selfie of you wearing your Squad shirt to be featured in this gallery!
Victor Ramirez
Signage & Wayfinding Communications & Marketing Manager, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Chicago
When was your business founded?
1996
One thing that makes your business unique:
One of the few in-house print shops inside a transit agency in the USA.
Becky Duke
Strategic Account Manager, Fleet Vehicle Graphics, AP Corp, Sykesville, MD
When was your business founded?
2001
One thing that makes your business unique:
I take pride in ensuring my clients receive an outstanding experience whether they choose to do business with me or not. My goal is for every client to feel welcome and want to share their experience with other businesses, friends and family.
Becky was also featured as the subject of our Sign Confidential profile in March 2022.
Brad Turpin, Jr.
Operations Manager, Ruggles Sign, Versailles, KY
When was your business founded?
1946
One thing that makes your business unique:
Customer service and complete brand management: design, approvals, fabrication, install, document storage and maintenance. We manage all aspects of these details from start to finish. Give us the project, and we’ll contact you if we need anything! We want to make our customers’ jobs easier.
Corrie Jo Lebens
Director of Design, Crown Sign Systems, Mount Vernon, NY
When was your business founded?
1994
One thing that makes your business unique:
Our ability to design and fabricate allows us to create VE [value engineered] designs and budget along the way so there is no sticker shock at the end. One stop shop.
Gary Johnson
President, Great American Sign, Basking Ridge, NJ
When was your business founded?
1989
One thing that makes your business unique:
We produce 3D signs. Everything from standard VCarve goldleaf to texture-rich signs we carve using Vectric software on our CNC router.
Jake Zani
Art Director, Rule Signs & Graphics, Randolph, VT
When was your business founded?
1994
One thing that makes your business unique:
Vermont-made, high-quality signs, vehicle graphics and lettering. We love knowing and interacting with our community on many levels.
Jean Shimp
Owner, Shimp Sign & Design, Jacksonville, FL
When was your business founded?
1981
One thing that makes your business unique:
We combine handcrafting with modern forms of production, including handpainting and goldleafing.
Jeffrey Cross
Owner, Cross Signs, Seminole, FL
When was your business founded?
1985
One thing that makes your business unique:
We make them “Hot and Fresh Everyday.”
Jennifer Boyd
Owner, Artsign Design, Boise, ID
When was your business founded?
1969
One thing that makes your business unique:
Three generations working in the business up until my dad retired and I purchased the business in 2013. 80% of our clientele we have had over 20 years.
Jennifer was also featured as the subject of our Sign Confidential profile in December 2021.
Melanie T. Harden
Executive Vice President, Creative Sign Designs, Tampa, FL
When was your business founded?
1986
One thing that makes your business unique:
Turnkey from concept to installation. All signage needs (interior/exterior), excellent project management, capability to produce most in house, in-house permitting. We also have a team that focuses on EGD and planning.
Sean Tomlin
CEO, Designer Wraps, Pitman, NJ
When was your business founded?
2006
One thing that makes your business unique:
Our creative services and thinking make us unique. We love doing things that are outside the box. Customers come back to us for our creative services, staff and our warranty that truly is second to none.
Sean was also featured as the subject of our Sign Confidential profile the Big Survey 2022 issue.
Stuart Stein
President and 3rd Generation Owner, ESCO Mfg./Stein Sign Display
When was your business founded?
1952
One thing that makes your business unique:
“Signs as Unique as You” has been one of marketing slogans for a number of years. With nearly seven decades of experience, we’ve literally seen it all.
Tom Dunn
Owner, Metro Sign & Awning, Tewksbury, MA
When was your business founded?
1989
One thing that makes your business unique:
We have developed a niche in our area for simply being responsive and reliable while providing a consistent quality signage program. A pretty simple formula, but apparently is not something everyone is doing. We are told time and again by clients how appreciative they are that we answer our phone, show up when we say we will and hit any commitments we make.
Vince Cvijanovic
Co-Owner, Sales & Marketing Manager, Graphic Components, Greensboro, NC
When was your business founded?
2006
One thing that makes your business unique:
Several years ago we implemented a program for our teammates where they can earn a substantial bonus every month based on their attaining certain performance goals in the prior month. The most important goal is our customer service measure, which calls for at least 95% of all orders shipped complete and on-time. This has incentivized our entire team to focus on customer service.
Tyler Rodney
Senior Management, Inter Sign National, Baltimore
When was your business founded?
1969
One thing that makes your business unique:
As a family owned business, ISN offers its customers the continuity and dedication required to serve their needs now, and in the future.
Larry “the Micky-guiver” Mitchell
Owner, SignChef, El Dorado Hills, CA
When was your business founded?
1994
One thing that makes your business unique:
Our objective is not to sell more paint, vinyl, ink, plastic, aluminum or whatever else makes a sign. Our mission is to increase their client’s business success by properly combining the right ingredients in the best way to achieve that desirable outcome.
These 16 Sign Pros Make Their Voices Heard
In 2021 Signs of the Times launched the Brain Squad, a survey group of owners and top managers from sign companies in the US and Canada. Every month we reach out to the Squad to hear from as many sign pros as possible, and their responses provide much of the valuable data and content you see in the magazine’s pages.
In return, the Squad gets insights into the sign industry with access to their fellow members’ responses. And as an added bonus, we send new members an official Brain Squad T-shirt upon completion of their first survey.
Flip through the following slides to meet some of our 400-plus Brain Squad members, shown sporting their new tees in their natural habitats. To join the Squad and receive your own complimentary T-shirt after completing your first survey, read the qualifications and sign up at signsofthetimes.com/brainsquad. Then send us a selfie of you wearing your Squad shirt to be featured in this gallery!