Sign Confidential

This Signmaker Hunts Big Game and Tends a Mini-Ranch When He’s Off the Clock

Outside the shop, he spends his time taming the rugged outdoors.

Published

3 years ago

January 30, 2022

Signs of the Times Staff Signs of the Times February 2022 Issue

Jeremy Vanderkraats
Owner / Signs by Van (Salinas, CA)

After a long week, I look forward to coaching my son’s sporting endeavors, hunting throughout the western United States for big game and fishing in the Pacific Ocean for dinner. I have a small, three-acre mini-ranch that keeps me busy tending to three dogs, two steers, chickens and pesky ground squirrels. I find solace in the fact that my father who founded the company still works with me and that my 5-year-old son wants to be a signmaker/firefighter when he grows up. We will see. Always remembering to be thankful that I work in an industry that allows me to pour my best into my work every day. Coors Light around the campfire with my beautiful, amazing wife and family doesn’t hurt either : )

Mars Bravo: The Most Interesting Name in the Sign Industry

Mars Bravo is not the kind of name you hear very often in the sign industry — the kind of name more likely to follow, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage…!” In this episode, Eric interviews Mars to find out about her start in the sign industry and her ideas for the future, first with how she got her name.