According to the US Census Bureau, there are around 180,000 businesses that have multiple locations. There are five million businesses with only one location and nearly 14 million businesses employ one person. This workshop is for any new sign business owner, whether yours is a start-up enterprise, or you are the new CEO of an established sign company.

Starting a new business moves you through the important tasks of building a strong foundation for a business to the more tactical aspects concerning marketing, managing and money. This workshop will build on your knowledge and experience and provide tools and resources to help you build your business, determine what is required for expansion and how to navigate through the industry to get the job done. Are there triggers that keep you up at night? You will have an opportunity to share and listen to others who share these same issues. This is an excellent start to your time at the show! Register early: session limited to 100 participants.

Mike Lauretano, Sr.
Mike is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State College with a bachelor 's degree in education and joined the family business, a custom sign company, in 1972. He is also part owner of Lorcum Communications, Inc. He is the past president of the Eastern States Sign Council and a past director and treasurer of the Connecticut Sign Association. Mike was first elected as a NESA director in 1982 and has represented two different divisions on the board, chaired the Membership Committee and served as an officer on the Executive Committee as vice chairman of finance and vice chairman of member services. He is active in community affairs as a bank director and as treasurer of a Montessori school. Mike and his wife Diane reside in Morris, Conn. with their two sons and two daughters.

Troy Crocker
Troy Crocker is president of Sign Faces, LLC better known as "The Smiley Face" Company. Faces is a wholesale manufacturing company that serves the entire United States. Troy and his wife, Tina, own Sign Faces and Lone Star Faces with their business partners, Rod and Susan Seay. Troy began his sign career in 1993 as a salesman for Steve Metheny's company, Sign Faces, Inc. Troy advanced through the company until he and business partner Rod Seay purchased it in 2001. Troy has been very active in sign industry associations since 1994. He has served as president of the Mid South Sign Association and has served on the ISA Education Committee since 1998. Troy is a well-known speaker in the industry and has done presentations across the United States for ISA, WSA and most regional associations. He obtained a degree in finance from the University of Alabama Birmingham in 1986. He and Tina have been married for 24 years and have two sons, Tony (17) and Trae (13). Troy and Tina spend any spare time traveling with the boys throughout the United States playing soccer.

James W. Richards
James W. Richards is currently the regional lead reviewer of luminaries and signs for primarily the west coast and in some cases for the United States. He was primary designated engineer for lighting standards for 15 years and sign standards for 12 years. He has been registered in the state of California as a professional safety engineer since 1987, is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, graduated from California Polytechnic University, with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and American River College with associate's degree in electronics.

Teresa M. Young
For 20 years, Teresa M. Young has supported new entrepreneurs entering the digital sign and graphics industry, originally as mentor and trainer while operating her own sign business (1986-1992). Teresa sold her sign business to become president and CEO of Sign Biz, Inc., a full-service business development company that supports a chain of 170 independently owned sign companies worldwide, the largest of its type. Teresa received recognition as a semifinalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP, USA Today, and NASDAQ, for her work at Sign Biz, Inc. She has also researched and produced articles for management education, prepared demographic studies, conducted market research, and developed a complete education program and training center for sign industry professionals. Teresa has taken an active role in the International Sign Association (ISA) since the early 90's, and represented the Digital Sign and Graphics division on ISA's board of directors for five years before being elected to their Executive Committee. Her term marked the first time in ISA's 60-year-history that a woman sat on the Executive Committee. Young will be the chairwoman of ISA's board of directors for the 2007 term year.

Nancy Riesz
Nancy’s extensive management education, experience and success in the laboratory/in-vitro diagnostics field, both clinical and corporate, have proven her unique ability to work and identify with all types of people. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to work with people, helping them better understand themselves and finding ways to improve interactions, morale and productivity, thus improving bottom-line profit.

The Southern States Sign Council and the International Sign Association invite you to network and enjoy an afternoon of golf! It will be a scramble format with a 1:00 pm shotgun start. More than 140 golfers of all skill levels will participate in this event.

The $150 per player fee covers green fees, cart, unlimited range balls set up one hour before the event, lunch and awards party. Teams will be arranged so that each golfer will have a terrific time. If you would like to be paired with specific players, please indicate when you register. Golfers from around the world will be participating in this entertaining event.

This David Harman designed, par 72 (7,228 yard) championship Orlando golf course features undulating fairways and interconnected waterways. Bordered by a natural backdrop of dense oaks and pines, Shingle Creek Golf Club lies along historic Shingle Creek headwaters to the Florida Everglades, providing an ideal and unforgettable golf experience. For more information on this beautiful course, go to www.shinglecreekgolf.com. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Garry Queen at (877) 635-1889 or garry.queen@queencommunicationsllc.com.

Steven Snyder
Steven T. Snyder is a technical welding, NDT and quality consultant. He is the author of the Structural Welding Guide for Sign Contractors and Installers, as well as other published technical articles. Steve is also an AWS senior certified welding inspector, AWS certified welding instructor, ASQ-certified auditor and an ASNT NDT level III in nondestructive testing, working in various metal fabrication and erection industries for 21 years.

Most lighting products that contain mercury including signs, are considered hazardous waste when discarded. Several states have policies that are more stringent than the federal Environment Protection Agency's and disposal of any lighting containing mercury is not allowed. When lighting containing mercury breaks in the garbage, the mercury is released causing land and water contamination and bioaccumulation in the food chain. There is a liability associated with this and users have certain responsibilities for proper management. This is an open forum.

Paul Abernathy
Paul W. Abernathy is the executive director of the Association of Lighting and Mercury Recyclers (ALMR), a national nonprofit organization representing members of the mercury recycling industry. He also directed the Lamp Recycling Outreach Project - a Cooperative Agreement between the USEPA, the ALMR, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association and the Solid Waste Association of North America. Paul has always worked in the environmental services industry throughout North America, representing public and private companies and clients. His background includes extensive participation in public policy development and implementation for water quality, air and hazardous wastes management. He has also been responsible for commercial recycling, treatment and disposal operations, environmental remediation projects, corporate administration, sales and marketing, customer services and public relations. His business activity has included acquisitions, start-ups and new technology R & D, permitting, and regulatory compliance. His education includes an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BS in biology/chemistry from the University of Arizona. He is a military veteran and currently lives in the Napa Valley, CA.

There is so much to think through when you are making the decision to move your sign business into the digital arena. With the onset of flatbed and hybrid digital printers, when does it make sense to invest into a flatbed printer? This seminar provides an overview of the current flatbed and hybrid equipment, technology and substrates printers are successfully using.

Jodi Haugen
Jodi Haugen brings over twenty years of sign, screen printing and digital imaging experience to her recent position as director of Sales & Marketing for Xcel Products, Inc. Since 1995, Jodi has specialized in the wide format printing industry, focusing on hardware, software and media sales and development. Over the years, she has held various positions including, sales, product management, training and product development, production management and designer. Jodi has conducted seminars, workshops and written articles relating to digital imaging trends and solutions.

David Hickey
David is director of government relations for the International Sign Association (ISA), where he oversees and coordinates ISA’s legislative, advocacy, legal and grassroots efforts. Before starting at ISA, David spent six years on Capitol Hill, working as a legislative assistant for U.S. Senator Robert Smith and as legislative counsel for U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns. David’s portfolio included judiciary, small business and telecommunications issues. While working in the Senate, he attended Catholic University law school at night, where he graduated in 2003. Before his time in politics, David worked as a researcher at a national newspaper and as a paralegal at a law firm specializing in intellectual property.

Tawnya Starr
Tawnya Starr, vice president of Firespring, presents regularly to sign owners throughout the country on various marketing and Internet issues. She is an energetic and informative speaker with a passion to help sign companies prosper. As a former small business owner herself, she knows firsthand how difficult it can be to develop and promote a business while also being cost effective and delivering a consistent message throughout all marketing mediums.

Luigi Cristicini
Cristicini currently is the national product manager and is a sixteen year veteran of Drytac and the graphics finishing and framing industries. Originally hired as a sales representative, he has been instrumental in the creation of the company’s hands-on training seminars, which he rolled out in North America and Europe. Cristicini also oversaw the development of Drytac’s line of special finishing systems for PlaqDecormounted graphics. In addition to running the training and tech support program, Cristicini is responsible for all product testing and evaluation projects at Drytac Canada.

Michael Flippin
Michael Flippin is a recognized expert in analyzing the markets for traditional signage, inkjet and screen printing of graphics and other decorative applications. Specializing in the wide format graphics market as well as emerging industrial print applications since 1997, Mr. Flippin joined Web Consulting in 2002 to help expand the company’s range of services to clients in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Flippin has worked with many leading suppliers to the global graphics industry on projects related to market share and product positioning analysis, new product development, customer satisfaction and profiling, brand perception as well as market modeling and forecasts. A frequent industry speaker, Mr. Flippin has made more than 50 presentations at key international trade shows and conferences in 17 countries on three continents including AWA, DIMA/PMA, GIGA, GraphExpo, IFAI, IMI, ISA, PPMA, SGIA/DPI, TC2, The Tiara Group. Mr. Flippin has also authored more than 30 trade articles on emerging markets for digital printing.

Kevin Stotmeister
Kevin came to the former Federal Sign in 1980 after eight years on active duty as an officer with the U. S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps. His assignments with the Navy included varying responsibilities with the Seabees as well as construction contract administration and public works management positions. With Federal Sign, he began as an engineering manager in the Chicago-based region. In 1984, he was promoted to district manager for Indianapolis sales and manufacturing operations. He became general manager of Federal Sign's southwest region, headquartered in Arlington, Texas, in 1986. He was promoted to vice president in 1988. In 1990, Kevin accepted the promotion and transfer as vice president / general manager of the western region, the company's largest region. Kevin was appointed president of Federal Sign in late 1993. With the combining of Federal Sign and Heath Sign companies on April 30, 2003, Kevin was appointed president & CEO of Federal Heath Sign.

Kevin has earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois as well as a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago. He is a registered professional engineer in Illinois. Kevin has received numerous additional certifications including operations management from Stanford University, lean enterprise system design from the University of Tennessee, corporate financial management from M.I.T. and certification as a total quality management (TQM) instructor from the Hogan Center for Performance Excellence in Dallas, Texas. He has been active in various business, professional and sign industry associations throughout his career. He has served as a board member for the California Sign Association as well as serving as a member of the board of directors of the International Sign Association (ISA), as chairman of ISA's National Sign Company Division and Government Relations Committee. Kevin currently serves as a commissioner and is past chairman of the city of Oceanside's economic development commission. He also is a past chairman of the board of KOCT, Oceanside's community access television station. Kevin and his wife, Ellen, make their home in Oceanside, California. His two married daughters and their families live in Texas.

Jim McKechnie
Mr. McKechnie worked in aerospace manufacturing for 35 years in various roles from technician through senior-level management positions. After his career with Rohr Industries, he worked with General Atomics Aeronautical to reduce the costs (55 percent reduction in labor and 15 percent in material) from the Predator UAV used by the US Air Force. In both organizations, his leadership led to significant cost and cycle time reductions, and customer recognition for performing in a rapid-response environment. He later became general manager of Signtech Electrical Advertising, Inc. in San Diego, Calif., and brought about quantum gains by reducing inventory (WIP and raw materials reduced by 75 percent), reducing lead time (from weeks to days) and doubling net profit percentage (from 7 to 16 percent) during a period where the volume of work more than doubled.

Mr. McKechnie earned his MBA from San Diego State University and is an instructor and one of the originating team of the Lean Enterprise Program offered by SDSU's College of Extended Studies. He and his associates are currently providing training and consulting to organizations wishing to reduce their lead time by targeting and eliminating non-value added effort. His primary client is the U.S. Navy where removing bureaucratic waste is a primary initiative.

Michael Quigley
Michael J. Quigley, VP production/owner, has management experience that includes leadership positions in accounting, acquisitions, and management having worked 25 years with Fortune 100 and 500 companies. He is a principal owner of Sign-Age since 1990 and has been active in managing his family owned firms for the past 10 years. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in business management and accounting. He is also a Sign Biz International Advisory board member and the president of the Tampa Bay Advertising Federation.

Lee Hewitt

Dan Sinto
Dan Sinto is the “Graphics Plus” and tent product manager for John Boye & Company. His responsibilities include managing both product lines, technical support for John Boyle’s “Graphic Plus” line of solvent and UV-curable ink jet and screen printable medias. He also assists the research and development and manufacturing in the design of new printable media. Mr. Sinto has been involved in manufacturing, technical support and product management for the past 37 years. His entire work history has been in the areas of film manufacturing, product development, digital output, customer technical support and lamination. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in professional photography.

Nora Norby
Nora Norby is owner and president of Banner Creations, Inc, a full service textile printing and finishing company in Minneapolis, MN. She has been in the banner business over 20 years. She is a board member of the Fabric Graphics Association of Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and holds a Master Fabric Craftsman certification from IFAI. Nora has been active in promoting printing with water based inks on eco-friendly and eco-intelligent fabrics.

Global Sign Forum & Reception

The 10th annual Global Sign Forum & Reception will take place on Thursday 27 March 2008 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. At the forum, participants will discuss matters of international interest to the sign industry, including sign illumination restriction, future trends of the global sign industry, challenges and opportunities with conducting business overseas and ISA's first International Trade Mission.

The Global Sign Forum & Reception is an event open to all Expo attendees with an interest in global business, trends and technology. Hosted by Sapna Budev, ISA's international relations manager, and ISA's International Committee, the forum gives international attendees an opportunity to gather and exchange information and opinions on the issues and problems common to the sign industry around the world.

If you would like to participate in the Global Sign Forum & Reception, you must register during the online registration process. If you would like to be a speaker/moderator or have any questions about the Global Sign Forum & Reception, please e-mail Sapna Budev at sb@signs.org.

Kevin Poland
Kevin Poland is the owner of The Renaissance Group, a management consulting, coaching, and training company. He has spent the last eight years working exclusively with owner operated businesses helping them achieve and sustain excellence. He is a senior certified e-myth consultant and utilizes this specialized training to not only help small business owners throughout the world grow their businesses, but grow in a way that actually frees them to lead more fulfilling and productive lives. Kevin has over twenty years of business management experience. He holds a master’s degree in engineering management and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Prior to starting his own company, his previous business experience was working with very large corporations in the areas of industrial engineering, manufacturing management, production planning and strategic planning. Kevin is a frequent speaker at national and local events such as: Schwab Impact Conference, FPA Retreat, NAPFA regional conferences, Raymond James, Cambridge Investment Research, American Express, 1st Global, the National Association of Woman Business Owners, Florida Symposium, Florida Business Expo, Lincoln Resource Group, Questar Capital, and multiple FPA chapters.

Michael Flippin
Michael Flippin is a recognized expert in analyzing the markets for traditional signage, inkjet and screen printing of graphics and other decorative applications. Specializing in the wide format graphics market as well as emerging industrial print applications since 1997, Mr. Flippin joined Web Consulting in 2002 to help expand the company’s range of services to clients in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Flippin has worked with many leading suppliers to the global graphics industry on projects related to market share and product positioning analysis, new product development, customer satisfaction and profiling, brand perception as well as market modeling and forecasts. A frequent industry speaker, Mr. Flippin has made more than 50 presentations at key international trade shows and conferences in 17 countries on three continents including AWA, DIMA/PMA, GIGA, GraphExpo, IFAI, IMI, ISA, PPMA, SGIA/DPI, TC2, The Tiara Group. Mr. Flippin has also authored more than 30 trade articles on emerging markets for digital printing.

Dominic Bizzari
Dominic Bizzari has more than 18 years of experience in the sign making business. He brings an entertaining and informative learning program that focuses on leveraging all the features and functionality of the software. Students come away from the class with a much improved understanding on how to help make their businesses more profitable. He has worked with numerous plotters and printers including HP, Roland, Graphtec and Gerber.

Lance Wallach
Lance Wallach is a frequent and popular speaker on retirement plans, financial and estate planning, reducing insurance costs and tax-oriented strategies. He has authored numerous books including CPAs' Guide to Life Insurance, CPAs' Guide to Federal and Estate Gift Taxation by Bisk CPEasy, Tax Planning and Asset Protection Using VEBAs by Bisk TotalTape, and The Team Approach to Tax, Financial and Estate Planning by the AICPA. His newest book, Wealth Preservation Planning, was just published by the National Society of Accountants. Mr. Wallach writes for over fifty publications, including Auto Care Forum, Cleaning & Restoration, Door and Hardware, AICPA Planner, Accounting Today, CPA Journal, National Public Accountant, Enrolled Agents Journal, Financial Planning, Tax Practitioners Journal, CPA/Law Forum, Employee Benefit News, Health Underwriter, Advisor and the American Medical Association News. Mr. Wallach is listed in Who's Who in Finance and Industry and has been featured on television and radio financial talk shows.

Bob Parsons
Bob Parsons’ primary area of expertise is in sign painting and design, but through 25 years of drawing for SignCraft magazine, he has also acquired an international reputation as a cartoonist. For the past seven years, Bob has been a teacher with ISA and received consistent high marks from participants.

Dan Hale
Dan Hale’s sign career began at age 14, when he sold his first sign to a grocery store in his hometown of Olean, N.Y. He attended college in Sacramento and worked as a sign designer for a sign company. He returned to his native state and opened a sign company manufacturing custom electrical displays for regional accounts. After several years, he sold the company and moved back to California. He worked for a major sign company in the Los Angeles area in various management positions. In 1990, he returned to upstate New York and opened QRS Sign, Inc. in Portville, where he remains today. Dan has written a book regarding estimating and pricing and is published by ST Media Group. He has written articles for Signs of the Times magazine and several articles with Imagemakers of Canada. He is also a frequent speaker for the International Sign Association and other organizations. Additionally, he offers consulting services to the industry regarding sales, estimating and pricing.