Gain valuable insights from experts.
With a full range of session tracks and targeted sessions at ISA Sign Expo® 2020, you will discover a variety of information designed to enhance your business and career.
Check out the full list of sessions, including their detailed descriptions, below.
For pricing information, visit our Pricing & Packages page.
Education Session Tracks:
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Pre-Conference | Wednesday, April 1
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
ISA-01: Business Boot Camp for Wrap Professionals by Avery Dennison
Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
John Duever, Vinyl Images and Design
Track: Pre-Conference Workshop
It’s one thing to know how to wrap, it’s another to know how to run a business, with wrapping vehicles as a component. The wrap industry can be extremely exciting and rewarding. Equally, it can be very frustrating as it has unique business challenges that most industries do not face. This can lead to long hours, tension in the workplace, frustrated clients and financial goals not being met. The Business Boot Camp for Wrap Professionals has been designed to address these issues head on by offering comprehensive solutions combined with detailed analysis of the key aspects in a wrap shop from ownership to sales to marketing to upselling and more. The Business Boot Camp is entirely geared to create clear communication channels, facilitate growth both short and long term by streamlining workflow and increase profits. Earn a digital badge upon completion of the workshop.
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-02: Strategic Business Management
Wayne Peterson, Black Canyon Group, Inc.
Track: Pre-Conference Workshop
Professionals today, whether they are new or seasoned, need a solid foundation of essential skills in order to keep pace with the speed of change. This full day workshop will leave you equipped with actionable knowledge and insight you can use to lead your business through today’s ever changing environment of new competitors and challenges.
Intentional creation of a brand that’s meaningful to your target customer segments can speed revenue growth, increase customer attachment and retention, and improve pricing leverage. Learn how to meld your branding and marketing effort to your specific business strategy, understand the stages of brand development, receive the tools to assess the strength of your company brands, and leave with a plan for how to develop your own distinctive brand. In the second half of the day, learn how to build a sustainable business development process that’s scaled to the individual business enterprise. Gain the tools to tailor a business development process to your company and your specific customer segments along with a plan for implementation and the knowhow and resources to build it. Earn a digital badge upon completion of the workshop.
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-03: Finding Success with Wide Format Print
Bill Farquharson, Aspire For
Track: Pre-Conference Workshop
Your existing customers look to you for signs, but an additional opportunity exists. Wide-format printing is one of the fastest growing segments in graphic arts. Gain an understanding of the opportunity and where the applications lie in order to take advantage and bring an additional revenue stream to your business. This half-day workshop is a must if you are considering expansion into the world of wide format. You will learn:
- Top vertical markets and applications
- What you need to know in order to sell wide-format
- An effective marketing strategy
- A plan to cross sell
- Who to call on and what to say
Before you invest your money, invest three hours in this workshop. You'll walk away with answers to the questions you have and the answers to the questions you should be asking. Earn a digital badge upon completion of the workshop.
12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-04: Developing Exemplary Project Management Teams
Karen Vanhoy, Atlas
Track: Pre-Conference Workshop
Managing a successful project involves much more than managing timelines scope, cost and resources. It requires the application of strong leadership and communication skills to work effectively with people in a variety of roles and responsibilities. Successful project managers are able to create a cohesive culture and positive team environment. They also know how to guide team members through change and identify and manage team conflict. In this interactive and hands-on workshop learn how communication styles can impact projects; how to create a motivating team atmosphere; how to identify project risks; and how to minimize project threats and potential issues. Leave with the tools and resources you need to propel your team to success. Earn a digital badge upon completion of the workshop.
Thursday, April 2
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-05: How to Get the Most Out of Your Sign Shop Talent
John Hackley, Oculus Business Coaching
Track: Running Your Business
Three NO COST ways to maximize production throughput. Learn how to boost future capacity by proactively cross training and how to schedule production task assignments differently to achieve more predictable results with little or no out of pocket expense.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-06: Be At Your Best Every Day: 5 Principles To Consistent Sales Success
David Fellman, David Fellman & Associates
Track: Selling Your Business
It's easy for a salesperson to get sidetracked, to develop bad habits, and even bad attitudes. It's not always easy to maintain enthusiasm and commitment to growing the business. This program hits hard on five specific areas that make or break sales performance.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-07: Using Social Media to Create Meaningful Offline Connections
Matt Ward, Breakthrough Champion
Track: Marketing Your Business
With so much happening out there in the world of social media, how do you cut through the noise of it all, get noticed, and find ways to truly connect with others? By using effectively using social media a you will learn exactly how to connect offline, which cuts through the online noise, and results in deeper more meaningful connections with your contacts!
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-08: 5 Simple Steps to Successful Sales with Digital Signage
Deacon Wardlow, Spectacular Media
Track: Digital Signage
Whether new to sales or a veteran of the field gain five simple steps to successful digital signage sales. Gain an understanding of where the digital signage market is going, how it is growing, where new opportunities exist and how to speak with confidence and competence about digital signage from exterior big, small, and all to interior narrow pitch and HD solutions.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
SRF-01*
TBD
Track: SRF
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
ISA-09: Second Chances: Shon Hopwood’s Incredible Story of Robbing Banks, Winning Supreme Court Cases, & Finding Redemption
Shon Hopwood, Associate Law Professor, Georgetown University Law Center
Track: Game Changer
At the age of 23, Shon Hopwood found himself heading to prison. His life lacked direction, and he had little to no confidence that his future would unfold happily or successfully. And yet, just two short decades later, he is a happily married father and an accomplished lawyer teaching his craft at one of the nation’s most highly-respected schools of law. How did he turn it all around? Where did he find the motivation to persevere past self-doubt and overcome enormous hurdles toward success? With this speech, Hopwood shares his moving personal story and his tips for accomplishing any big goal. Woven in between anecdotes from his life, he touches on:
- The importance of setting goals that are attainable, and celebrating when you meet them
- Persevering despite critics and refusing to listen to discouragement
- Abandoning a need for instant gratification to chase a bigger dream
- Believing in second chances
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-10: Handling Terrible Customer Images: Workflow Tools for Every Shop
Mark Rugen, MUTOH America
Track: Design
Any shop that's been around for a while quickly realizes that many customers bring them poor quality images that they expect to be used in a sign layout. This seminar will show attendees tools that can make this issue easy to handle instead of a headache.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-11: WLI Presents — Managing Conflict in the Workplace
Kelly Radomski, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Moira Singer, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Alisa Spector Angelo, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Track: Running Your Business & WLI
Session presented by Women Leading the Industry. Conflict is unavoidable in the workplace, and sometimes it's not a bad thing! Learning how to manage conflict, improve listening skills and adjust your responses to make your business more productive. Understand the difference between responding and reacting and the value that a good leader brings when using the correct approach.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-12: Before and Afters: Taking Wraps from Bland to Branded
Dan Antonelli, KickCharge Creative
Track: Print
Learn design fundamentals and what is possible with wrap design as well as examine the theory and execution of dozens of wrap redesigns. Utilizing case studies and examples review and evaluate the fundamental flaws in the original designs and how the redesign was more effective.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-13: Markup and Margin for a Profit
Michael Stone, Construction Programs and Results, Inc.
Track: Running Your Business
Discover how to calculate the markup or gross margin your company needs to arrive at a sales price that assures you make a profit, and helps you make financial decisions. This is relevant content for any business owner, regardless of the company size or how long they've been in business.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-14: Take the Pain out of Permitting
Kenny Peskin, ISA
James Carpentier, ISA
Megan Pyrtle, Allen Industries
Track: Protecting Your Business
The permitting process for getting your customer’s signs approved can often be viewed as arbitrary and time consuming as nearly every part of the process from design to installation to replacement requires permit approval. Gain an understanding of how to prepare for successful permitting; analyze specific scenarios and case studies to learn winning strategies to apply to your permitting situations, and leave with tips and tricks to help you streamline the process and overcome challenges.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
SRF-02*
TBD
Track: SRF
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
ISA-15: Designer/Fabricator Best Practices for Maximum Profitability
Craig Berger, Fashion Institute of Technology
Anthony Clayton, Bluebird Graphic Systems
Track: Design
To manage collaboration successfully and ensure project profitability it is important to learn from leading relationships. This session will focus on specific successful collaborative approaches built around three project types: (1) a large hospital campus, (2) a high end regional brand rollout, and (3) a large mixed use complex.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
ISA-16: Effectively Handling An OSHA Inspection
Edwin Foulke, Jr., Fisher Phillips LLP
Track: Protecting Your Business
In the Trump Administration, OSHA has continued its aggressive inspections and rule enforcement. The number of Federal OSHA inspections resulting in penalties in excess of $100,000 continue to increase and this number will continue to grow as OSHA penalties increased in January 2019. Gain an understanding of the inspection process as well as a step-by-step discussion of the legal and practical process implicated when OSHA arrives for an inspection, how to define the scope of the inspection, and how to effectively assert your legal rights.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
ISA-17: Team Building, Employee Retention, and Culture in the Sign Industry
Vince Cvijanovi, Graphic Components
Phil Lawrence, Graphic Components
Track: Running Your Business
Attend this program to receive information and resources about the importance of developing culture, benefits, and making smart hiring/firing decisions specific to the sign, graphics and visual communications industry. The session will feature a case study discussion of the implementation of a team-based bonus plan and its effect on the business.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
ISA-18: Top 5 Emerging Technologies You Need to Understand to Survive
Track: Technology
This session isn’t about what you want to know, it’s about what you NEED to know. Whether you want it to or not, emerging technologies are going to change the way you do business and, more important, how you meet customer demands. Those who are in the know will beat their competition and thrive – be informed and be excited about the top five tech trends impacting our industry and your customers NOW.
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
SRF-03*
TBD
Track: SRF
Friday, April 3
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-19: WLI Presents — Building a Culture of Engagement
Kelly Radomski, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Moira Singer, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Alisa Spector Angelo, Compass Business Solutions, Inc.
Track: Running Your Business & WLI
Session presented by Women Leading the Industry. Employee engagement is more than just employee satisfaction. Learn how to develop your employment brand and identify your ideal company culture for growth and retention. Research shows as new generations come into the workplace, the culture of the organization is the key factor in engagement and productivity.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-20: Master Wall Wrap & Graphic Applications: Overcoming Challenges
Josh Culverhouse, ORAFOL Americas, Inc.
Track: Print
Learn everything you need to know when it comes to successfully selling, surveying, producing and installing wall graphics. Learn how to achieve adequate wall graphic adhesion to today's finicky latex paint coatings as well as how to complete a successful site survey.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m
ISA-21: Leader as Coach: How to Bring Out the Best in Your People
Kevin Poland, The Renaissance Group
Track: Running Your Business
Whether you are leading a business, leading a department or leading a team the single most important behavior that separates highly effective leaders from average ones is coaching. Leaders who coach will develop more capable, more competent and more autonomous people. This results in increased productivity, better teamwork, more engagement, and higher retention. This session will provide you with the specific activities required to coach your people including how to: (1) communicate effectively; (2) build a better team; (3) inspire and motivate your team to win; (4) delegate to develop; and (5) give feedback right away.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
ISA-22: Unusual and Unique Tech Trends Are Changing the Customer Experience (CX)
Track: Technology
CX is changing and forever altering the landscape of key industries supported by the sign and graphics companies, including retail, hospitality, convenience, petroleum, etc. Get informed on the unique and unusual tech that’s creating an evolution of signage to adapt the demands of creating an enticing environment to attract customers. Learn how signage is being redefined by the CX demands and how to become agile and adaptive to survive in this competitive marketplace where your competition might not be who you might expect.
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
SRF-04*
TBD
Track: SRF
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
ISA-23: Confessions of a Corporate Futurist: Coming Trends That Will Revolutionize Your Business
Sheryl Connelly, Ford Motor Company
Track: Game Changer
No one knows what the future holds and despite our best efforts to prepare for the unknown, the future plays out in unexpected ways. All too often, the success and failure of an organization comes down to its ability to manage uncertainty and effectively identify how external—and seemingly unrelated—trends could have significant impacts to one’s business. In this compelling keynote, Sheryl Connelly reveals her secrets for how to think like a futurist, providing audiences with the expertise and strategies necessary for effectively anticipating change. From the 10 mega trends that could change the world as we know it before the year 2050 (which is a lot sooner than it seems), to perspective that will forever change one’s approach to long-term planning and strategy, Connelly delivers the insights necessary for organizations across industry sectors to thrive, innovate and remain relevant
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-24: ISA Electrical Codes & Standards Forum: Understanding the New 2020 National Electric Code
Kenny Peskin, ISA
Joseph Frederic, Underwriters Laboratories
Joseph Wages, International Association of Electrical Inspectors
Track: Protecting Your Business
Learn about the newest changes included as part of the revised 2020 edition of the National Electric Code (NEC) and the application of Underwriters Laboratories standards to electric sign best practices. Experts from ISA, UL, and the IAEI will present and discuss all of this year’s key NEC changes affecting sign companies, including:
- New requirements for labeling signs
- Newly visibility requirements for markings
- Newly written section applying to retrofitted signs and retrofit kits
- And much more
Code experts will reconcile sign industry practice with the common interpretations of the Code as enforced by local inspectors and will discuss the application of Code installation rules to sign manufacturing and UL certification. Presenters will also provide updates on UL Standards revisions under consideration by the UL 48 Standards Technical Panel.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-25: Accessibility And The ADA: 2010 Standard For Room Identification Sign
Dave Miller, Nova Polymers, Inc.
Track: Design
Learn about the current US and International Accessibility requirements as it relates to room identification signs and wayfinding and gain critical knowledge about the technical characteristics (geared toward helping specifiers) concerning the most commonly used materials for Accessible/ADA compliant signage.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-26: LinkedIn for Lead Generation: Building Relationships Online & Off
Kristin Gallucci, Signarama
Track: Marketing Your Business
There are over 600 million members on LinkedIn. Did you know that over 61 million are senior level influencers and 40 million are in decision-making positions? The opportunity to generate business through social media is more powerful than ever. It's the number one social media platform for driving B2B leads. Hear from a LinkedIn Top Voice for Marketing and Social Media within the sign, graphics and visual communications industry and learn strategies for increasing leads and sales, increasing connections, building relationships and creating a continued pipeline for business.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-27: Key Business Measurements for Financial and Operational Success
Yaron Lew, Lauretano Sign Group
Track: Running Your Business
Running a business and making day-to-day decisions tends to distort our focus from the macro to the micro. We need to acquire a set of global measurements to provide us real time indicators to gauge our business trends. Learn how to develop non-traditional tools to help make strategic business decisions and gain an understanding the interrelations between financial and operational performance indicators.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
ISA-28: How to Leverage E-Commerce Technology to Scale Your B2B Company
Nishant Shah, Giant Media
Track: Selling Your Business
E-commerce is often overlooked by B2B companies as a channel for successful sales. In this session, learn various ways that B2B companies in the sign, graphics and visual communications industry can leverage to scale their business and reach a wider audiences and markets effectively.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-29: Sign Structure Failures
Louis Cortina, MBI Companies, Inc.
Track: Protecting Your Business
How can you avoid sign structure failures from happening to you? Through case studies and examples gain an understanding of the different kinds of sign failures; learn about structural load path and points of previous failures; and learn how to avoid these sign failures.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-30: Ready, Aim, HIRE: How to Raise Your Finding New Talent Batting Average
Vince DiCecco, Your Personal Business Trainer, Inc.
Track: Running Your Business
At last, sign shops are hiring again. But perhaps it's been a while since you had to flex your hiring acumen. And back then, your selection process may have been based on "gut feel" and "let's give this one a try." Learn a proven approach to finding and hiring that "best fit" addition to your team.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-31: Making the Future: AI and Technology for Design and Manufacturing
Keith Davis, KRD Design
Track: Technology
Spoiler Alert: We won't be replaced by robots yet! However, it is important to understand the changing technology as it relates to the sign industry. This session is a deep dive into research and industry relevant technological advances like Artificial Intelligence, 3D Modeling and Additive Manufacturing, along with their impact on how we will design and manufacture in the future.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-32: RGB 2.0
Pierre Carreau, Allanson
Track: Digital Signage
Learn how RGB color changing and animating technology can be used to enhance standard signage. Learn how to apply animation to signs; how to create spectacular effects to standard signage and bring new possibilities to designers, architects, and specifiers. Gain an understanding of the controller options that exist and their various uses for different project needs.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ISA-33: Show Me The Color!
Jim Raffel, ColorCasters, LLC
Track: Print
What's your favorite color? It should be green. Yet, when your customers are dissatisfied with the color you deliver, you don't see much green. There are inexpensive tools and techniques that can deliver the colors your customers expect. Learn basic color theory that ties to easy-to-use portable color measurement equipment along with tips to share with your customers that will help you create the colors they want each and every time without hours of trial and error.
Saturday, April 4
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
WLI Keynote — Art of Executive Presence*
Buddy Bush, JB Training Solutions
Track: WLI
In business it’s often the finer details that count. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it, and how you act when you say it. It’s not always about who has the leadership title but who can make a great first impression, command a presence, and handle social situations with professionalism. Often, brilliant employees with innovative ideas are ignored because they fail to convey executive presence and instill trust in their capabilities. This session will break down executive presence and how you can create a positive impression, command a room, and communicate confidentially and with purpose, both verbally and nonverbally. Leave with the skills to exude confidence and strong executive presence in any situation.
*SRF sessions and WLI Keynote are not included in any ISA Education Packages and require separate registration. Click here to learn more.
