Schedule

Opening Welcome & Confessions of a Corporate Futurist: 10 Mega Trends

• • 11:00am – 11:30am ET | Main Stage
  • Live Q&A follows until 12:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Sheryl Connelly, Global Trends and Futuring, Ford Motor Company
  • 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—Global Trends and Futuring at Ford Motor Company—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.

• Tapping Schools and Communities for Unique Opportunities | Sponsored by Chemica US

  • 11:00am – 11:30am ET | Sessions
  • Add the Chemica HTV product line using Mimaki cutters

• Keeping Up Appearances: Prompting Customers to Upgrade | Sponsored by Daktronics

  • 11:30am – 12:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Taylor Nilson, Market Manager
  • How do you help customers see the need to upgrade their sign? Provide them solid reasons to improve their digital signs and their business!

• WLI Presents: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business

  • 11:30am – 1:00pm ET | Sessions
  •  Andi Simon, PhD, CEO, Simon Associates Management Consultants
  • Andi Simon PhD, an internationally recognized corporate anthropologist, will talk about her new book, Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business. In this talk, she shares how women have challenged the myths holding them back so they can achieve personal and professional success. Andi will also talk about how you can attain your goals by rethinking your own life’s journey, overcoming the hurdles and shattering the glass ceilings.

• Wrap Warrior Game Show: Round 1: Cutting

  • 11:30am – 12:00pm ET | Main Stage
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • The competitors will go through 4 stages in this round for a chance to win $500 worth of 3M Knifeless Tape.

• Introducing the Latest in White Ink Printers with HP | Sponsored by TubeliteDenco

  • 11:30am – 12:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Michael Falagrady, Latex Printer Sales, HP
  • The industry’s leader will walk you through some application opportunities for your business.

• Panel Discussion: Cutting Logic and the Science of Blades

  • 12:00pm – 12:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • Jim Miller, Michael Althof, Phil Aquin, Krystal Miszewski and host Justin Pate talk about blades and cutting plus you can win over $1,000 in prizes.

• IFAI Session: Printing Textiles for Interior Décor

  • 12:00pm – 12:40pm ET | Sessions
  • Mark Marchesi, Manager, Printing and Product Surface Imaging, Designtex
  • Learn about the different ways digital textile printing can be used to decorate interiors. We’ll cover different applications from drapery, to acoustic panels, to upholstery, and talk about the opportunities and the challenges associated with each.

• ENCORE SEGD Presents: Complex Color Management from the Johnson & Johnson Museum
  

  • 12:00pm – 12:40pm ET | Sessions
  • Carl Rhodes, Exhibit Design Director; James Hallock, Creative Director – Graphics; Ze Tan, Visual Designer, Gallagher & Associates | Barbara Rayder, Director of Graphics & Brian Barnwell, Senior Project Manager,  Design & Production Inc.
  • Carrying the color and logo of a huge brand throughout the design of a new museum is no small feat. Ask any brand manager and the importance of color adherence cannot be understated. But how do you ensure brand integrity in different media – various substrates, print, and digital media? Hear from clients at Johnson & Johnson, along with their partners at Design & Production to learn about the challenges and successes of their ambitious new museum.

• ENCORE Be a Great Boss–Lead, Manage & Be Accountable

  • 12:00pm – 1:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Ian Tonks, Traction Trainer
  • Successful companies have employees who are productive, engaged and happy. And it starts at the top! Great leaders and managers don’t tiptoe around the fact that they’re in charge. They take pride in their role and genuinely care about their people. They aren’t overbearing and don’t think their titles give them special privileges. They understand that great employees are one of the organization’s best assets, and as such work to create and maintain an environment where people excel. Learn how to be the best “boss” you can be – not only for your employees, but for yourself and the future of your company.

• Digital Workflow – Enabling More Productivity | Sponsored by HP

  • 12:30pm – 1:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Paul Wagner, HP
  • Profits and productivity. How do you manage these without spending more, especially on software? Find out in this informative session.

• Wrap Warrior Game Show: Round 2: Design and Communication

  • 12:30pm – 1:00pm ET | Main Stage
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • Round 2 combines product knowledge, problem solving and install skills with over $500 in prizes on the line.

• Wide Format Printing Challenges & Best Practices | Sponsored by TubeliteDenco

  • 12:30pm – 1:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Mike Pingalore & Melissa Maude, Senior Application Engineer, 3M
  • 3M Application Engineers will share solutions to digital printing questions and challenges such as the ABC’s of process control in printing, how to use a spectrophotometer in your shop, spot color matching, the ins and outs of color proofing and managing customer expectations

• Titan Talk with Denise Rutherford
  

  • 1:00pm – 1:40pm ET | Main Stage
  • Denise Rutherford, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, 3M
  • Rutherford shares her commitment to building sustainably-competitive businesses and her work advocating for greater STEM education within local communities.

• Panel Discussion: Design and Communication

  • 1:30pm – 2:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • Dan Anontelli, Bruno Dede, Maike Maurer and host Justin Pate talk about the importance of good design and communication plus you can win over $1000 in prizes.

• Solar & Outdoor Lighting with TubeliteDenco | Sponsored by TubeliteDenco

  • 1:30pm – 2:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Dan Brown, National Solar and Lighting Manager, Tubelite
  • Solar & Outdoor Lighting

• WLI Presents: 5 Ways Food Can Improve Productivity and Reduce Stress at Work

  • 1:40pm – 2:10pm ET | Sessions
  • Jaya Jaya Myra; Best-Selling Author, TEDx Speaker and Mind Body Wellness Expert
  • Have you ever wondered how much foods impact your health and wellbeing? More thank you think! Regular media contributor and mind body wellness expert Jaya Jaya Myra will discuss the profound impact food has on stress, anxiety, focus, productivity and more, while sharing her top tips on how to use food and medicinal spices to facilitate better mental health. It all starts with what you eat!

• The Sign Invitational Panel

  • 1:50pm – 2:40pm ET | Sessions
  • Mark Kissling, Editor-in-Chief, Signs of the Times | Dan Sawatzky, Sign Invitational Co-Founder, Imagination Corporation | James Dawson, Sign Invitational Co-Founder, Synergy Sign & Graphics
  • Signs of the Times Invitational Participants in the sixth annual Sign Invitational join host Signs of the Times Editor-in-Chief Mark Kissling to talk about the new materials and techniques they learned while constructing their projects for this year’s friendly competition. The theme of this year’s Sign Invitational is “go fish.” Each entry also had to be single-sided, no larger than 2 x 2 ft. and able to be wall-mounted. Always a big hit at the in-person Sign Expo’s check out this year’s Sign Invitational here and in the Signs of the Times booth.

• Wrap Warrior Game Show: Round 3: PPF Puzzle

  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm ET | Main Stage
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • The competitor that solves this puzzle fastest wins over $700 in PPF tools.

• We Are A One-Stop Shop | Sponsored by Everylite

  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm ET | Sessions
  • David Banks, Everylite
  • Everylite will show all the capabilities of our RGB/W products and control components, combined with our Channel Letter product series.

• Altec Innovation: Not Your Ordinary Sign Truck | Sponsored by Altec

  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Learn how Altec equipment is designed “by our customers, for our customers”, and how we have & will continue to innovate solutions for you.

• 25 Best Sign Sales Tips Ever!

  • 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Bill Farquharson, President, Aspire For
  • The title of this fast-paced session says it all. Attendees will hear 60 minutes of instantly-applicable selling ideas. You will leave fired up and ready to apply lessons from finding great leads to time management. What is the best time of day to call (hint: it’s not early, lunchtime, or late)? How do you differentiate yourself? What’s a guaranteed way to get noticed? Bill Farquharson has delivered Monday morning sales tips to graphic arts sales people for 30 years. He’s gathered his 25 best and stands ready to share them with you.

• Supply Chain Disruption: How to Innovate & Adapt

  • 2:00pm – 3:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Mark Dancer | MJ Singhani
  • The global pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of many organizations, especially those who have a high dependence on China to fulfill their need for raw materials or finished products. Sign companies and distributors have seen an increased scarcity in both raw materials and finished goods, with an increase in prices and lead times for items that can be procured. Join supply chain experts to discuss procurement and sourcing challenges with a look to supply chain optimization. They will also discuss the ongoing response of distribution supply chains given the forces of disruption, disintermediation and digital transformation.

• Professional Peer Groups

  • 2:15pm – 3:15pm ET | Sessions
  • Job Roles: Admin/HR, C-Suite, Family-Owned Business Members, Graphic Designers, Installers, Production/Fabrication, Project Managers, Women Leading the Industry, Young Professionals
  • Choose from several topic-based breakout lounges to meet and connect with your peers. Each room will have facilitators and fun icebreakers to ease the awkwardness of talking to strangers.

• Panel Discussion: PPF – Getting It Right

  • 2:30pm – 3:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • Shareef Khan, Madison Lawerence, Matt Khanna and host Justin Pate talk about PPF and get the right set up plus you can win over $1000 in prizes.

• Tetra: LEDs For Those Who Don’t Want to Screw Around | Sponsored by GE Current

  • 2:30pm – 3:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Mike Doss, VP Specialty & Natalie Picot, Senior Product Manager
  • Join GE Current, a Daintree company for a deep dive on revolutionary Tetra Snap, the first screwless solution for cabinets & channel letters

• ENCORE Titan Talk with Matt Shay

  • 2:30pm – 3:10pm ET | Sessions
  • Matt Shay, President & CEO, National Retail Federation (NRF)
  • As the head of the National Retail Foundation (NRF), Shay will be talking about the outlook for retail and how it could impact the sign, graphics and visual communications industry.

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in the Sign Industry Open Forum

  • 2:30pm – 3:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Join this open discussion of how and why we should increase diversity in manufacturing. Hear from companies who instituted DEI initiatives and how their workplace has changed as a result.

• Changing the Print Game with Mimaki | Sponsored by TubeliteDenco

  • 2:30pm – 3:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Victoria Harris & Vernon Jones, Mimaki
  • Here it is, find out how this newest printer will save you money.

• Wrap Warrior Game Show: Round 4: Blindfold Challenge

  • 3:00pm – 3:30pm ET | Main Stage
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • See how technology, top trainers and a blindfold combine for an exciting final round.

• Successful Project Management Teams: What’s the Secret Sauce?

  • 3:00pm – 3:40pm ET | Sessions
  • Karen VanHoy, Project Manager, Atlas
  • The importance of project management for sign companies cannot be overstated. 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 (PMs) are agile, innovative and always looking for effective ways to maintain efficiency and maximize profits. Not an easy task, we know…especially now! If you are a PM or oversee PMs, don’t miss this session lead by one of ISA Sign Expo’s most popular presenters, Karen Vanhoy. This interactive and collaborative session will provide a forum for PMs to share the tools, techniques, technology and processes that create a positive team environment and generate synergy and success in their projects/programs.

• ENCORE Out of the Box Recruiting (A to Z)

  • 3:00pm – 3:40pm ET | Sessions
  • Elisha Gordon, National Search Consultant, MetroSeek | Amanda King, People & Culture Leader, Poblocki | Mike Quigley, Vice President, Sign-Age of Tampa | Jeff Young, Senior Vice President, YESCO
  • We hear you – recruiting new employees is hard. Really hard! But even though finding employees may be one of your biggest challenges, you still have to have a sense of humor! The audience will decide which creative solution to find new employees will win the day. This fun and interactive session will include a panel of industry leaders sharing their creative recruitment ideas. Which panelist will win? Which idea will take the top prize? Or will someone in the audience steal the spotlight for the most creative solution? No matter who wins, this not-to-be-missed session will get your ideas flowing!

• Panel Discussion: Application Training

  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Justin Pate, The Wrap Institute
  • John Duever, Charlie Trujillo, Dimas Brasil, Tim Evans and host Justin Pate talk about the art of training plus you can win over $1000 in prizes.

• Speakeasy with Dan Antonelli

  • 3:30pm – 4:00pm ET | Sessions
  • Dan Antonelli, KickCharge Creative
  • Join Dan Antonelli of KickCharge Creative to gain powerful insights on how design REALLY impacts you AND your client’s business

• ENCORE Take the Pain Out of Permitting

  • 3:30pm – 4:30pm ET | Sessions
  • Kenny Peskin & James Carpentier, ISA | Megan Pyrtle, Co-Director of Project Managers, Allen Industries | Cindy Proett, Municipal and Community Coordinator, Luminous Neon Art & Sign Systems
  • This course has been approved for CEU credits by the International Code Council (ICC). Receive .10 CEU credits for attending. You will receive a certificate of completion 10-15 days after the session.
  • 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.

• Closing Remarks & Roland DGA Happy Hour

  • 4:00pm – 5:30pm ET | Main Stage
  • Join friends and colleagues for a fun Happy Hour celebrating a successful ISA Sign Expo 2021 – Virtual!