Signs of the Times - February 2018 - 35

With nearly 600 exhibitors, the creativity of
the sign, graphics and visual communications
industry is readily apparent. Not sure where
to start? The 2018 Innovation Awards will be
filled with groundbreaking new products in
three categories: print; business solutions/
software; and electronic & traditional signage.
A visit to those booths is a must. You can
build in the rest of your schedule through the
free MyExpoPlan tool on the signexpo.org
website.

Spark Creativity in Education
The sign, graphics and visual communications
industry is undergoing a significant change.
Not only are new products coming into the
market, but business also is changing at a
rapid speed. It can be challenging to keep
up. The old ways of doing things certainly
won't propel your business forward.
That's where Betsy Swan of Allen Industries
finds value in the education sessions. "The
knowledge that has come out of education
has been very helpful in awakening our
skills, whether it be on the sales side or
more on the drafting and design. There are
so many different options to choose from in
the education that you're not going to walk
away bored, that's for sure."
One of the most popular events each year is
the Game Changer sessions, which bring
true innovators to provide a spark. This year,
the number of Game Changers has increased.
Shannon Huffman Polson, one of the first
women to fly an Apache attack helicopter, will
provide tangible leadership tools. Chef Jeff
Henderson will provide a recipe to discover
hidden business aptitudes. Kim Lear will
showcase how generational differences can
be an opportunity.
Also new in 2018, two pre-conference
workshops: an Executive Boot Camp and a
workshop for Wide Format Print sales. Both
will be held March 21.

Make that One Powerful
Connection
With more than 20,000 sign, graphics and
visual communications professionals all in
one place, ISA International Sign Expo provides an unprecedented opportunity to build
relationships with clients and vendors. Come
away with the same "tremendous impact"
that Bill Uline of Sign Faces finds. "It has a
tremendous impact on our business relationships... with both suppliers and customers. You have access to experts in
various industries and the products that they
sell, and the amount of information that's
available to you is a great opportunity. You
can talk face-to-face with someone that
knows exactly what their particular product
is or the service that they provide."
Close out each day with the Last Hour Happy
Hour. Grab a free beer and mingle with attendees and exhibitors. The ISA Networking
Reception for National and Custom Sign
Companies is a prime opportunity to make
connections for installers. It will be March
23. National sign companies interested in
participating should contact Alicia Auerswald
at alicia.auerswald@signs.org. Custom sign
companies only need to show a show badge
to enter.

this project, I can shoot out a text and they
are there to help me through that process.
It's been a huge resource."
Before making the connections through the
Elite program, she attended the event and
knew only her work peers. Now, "I feel like
every room I go into, I know someone. It may
be a friend of a friend, an alumni of an Elite
member, or it's the new Elite team. And it's
been really amazing. This year to last year
is night and day different. And I feel like I'm
part of this industry this year versus last
year, and the Elite program did that for me."
That need for connection can extend well
beyond age, of course. ISA International Sign
Expo 2018 will offer events designed to
connect you to your industry peers. Tops
among them is ISA Rocks: THE Industry Party,
returning to BB King's Blues Club Orlando.
Enjoy music, dancing and fun-and maybe
make a connection or two. |

Extend the Event through a Peer
Network
Faye Rowell of Watchfire Signs knows how
hard it can be to find people like her. She's
young and female and works in the relatively
small city of Danville, Ill. "I've felt kind of
isolated. And coming to ISA International
Sign Expo was the most amazing thing for
me. I felt like I was someone on an island
having this whole network of people."
Rowell was a member of the 2016 class of
ISA Elite, which brings together young people
for networking opportunities. It's a program
that has paid off, since the connections
made at the event carry on throughout the
year. "Days when I'm searching for help,
days when I don't know where to go with

according to the ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report for Q4 2017. The end markets segments are poised to end the year on a strong note. *
WWW.SIGNS.ORG * * *

http://www.signexpo.org http://WWW.SIGNS.ORG

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