Greg McCarter, former chief executive officer at Tubelite, has been named as the 2025 recipient of the Kirk L. Brimley Distinguished Service Award, the sign and graphics industry’s highest honor.
McCarter joined the International Sign Association’s board of directors in 1997 and served as its board chair in 2004, a period of tremendous change for the organization. During a time when ISA was without an executive director, McCarter served as a steadying hand, often traveling to ISA headquarters to support staff and leadership. He also represented ISA and the sign and graphic industry abroad.
“Greg has never been one to back down from a challenge,” said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. “He has always been willing to take on just about any role that would advance the sign and graphics industry and worked to build an industry that offered opportunities for all.”
McCarter’s leadership in the sign and graphics industry extended well beyond ISA. He was an avid supporter of local affiliated associations and encouraged his employees to get involved. The Mid South Sign Association inducted McCarter into its Hall of Fame in 2024.
His vision led him to work with others to create what would later be known as the Sign Research Foundation. He served on the board for the preceding organization for a decade, including a three-year stint as president. He also made fundamental contributions to the National Association of Sign Suppliers and Distributors (NASSD) and other organizations.
McCarter spent most of his career at Tubelite, founded in 1928. His father was a neon salesman for the company before purchasing it in 1964. Under the McCarters, Tubelite became one of the sign and graphics industry’s leading sign suppliers. It merged with Denco Sales in 2021, and the combined organization was sold to Grimco in 2023.
