Students from around the globe will learn more about career opportunities in the sign and graphics industry during Sign MFG Day. The event is sponsored annually by the International Sign Association and the National Association of Manufacturers.
On October 4, sign and graphics companies and print shops bring in students from local high schools, technical schools and community colleges for tours and to hear directly from the people who design, fabricate, install and sell on-premise signage. Through the years, participation in Sign MFG Day has led to the creation of job-shadows, internships, coops, and post-graduation hires.
This year, 105 sign and graphics companies around the world are participating, reaching out to their local contacts to organize tours. In addition, 19 schools reached out to ISA to express their interest in connecting with a local company to learn more.
“Sign MFG Day addresses the greatest existential threat to our industry, developing in the next generation of employees and future leaders,” said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. “Since ISA has been hosting this day, we have found that students only need to be told about our industry to express interest in careers. Many companies have hired directly from Sign MFG Day while most have developed ongoing relationships with schools, leading to a pipeline of job candidates.”
Sign companies scheduled to participate:
- Acroads Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Advertising Concepts, ADCON Signs Fort Collins, Colorado
- Aey Electric, Youngstown, Ohio
- Al Waqas Fabrics, Lahore, Punjab, India
- Allen Industries, Inc. Greensboro, North Carolina
- Allied Electric Sign & Awning, Vineyard, Utah
- Alphagraphics, Dallas, Texas
- Aludecor Lamination Private Limited, New Delhi, Delhi India
- Always A Good Sign, West Berlin, New Jersey
- American Awning & Sign Depot, Inc., Bronx, New York
- American Lift and Sign Service, Omaha, Nebraska
- Anuncios Lumicolor, Santa Cruz De La Presa, Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Apex Sign Co., LLC, dba Ad Light Group, Denver, Colorado
- Atlas Sign Industries, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Awesome Graphics LLC, Hobbs, New Mexico
- B.M.R. Mfg. Inc., Campbellford, Ontario
- Bakers Signs, Conroe, Texas
- Branded Sign Solutions, Helena, Montana
- Cardinal Signs, Brandon, Manitoba
- COMET SIGNS, San Antonio, Texas
- Comet Signs by Stratus, San Antonio, Texas
- Cool Touch Graphics LLC, 1 Saint Charles, Missouri
- Creative Media Studios, Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria
- Creative Sign Company, De Pere, Wisconsin
- Cupples Sign Company, Paragould, Arkansas
- DaNite Sign Co, Columbus, Ohio
- Design Team Sign Company, LLC, Adamsville, Tennessee
- Digital Color Depot, Miami, Florida
- DMR Graphics, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
- Doer Signs, Orlando, Florida
- Dprint, Lakeland, Florida
- D’sign Shop, Aibonito, Puerto Rico
- Engrave-Tech & Graphics, San Antonio, Texas
- ESCO, Watertown, South Dakota
- ESCO Manufacturing, Watertown, South Dakota
- FASTSIGNS of Durango, Durango, Colorado
- FASTSIGNS of San Ramon, San Ramon, California
- Federal Heath, Jacksonville, Texas
- Federal Heath Sign Company, Delaware, Ohio
- FLORIDA COLOR GRAPHICS, INC., Stuart, Florida
- FSG Signs, Austin, Texas
- Galaxie Signs, Burnaby, British Columbia
- Go Print USA / 247 Graphx, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Graphik Display and Sign, Lindon, Utah
- Grasshopper Wholesale Signs, Farmington Hills, Michigan
- Hansen Signs, Moncton, New Brunswick
- High 5 Signs, Kissimmee, Florida
- Hoffmann Admiral Signs, LLC, Scott City, Missouri
- HONDUPRESS, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- Image One Industries, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
- Image360 Lexington, Lexington, Kentucky
- Image360 Traverse City, Traverse City, Michigan
- Innvoke LLC, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
- Johnson Sign Co., Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Latitude Signage + Design, Grinnell, Iowa
- Lauretano Sign Group, Terryville, Connecticut
- Leaman Signs, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Legacy Sign Group, Westville, Indiana
- Les Enseignes iCubic, St-Laurent, Quebec
- Mass Signs LLC, Westfield, Massachussetts
- Metro Sign, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Midwest Light & Sign Inc., Farmington, Missouri
- Munn Enterprises, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- National Branding, Troy, Michigan
- On Top Printing and Signs, Orlando, Florida
- Orion Signs and Graphics, Oxford, Michigan
- Peach City Customs, College Park, Georgia
- Persona Sign, LLC, Watertown, South Dakota
- Quicksigns LLC, Everett, Washington
- Rago Neon Inc., Hayward, California
- Ramsay Signs/Heath Northwest, Portland, Oregon
- Roland DGA, Irvine, California
- Schurle Signs Inc., Lawrence, Kansas
- Sierra Signs Service Inc., Mesa, Arizona
- Sign Shop Illuminated LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- SignAgent, Burlington, Ontario
- Signarama, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Signarama – Springfield / Ozark, MO, Ozark, Missouri
- Signarama Louisville, East Louisville, Kentucky
- Signarama Philly, North Wales, Pennsylvania
- Signarama Sugar Land, Stafford, Texas
- Signararama, Troy-Metro Detroit, Troy, Michigan
- Signco Fabrications, Inc., Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- Signmans LLC, Coral Springs, Florida
- Signs & Services Co., Stanton, Colorado
- Signs By Tomorrow – Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Signworks, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
- Signworx, LLC, Metairie, Louisiana
- Sleek Signs, Regina, Saskatchewan
- Splendor Signs, Houston, Texas
- Springfield Sign, Springfield, Missouri
- Squarpix, North Bergen, New Jersey
- Stancosignage.com, Santa Ana, California
- Stone’s Sign Shoppe Inc, Saint Charles, Missouri
- Strategic Factory, Owing Mills, Maryland
- Stratus, Lexington, South Carolina
- Sunsigns Inc, Columbus, Georgia
- The Sign Gallery, Manchester, New Hampshire
- True Sign Experts, Waller, Texas
- University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California
- Urban Sign Group, Holmes, Pennsylvania
- Vivid Sign and Design Inc., Mt Pleasant, South Carolina
- VMD PUBLICIDAD, Miami, Florida
- Whithlaser by Sumiflex, Sunrise, Florida
- YESCO, Salt Lake City, Utah
Schools participating:
- Baldwin High School A College & Career Academy, Milledgeville, Georgia
- Banks County High School, Homer, Georgia
- Blackstone Valley Tech, Upton, Massachussets
- Carson High School, Carson City, Nevada
- Clinton Middle School, Clinton, Oklahoma
- Coronado High School, Gallina, New Mexico
- Destinations Career Academy of Colorado, Westminster, Colorado
- Durango High School, Durango, Colorado
- EdAdvance, Terryville, Connecticut
- Idaho Falls High School, Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Lake Travis High School, Austin, Texas
- Lodge Grass High School, Lodge Grass, Montana
- Murray High School, Murray, Utah
- Oakland Schools Technical Center Northwest, Clarkston, Michigan
- Riverdale Ridge High School, Thornton, Colorado
- Sandy Grove Middle School, Lumber Bridge, North Carolina
- Sato Academy of Math & Science, Long Beach, California
- University Schools, Greeley, Colorado
- Wood River High School, Hailey, Idaho
- Youngker High School, Buckeye, Arizona
While most companies choose to participate on the first Friday in October, they are free to choose dates that align better with their schedules or their local school calendar.
Companies interested in learning more about Sign MFG Day, or accessing tools to host their own event, should contact workforce@signs.org or visit Signs.org/MFGDay.
