2020 - A Year In Review
December 18, 2020
We could easily dwell on "the year that wasn't" versus on "the year that was". The year that was is more reflective of the strength and determination that was endured as an association, in our businesses, and in our personal lives. And it is more promising as a sign of things to come regardless of what is going on around us. As obstacles came about, members rallied to find solutions. They came together to help one another get through the challenges. And for that, our association and its members are stronger than ever before.
This year had many "firsts" that fortunately will become a normal part of the association. Everything virtual from board meetings, Brown Bag Club webinars, auctions, Spirit Week conference, Happy Hour... and so many more. Most of us have lived weekly in each other's offices, livings rooms, kitchen tables, and homes.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as MSSA President in 2020. It is inspiring to see and feel the potential of our members. Personally, I recently confided that I have met most of my closest friends in the MSSA. I am thankful to be amongst friends that are family. I am looking forward to continuing to serve on the Executive Committee in 2021.
Thank you to all the Board Members and committee chairs/members, annual sponsors, MSSA members, and Karen and Annie for an adventurous 2020. Without you all we could not have made it through.
Thank you and let us continue to take care of each other.
Mike Lev,
MSSA President
Highlights
MSSA Board of Directors
2020 Officers
President - Mike Lev, Harbinger
Vice President - Patrick Knotts, Faces
Secretary/Treasurer - Brandi Pulliam, Agnew Sign and Awning
Immediate Past President - Shane Metheny, GSG
2020 Board Members
On Premise Sign Co. Directors - Lance Cossey, Scott Electrical Services Co.; Mel Davey, Hilton Displays; Kyle Curry, Canedy Sign and Graphics; Ross Dial, Mitchell Signs; At Large Director - Nick Wilson, Oxford Graphics; Product Manufacturers Director - Cody Chambers, Keystone Technologies; Supply Distributor Director - Richard Clifton, Eastern Metal Supply; Past Presidents Director - David Watson, Watchfire Signs
Annual Sponsorship
- Platinum
- Altec, Eastern Metal Supply, Grimco, Graphic Solutions Group (GSG), Reece Supply Company, Tubelite
- 11 Gold
- A-1 Signs, Daktronics, Farco, Matthews Paint, Optec Displays, Piedmont Plastics, Principal LED, Scotts Power Line, Sign Builders, Think Sign, Watchfire
- 10 Silver
- 3M, Akzonobel, Elliott Equipment, Elrod, Gemini, Letterfab, MK Insurance, Plaskolite, Sign Pro Wholesale, World Wide Signs
- 7 Bronze
- Admiral Wholesale, Canedy Sign & Graphics, Faces, France Lighting Solutions, Palram Americas, SignComp, Signs First
- THANK YOU ANNUAL SPONSORS!
Idea Exchange 2020 | Sign Pro Wholesale, Meridian, MS
- Host Company: MSSA 2020 Silver Sponsor, Sign Pro Wholesale
- February 20 – 22, 2020
- 28 Sign Companies in attendance
- Tricks of the Trade Competition
- 1st Place Winner: Jack Johnson, Tri-State Utility Contractors
- 2nd Place Winner: Bill Uline, faces
- Seminars:
- “Demonstration of Vacuum-Forming Sign Faces”
- “Retrofitting Neon And/or Fluorescents To LEDs”
- “Learning from the Regulators”
- Cocktail hour at Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX)
MSSA Steve Metheny Scholarship Foundation
- Thirty-five $1,500 scholarships awarded to MSSA members & their dependents
- Goal to raised $40,000 for 2021 scholarships achieved!
- First ever online scholarship auction!
- 45 Items donated from 42 companies
- 75 Online bidders
- 108 Belize Trip Raffle Ticket sold!
- Trip donated by Headrick Sign Company
- Accompanied with a $500 travel voucher donated by Tubelite
- 100% of proceeds go towards the Steve Metheny Scholarship fund!
- $1,488,472 total scholarship funding given in scholarships to date – wow!
MSSA Elite Program
- 2019-2020 Elite Class created new scholarship fundraising tactics and presented their ideas to the Board of Directors during February’s board meeting!
- 5 Elite from 2019-2020 Class admitted into the MSSA Elite Alumni!
- Emily Allen, Allen Sign Co.; Ashton Austin, Design Team; Jake Eldridge, Grimco; Schyuler Rath, One World LED; Andy Sellers, Tubelite
MSSA Sign Design Contest
- Freestanding Large Sign (50 sq. Ft +) 1st place winner
- Ortwein sign, Designer: Nestor Rasi
- Freestanding Small Sign (0 - 50 sq. Ft) 1st place winner
- Gibko Signs, Designer: David Holsomback
- Wall Mounted / Channel Letters 1st place winner
- Joslin & Son Signs - Designer: Janine Morton
- Graphics 1st place winner
- Design Team Sign Company - Designer: Christina Malone
- Mark Pridmore “Excellence In Design” Award (overall award)
- Winner: Janine Morton of Joslin & Son Signs for the second year in a row!
Brown Bag Club Webinar Series | August – October
- Free 30-Minute, informative zoom webinars from industry experts on product presentations, expert training and more
- 25 webinars spanned over 3 months
- Webinars hosted by MSSA members and one webinar hosted by ISA
- With the cancellation of the annual trade show, SignConnexion, we developed this webinar series as an opportunity to offer membership engagement, continuing education, and a channel for MSSA’s vendors/suppliers to communicate with sign companies.
MSSA Live Spirit Week | November 11 - 12
- First ever, MSSA virtual conference
- Over 70 attendees registered!
- Events included:
- Veteran’s Acknowledgment (on Veteran’s Day)
- Sign Company Tours: Harbinger Sign in Jacksonville, FL, and Alternative Sign Group in West Palm Beach, FL
- Panel discussion led by ISA's Kenny Peskin and a live panel of sign industry leaders “Crane Operator Certification vs. Deregulating Equipment”
- Tricks of the Trade Competition
- 1st Place Winner: Brandon, Trav-Ad Signs
- 2nd Place Winner: John & Joe Adinolfe, Alternative Sign Group
- Sign Design Contest – Mark Pridmore Excellence In Design Award presented by Mark Pridmore himself!
- Winner: Janine Morton of Joslin & Son Signs for the second year in a row!
- Elite Class 2020 Acknowledgement by David Watson
- Keynote Speaker: Mark Scharenbroich “Half Full in a Half Empty World"
- Membership Happy Hour & Belize Trip Raffle Drawing
- Winner: Bill Reason, Professional Sign Services
Get Involved! Be a part of MSSA’s 2021 success story!
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