2021: Year In Review

Dear MSSA members,

As we pull ourselves together to celebrate the holiday season, we also bring a close to another successful year as an organization. The roller coaster that is the current status of our industry will be ridden into the new year and beyond. We can all speculate on what 2022 will bring but I would like to reflect on what 2021 has meant to me.

We started the year as we ended the previous by joining each other virtually. It was such a treat to see Munn Enterprises open its doors and give us a tour during Live Spirit Week. As the world took a breath and we were able to gather this summer, I was elated to see all your faces in person. What a wonderful event in Birmingham. We laughed, shed some tears but the embraces we missed for so long felt just a little bit more special. Staying safe forced us to end the year as it began but the Guru Gatherings kept us together and moving forward.

As we bring a close to the year, we also close the book of the storied MSSA career of Karen Warr. She will be missed in person but the framework she worked so tirelessly on for 19 years will be carried well into the future. We also welcome Annie Nabors as our new Executive Director. The excitement of Annie hitting the ground running in her “new shoes” is palpable. We also welcome Rachael Scarbrough as our Marketing and Membership Manager.

I had no expectations of grandeur coming into this year, but it did not disappoint in unexpected twists and turns. I was able to serve with, by all accounts (mine especially) the best Executive Committee to ever represent the MSSA. I’m slightly biased but honest! I am humbled and hope to serve MSSA for years to come and I look forward to seeing all of you again soon!

Sincerely,

Patrick Knotts, MSSA 2021 President

2021 Officers

2021 Board Members

2021 Annual Sponsorship

THANK YOU, MSSA ANNUAL SPONSORS!

MSSA 2021 Award Recipients

Agnew Condray Award

• 2020 Agnew Condray Award Recipient presented at 2021 SignConnexion – Mark Burns, A-1 Signs Inc. - Dickson, TN
• 2021 Agnew Condray Award – Mike Lev, Harbinger

Hall of Fame Recipients

• 2020 Hall of Fame Recipient present at 2021 SignConnexion – Cal Holt, Knight Sign Industries
• 2020 Hall of Fame Recipient present at 2021 SignConnexion – Rhonda Caldwell (accepted by her family)
• 2021 Hall of Fame Recipient – David Watson, Watchfire
• 2021 Hall of Fame Recipient – Harold Miller, Signs First Metro
• 2021 Hall of Fame Recipient – Mark Burns, A-1 Signs Inc. - Dickson, TN

MSSA Live Spirit Week | Virtual, March 3 – 4

• Second ever, MSSA virtual conference
• Over 40 attendees registered!

Events included:

• The Art of Neon" Demonstration by Rick Nipper
• Sign Company Tours: Munn Enterprises and Canedy Sign & Graphics
• Building Code Updates: Focus on Florida Edition | Rob Alley, Elrod Engineering
• ISA State of the Industry Address | Lori Anderson, ISA
• “Fostering Bottom-up Communication” Panel Discussion
• Mike Lev Moderator
• Panelists:  Patrick Knotts, faces; Betsy Swan, Allen industries; and Rachel Walton, Florida Certified Sign Erectors
• Keynote | Mark Pridmore “Personal Journey Thru the Sign Industry & Succession Plan”
• MSSA Trivia & Happy Hour

MSSA SignConnexion – Ross Bridge Resort | Birmingham, AL

• 59 Exhibiting companies who presented their products and services
• 22 Volunteers attended the Call To Action: Volunteer Outing that performed maintenance and landscaping on a Birmingham public park
• 114 Sign company attendees who took the time from busy work schedules to attend
• 324 Attendees total
• 104 Players in the Elvis Davis Golf Classic
• GSG, Reece Supply Company, Tubelite, and Principal LED for sponsoring and providing tents for all golfers to use
• Golf Calcutta raising $3,894 for the Steve Metheny Scholarship Foundation

MSSA Steve Metheny Scholarship Foundation

• Fifty-two $1,500 scholarships were awarded to MSSA members & their dependents
• Goal to raise $70,000 for 2022 scholarships achieved!
• 100 Belize Trip Raffle Ticket sold!
• Trip donated by Headrick Sign Company
• 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

• 2020-2021 Elite Class asked to continue their leadership training through 2021-2022 due to COVID-19
• Leadership Training Retreat in October 2021, Birmingham, AL
• Hosted by Faces with Leadership Trainer Rob Alley, Elrod Engineering

2021-2022 Class

MSSA Sign Design Contest

• Freestanding Large Sign (50 sq. Ft +) 1st place winner
• Steve Sims, Hardman Signs, Sterling Union
• Freestanding Small Sign (0 - 50 sq. Ft) 1st place winner
• Ashley McDonald, Mitchell Signs, The Retreat at Fairhope
• Wall Mounted / Channel Letters 1st place winner=Nestor Rasi, Ortwein Sign, Greg Wyatt Vintage Corvette
• Graphics 1st place winner
• Nancy Wilson, Modern Signs, LLC, Canal Road Animal Hospital
• Mark Pridmore “Excellence In Design” Award (overall award)
•  Winner: Nestor Rasi, Ortwein Sign, Greg Wyatt Vintage Corvette

Guru Gatherings

• 50 MSSA members gathered once a month throughout the year to discuss pertinent topics and issues within our industry!

Other

• After 19 years serving as the MSSA Executive Director, Karen Warr retired at the year-end
• Creation of the Transition Committee with focus on the new format of MSSA staff
• Annie Nabors accepted Executive Directorship, and along with the Executive Committee, hired Rachael Scarbrough as the new MSSA Marketing & Membership Engagement Manager

Get Involved! Be a part of our 2022 success story!