ISA Spring Conference Offers Networking, Learning Opportunities

The Illinois Sign Assn. Spring Conference, scheduled for Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1, at the IHotel and Conference Center and kicks off with an afternoon open house and tour of Time-O-Matic facilities for sign-company attendees.

The IHotel is located at the Research Park of the University of Illinois-Urbana campus.

Time-O-Matic, the makers of Watchfire Signs, is offering a tour of its facilities to sign-company representatives on Thursday, April 30, the first day of the conference. Time-O-Matic started as part of Sangamo Electric, based in Springfield, IL, in 1932. The product line was brought to Danville, IL in the 1940s. The facility to be toured is part of the original factory, but several additions and major remodeling projects have occurred since then. Those on the tour will get to view a 14 x 48-ft. digital billboard, Watchfire’s latest company-identification sign, the 16mm XVS.

Thursday evening, the Tabletop Reception, the Sign Design voting and awards, and a banquet dinner eases members into the conference, with the majority of the learning taking place on Friday.

At 9 a.m., Steve Robinson of Constant Contact, an email-marketing expert, will present ideas for using the Internet to bring in additional business. Lee Hewitt, from Underwriting Laboratories, is scheduled to speak at 10:30 a.m. His presentation, “Update on UL 48 & 879 Standards, Anticipated UL Sign Certification Improvements, Major Additions to UL University Workshop and Online Courses, and Current LED Sign Requirements,” will immediately follow the 10 a.m. Product Showcase. At 11:30 a.m., Charles Gerhardt will address the “green” issues sign companies are likely to face in the coming years in his talk, “LEED/Green – What You Should Know to Compete in today’s Eco-Conscious Marketplace.”

The business session activity will continue after lunch in the hotel and the Dessert Reception in the conference center. Details on the afternoon session will be forthcoming as plans for the event are finalized.

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