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    By On 8 September 2022 In Event Recaps, Timely Stories Tags , ,

    Convention Was Refreshing & Dynamic!

    THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US FOR THIS YEAR’S WSSC Sign Show / CSA Annual Convention!

    Thank you, CSA Southern California, for hosting the 2022 WSSC Sign Show / CSA Annual Convention! It was refreshing to be together again in Orange County, starting with a Golf Tournament in Anaheim Hills, followed by dynamic speakers and a Vendor Showcase at the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove, with a busy schedule of events Wednesday, AUG 24 through Friday, AUG 26. We hope that this year’s event brought you inspiration, resources, and new connections.

    Wednesday, AUG 24, the CSA 2022 Golf Tournament kicked off this year’s annual gathering! Weather was beautiful and golfers were ready. Registration began at 7am and just prior to the shotgun start, many of the golfers participated in a Golf Ball Drop with a bucket full of numbered golf balls dropped from the basket of a basket from an Altec crane, over the green. Three balls assigned to Ball Drop participants, that landed closest to the designated hole, were awarded cash prizes of $250, $150, and $100. Golfers headed to their assigned golf carts, off they went, and golf swings started!

    Following the Golf Tournament, the last meeting of the 2021-22 CSA Board of Directors took place that afternoon at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, CA. Then Wednesday evening, convention attendees headed over to Bowlero Anaheim, 400 W Disney Way, Anaheim, CA, for the Convention Welcome Reception.

    For those of you who have not yet had an opportunity to experience a CSA Convention Opening Party, it is something you don’t want to miss! A large area of the Bowlero facility was sectioned off and reserved by CSA for the evening. Twelve lanes were set aside for bowling, with plenty of open space available for networking, billiards, food & drinks, great camaraderie and fun!

    Thursday August 25th was action-packed! They day began with a seminar presentation “Commercial Signage and the Constitution, Contracts, and Insurance”, by a panel of three industry leaders. We were excited to have Jeff Aran, CSA Legal Counsel & Government Affairs Committee Chair, Pete Michelini, VP-Sign Designs, CSA Past-President & Government Affairs Committee Chair, and Justin Pretzer, Senior Vice President of DMIG/HUB International, as speakers with Teresa M. Young-Sign Biz as moderator – A big Thank You to each of these industry leaders, for sharing their wealth of knowledge and personal experiences from over the years!

    The next order of business was our annual membership meeting, where President Person brought the members up to date information on where CSA is and where it is going. The election of the board of directors for the year 2022-23 was conducted, along with the election of next year’s officers, which includes – Ken Person, YESCO (Immediate Past President), Pete Michelini, Sign Designs (President), Jason Rieman, Gemini (1st Vice President), Michael Schmidt (2nd Vice President), and Bob Shimmin, Montroy (Secretary/Treasurer).

    CSA 2022 General Membership Meeting moved quickly to lunch from 11:30am – 12:45pm with Tony Cardenas, Public Affairs Regional Manager, Orange County Division – League of California Cities, as our luncheon speaker. All in attendance enjoyed a fabulous lunch and then were provided with a brief overview of the League of California Cities, as common interests and goals with CSA were shared. Mr. Cardenas was kind enough to join us after lunch, answering questions and making himself available to those interested.

    Immediately following lunch, from 1:00pm – 5:00pm, the Vendor Showcase opened with 32 exhibitors that were delighted to share their new products, services and spend time with existing as well as potentially new customers.
    Thursday’s activities were concluded by the Annual Banquet; where the 2022-23 CSA Officers and Directors were installed, the live auction and Magic conducted, CSA awards for 2021-22) were announced, and the always exciting $10,000 Drawing was held. This year’s awards included:
    President’s Award –

    Photo (L to R) Jeff Aran, Esq., President’s Award Recipient; Pete Michelini, 2022-23 CSA President; Ken Person, 2021-22 CSA President

    Jeff Aran, CSA Legal Counsel & Director of Government Affairs
    In grateful recognition of his overall contributions to CSA for the last 30 years; CSA General Counsel since 2004, Director of Government Affairs since 2001, and Legislative Counsel to both CSA and sign Users Council of California (SUCC) since 1991.

    President’s Award – Neal Tibbs, Ad Art Sign Company
    In grateful recognition of his overall contributions to CSA; Providing the CSA Booth at GPX Long Beach, CA in 2021 and 2022 (including creating the digital programs displayed on the two screens provided), providing the same booth at our convention, Chairing the annual CSA Fishing Trip, as well as previous Time Served on the CSA Board of Directors.

    Industry Service Award – Matt Fregosi
    In appreciation and recognition of his work to help make the CSA Certified Crane Operators Program a success, Making available & delivering an Altec crane to CSA Host Companies during their 3-Day Training/Testing and sponsoring lunch on one of those days.

    Industry Service Award – Barbara Navarro, San Pedro Electric Sign Co. and Jason Rieman, Gemini, in appreciation and recognition of their work and dedication in providing very useful material for the Communication Committee’s – Social Media Platform.

    Friday began with breakfast and an Education Session to address a preview of upcoming changes to the International Building Code, the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), updates from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and Skilled & Trained Workforce “STW” (STEPS, Sign Training and Educational Program Series, Prevailing Wage Job, and Arenas-STW requirements. We are grateful for the contributions of Jerry Romiti, Supervising Special Investigator, CSLB, Statewide Investigative Fraud Unit (SWIFT) -Southern.

    Following the seminar, the first BOD Meeting for 2022-23 was conducted. Discussions of the newly-elected Board included commitment, budget, and focused goals for the year.

    Then it was off to Knotts Berry Farm for lunch, a leisurely walk through Old West Boom Town featuring cowboys, gunfights, can-can dancers and stagecoaches, or ride on the steam train, and for some – excitement & fun with access to dozens of thrilling rides, shows, and attractions.

    Food for Thought:

    Friendships are built on shared experiences. Without active engagement and interaction with each other our bonds of camaraderie deteriorate. Associations dissolve as surely as neglected buildings do. After participating in events, celebrations and even small rituals, we remark how good it is to gather, and remember.

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