Thank You for a Powerful Convention!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US IN SAN DIEGO FOR THIS YEAR’S CSA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE!
Thursday, AUG 5, the CSA 2021 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 Signtech Electrical Advertising crane, over the green. Two balls that landed in the designated hole, had been assigned to Ball Drop participants and therefore the $200 cash prize was shared. Golfers headed to their assigned golf carts, off they went, and golf swings started!
Following the Golf Tournament, the last meeting of the 2020-21 CSA Board of Directors took place that afternoon at the Wyndham Bayside in San Diego, CA. Then Thursday evening, convention attendees headed over to Tavern & Bowl, 930 Market St, San Diego, CA, for the Convention Welcome Reception.
Welcome Reception August 5th
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! The entire Tavern & Bowl San Diego facility, just 1.4 miles from the host hotel, was reserved by CSA for the evening. Twelve lanes were set aside for bowling, with plenty of open space available for networking, food & drinks, Great Camaraderie and Fun!
Friday August 6th was action packed!
AUG 6 began with a seminar and panel discussion “Lessons Learned: During Years in the Sign Business”. We were excited to have Kevin Stotmeister-recently retired, President/CEO Federal Heath, Steve Jones-President of YESCO LLC and CSA Past President, and Davey Glantz-Glantz, Principal, on the panel with Teresa M. Young-Sign Biz as moderator – A big Thank You to each of these industry leaders, for sharing their professional and personal experiences from over the years!
The next order of business was our annual membership meeting, where President Navarro 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 2021-22 was conducted, along with the election of next year’s officers, which includes – Barbara Navarro, San Pedro Electric Sign Company (Immediate Past President), Ken Person, YESCO (President), Pete Michelini, Sign Designs (1st Vice President), Jason Rieman, Gemini (2nd Vice President), and Bob Shimmin, Montroy Supply (Secretary/Treasurer).
CSA 2021 General Membership Meeting moved quickly to lunch from 11:30am – 12:45pm with Dr. Dydia DeLyser, as our luncheon speaker – “Neon Creates Community”
All in attendance enjoyed a fabulous lunch and then were provided with a historical perspective of neon and signs, shaping people, communities and our environment.
To the delight of all, Dr. DeLyser was kind enough to join us after lunch, answering questions and making her latest book available to those interested.
1:00 – 4:30 featured a Vendor Showcase!
Immediately following lunch, from 1:00pm – 4:30pm, the Vendor Showcase opened with 27 exhibitors that were delighted to share their new products, services and spend time with existing as well as potentially new customers.
Friday’s activities were concluded by the Annual Banquet; where the 2021-22 CSA Officers and Directors were installed, the live auction and Fund-A-Need conducted, and the always exciting $10,000 Drawing was held. See Board Installation Story Here.
Saturday, August 7th
Saturday began with breakfast and an Education Session to address a Skilled & Trained Workforce “STW”, presented by Jeff Aran-CSA Legal Counsel, Pete Michelini-CSA 1st VP and member of the Sign Training & Education Program Series (STEPS) Board, and Dennis Lytle-Cochair of the STEPS Admittance & Advancement Board. Seminar attendees learned of the California “STW” regulations, and an outline of STEPS was reviewed. The group was interactive, suggesting additional discussion of the subject matter will be needed in the year ahead.
Director Pete Michelini with his wife Cecilia
Following the seminar, the first BOD Meeting for 2021-22 was conducted. Discussions of the newly-elected Board included commitment, budget, and focused goals for the year. Then it was off to Miguels Portside for lunch, across the street from Wyndham San Diego Bayside, followed with exploring San Diego leisurely on the famous Hop On/Hop Off, open-air, Old Town Trolley Tour, narrated with local trivia and stories.
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.
About CSA Team
CSA’s Executive Director, Roy Flahive, has worked within the sign industry for more than 50 years. He served an apprenticeship in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), owned his own sign company for almost 30 years and he is well-known and highly respected in the sign industry, having served on numerous boards, including those of the International Sign Association (ISA), San Diego Area Lighting Advisory Council, Arizona Sign Association, Western States Sign Council, San Diego Mayors Sign Code Task Force, and UL’s Industry Advisory Committee. Notably, Flahive has twice been elected President (Chairman of the Board) of CSA and has served over 30 years on that board.
Cheryl Flahive, CSA’s Director of Member Services, has worked within the sign industry for over 33 years; twenty of those years, as vice president of a sign company in southern California. She has served in various administrative roles, from finance to project management, and is dedicated to helping CSA members at all levels.
The CSA Communications Committee, made up of committed industry leaders, works in a behind the scenes capacity, to keep CSA members educated and informed.