FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2003

'John' Johnson To Retire After 23 Years Of Service With ISA

Alexandria, VA (August 18, 2003) The International Sign Association (ISA) announced today that E.G. “John” Johnson, CAE, executive vice president, will retire from full-time employment with ISA on November 5th, 2003, after 23 years with the association.

“On behalf of the Executive Committee, the Board, the members-at-large, and his colleagues on the staff, I want to be the first to publicly thank John for his years of service to the association,” said ISA President and CEO Dean Garritson. “It's clear that John is held in high personal regard, even affection, by directors and many members too. He has built lasting and valuable friends in this industry.”

Johnson began his career at ISA with the responsibility for developing ISA’s International Sign Expo. At his first show, in Philadelphia in 1982, Johnson said there were 100 booths and 2000 attendees. “Last year, we achieved a significant rank in the top 200 trade shows in the U.S., with 1,340 booths and more than 16,000 attendees,” Johnson said.

During his tenure, Johnson has seen remarkable changes in the sign industry. “We saw the first automatic vinyl cutters at a show in 1983,” said Johnson. “It was the first time anyone used a computer to make a sign.” He added, “Today we’re seeing vinyl signs as big as buildings, neon for decorative and accent uses, interactive signage, LEDs, and much more.”

In the last five years, Johnson has been responsible for all of ISA’s international outreach efforts, representing the association at shows in Central and South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Johnson will serve as a consultant for ISA and other organizations for at least the period November '03 - December '04, allowing ISA to continue to benefit from his knowledge of the industry and personal contacts.

“I look forward to working with John in this capacity as he enters a new phase in his long and valuable relationship with ISA,” said Garritson. “He has a wealth of historical and operational knowledge, and his contacts too are literally coast to coast.”

Johnson says that he looks forward to the role ISA will continue to play in helping the sign industry continue to develop. “I’ve always felt that the association must be on the cutting edge, but not so far ahead that the industry can’t follow,” said Johnson. “We have a unique perspective on where the industry is going, and the association will continue its work to help the industry get there.”

Johnson has earned the Certified Association Executive honor, served as the chairman of the Conventions and Exposition Managers Section and is a former board member of the American Society of Association Executives, and was a founder and chairman of the Associated Meetings Professionals.

ISA is an 2,200 member organization composed of manufacturers, users, and suppliers of on-premise signs and sign products produced by more than 400,000 employees in all 50 states and 69 countries. ISA exists to support, promote and improve the $30 billion-a-year sign industry, which sustains the nation’s nearly $3 trillion-a-year retail industry.

International Sign Association
707 North Saint Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-836-4012
Fax: 703-836-8353
E-Mail: janay.rickwalder@signs.org
Website URL: www.signs.org