Workshops
Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Workshop A:
Don’t Let Pricing Mistakes Cost You Business
For sign companies, estimating can be one of the most critical and at the same time frustrating components of running a business. “Winging it” might seem like an enticing option when you don’t know where to begin. But if you are not fast enough – you could lose jobs to competition or even lose money if the job wasn’t priced right. In trying to get out fast and accurate estimates, sign companies often have to sacrifice one of the two qualities. What’s worse – sometimes they miss the mark on both counts.
This session will discuss factors sign companies need to consider when building an estimate, shared best practices to enable you to create the most accurate estimate in the fastest time and to provide excellent customer service that keeps your clients returning time and time again.
Speakers:
Nick Hansen | President | Hansen Signs
Jeff Wallis | Director | Signature Sign & Image
Workshop B:
Breaking Barriers Executive Discussion: Empowering the Next Gen of Women Leaders
Powered by
Leadership doesn’t just happen — it’s cultivated. And in the evolving sign industry, empowering the next generation of women leaders is not just good for business, it's essential for long-term success.
Join us for a candid and inspiring panel discussion featuring four senior leaders from the sign industry—three of whom have played pivotal roles in mentoring, sponsoring, and promoting women into leadership, and one who has risen through the ranks from shop floor to executive office.
Together, they'll share powerful stories, hard-earned lessons, and practical advice on how to support and elevate women at every stage of their careers.
Key themes include:
-
What Managers Can Do: Concrete strategies to identify talent, foster confidence, and open doors for advancement.
-
Shop Floor to C-Suite: A firsthand account of one executive’s remarkable rise—and what it took to get there.
-
Crafting career paths: How to help women leaders self-advocate, navigate career roadblocks, and make their voices heard.
-
Culture Change Starts at the Top: Creating workplaces where women can thrive, innovate, and lead.
Whether you’re an executive, a mid-career professional, an emerging talent, or an ally committed to equity, this discussion will leave you with actionable takeaways and renewed energy to build a more inclusive and empowered future for the signage industry.
Speakers:
Kerri Eady | National Sales Director | Gemini
Christian Duguay | Chief Operations Officer | Pattison ID
Stacey Gagne | Vice President | Signex Manufacturing
Jebb Nucci | CEO | iCubic Inc
Workshop C:
Generations in Sync: Leadership That Bridges, Builds, and Plans Ahead
Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever, spanning multiple generations with differing expectations, communication styles, and work habits. This interactive session explores how to build collaboration and trust across age groups, manage workflow expectations in hybrid or remote settings, and adapt leadership strategies to meet evolving demands. Gain practical tools to lead with clarity, foster team alignment and collaboration that enhances profitability.
Speaker:
Liane Soohoo
Director, Training & Development
Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Workshop A:
Outsourcing for Growth: Building Partnerships That Expand Your Capabilities
You don’t have to be a big company to take on big projects. Strategic outsourcing and the right partnerships can give sign and graphics businesses of any size a competitive edge. This session explores how outsourcing—from large format printing and design to fabrication and installation—can help you scale, streamline, and grow without overextending your internal team. Learn how to build reliable relationships with suppliers, designers, engineers, and installers to deliver exceptional results, enter new markets, and expand your service offerings. Whether you're just starting to outsource or looking to strengthen your existing network, this session will provide practical insights to help you grow smarter.
Speakers:
Francois Lussier | Senior VP, Business Development | Montreal Neon
Tim Monk | VP, National Accounts | CJ Graphics
Kris Voros | Co-Owner | Tops Lighting
David Atkinson | Co-Owner | Five Star Permits
Moderated by TBD
Workshop B:
From Concept to Completion: Stories Behind Award-Winning Signs
What does it take to create a truly standout sign? In this dynamic panel discussion, three BOCSI Award-winning sign companies pull back the curtain on the projects that earned them top honours. From the first spark of an idea to installation day, they’ll share the highs, lows, and key lessons learned along the way. Discover what made each project unique, how creative and technical challenges were overcome, and what ultimately led to their success. Whether you're looking for inspiration or practical insights, this is your chance to learn from the best in the business.
BOCSI Award Winning Projects Explored
Outdoor Digital 2023
Media Resources Inc.
Branded Cities (ON)
Sign Systems 2024
QUARTERHORSE SOLUTIONS
Brentwood Block PC (BC)
Digital Signage (indoor) 2024
NUMMAX
Nike West Edmonton Mall (AB)
Building Signs 2023
Pride Signs
Kineto Theatre (ON)
Moderated by Marika Gabriel | Editor | Sign Media Canada
Workshop C:
Essentials of Workplace Mental Health, presented by CAMH
This interactive session serves as a foundation for building mental health literacy in the workplace context. Participants are introduced to the spectrum of mental health, discuss prevalence and indicators of poor mental health, as well as the impacts of focusing on mental health in the workplace. For those unsure of how to communicate with peers surrounding topics of mental health, this workshop provides a framework to help guide the conversation. Topics center on the role and responsibility that peers, leadership, and organizations play in fostering a culture that promotes psychological health and safety, destigmatizes mental illness, and promotes early intervention and mental wellbeing.
A complimentary PDF review of the workshop will be provided to participants for future reference.
Learning objectives:
-
Understand the spectrum of mental health and the various risk factors that affect vulnerability
-
Recognize some of the common signs and symptoms in individuals who may be struggling with their mental health
-
Understand the business impact of not addressing employees' mental health
-
Recognize the role that organizations, leaders and colleagues play in reducing stigma and supporting employee’s mental health
Presented by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (“CAMH”)’s
Louisa Pike, B.Sc. B Ed.
Louisa is a skilled bilingual facilitator, passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for diverse audiences surrounding mental health, equity and inclusion. She has extensive experience in instructional design, program planning, and communications across the private and public sectors.
With her track record of sparking and maintaining engagement, Louisa is a committed advocate for workplace mental health, seeking to make an impact to organizations through education and awareness.
Friday, October 3, 2025 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Workshop A:
Build an Unstoppable Sales Machine
Have you found it difficult to increase sales? Struggling to reach new prospects, and generate new selling opportunities?
The solution is not to work harder, but to work smarter.
The tactical approaches to selling we’ve used in the past are no longer effective. We need to use value-centric prospecting to earn attention, get meetings and become the trusted advisor today’s customers are seeking.
In this presentation Shawn shares insights on what has changed about selling; what strategies are working to sell in today's economy, and what's not. He'll help you structure an effective strategy for launching an unstoppable stream of new sales opportunities.
Learning outcomes:
-
What's holding back your sales in today's economy
-
Why customers seek a trusted advisor to inform their buying preferences
-
Methods to earn attention and differentiate from competition
-
Introduce a value-centric method to speed up the sale
-
Steps to introducing your Unstoppable Sales Machine
Speaker
Shawn Casemore
Workshop B:
Ideas That Shine: From Sketchpad to Skyline
Explore the latest trends in signage design and technology while rethinking how materials are used to transform bold ideas into functional, eye-catching installations. This session dives into how designers can push creative boundaries by approaching products and substrates in new ways—supported by the expertise of fabricators, installers, and material specialists. Learn how successful projects move from sketchpad to skyline through collaboration, innovation, and a deep understanding of what’s possible in today’s sign landscape.
Session Panelists:
Monika Meyer | Creative Director | Entro
Timothy Belanger | Partner | MJMA
Robert Ascenzi Jr. | COO | Spectra Signs
Susan Mastrella | WSI
Presented in Partnership with SEGD
Closing Panel Discussion
Retail Trends Shaping the Sign Industry
As retail evolves, signage is no longer just about branding—it’s a strategic tool to attract, engage, and convert. Top retail experts will dive into how signage and branding can shape shopping behavior in a world of digital disruption and rising customer expectations.
What we'll explore:
-
Brick-and-Mortar Comeback – Why brands are doubling down on physical retail
-
The Blink Factor – Signage that stops, engages, and sells
-
Immersive Digital in Store – Blending tech with the physical experience
-
Retail Media Takes the Floor – Ads meet aisle
-
AI-Driven Signage – Right message, right moment
-
ROI that Matters – Tracking impact, adapting fast
This session shows how branding and signage isn’t just part of the retail story—it’s writing the next chapter.
Session Panelists:
Carl Boutet | Chief Strategist | StudioRX World
Craig Patterson | Founder & Publisher | Retail Insider Media Ltd.
Richard Dirstein, Principal | EVP, Creative & Innovation, SLD
Moderated by Susan Svotelis | Regional General Manager - Canada | Plaskolite