We’re Going Big in Texas
We are thrilled, proud, ecstatic and setting off recycled-confetti cannons as we announce that this past November, Harbinger added Tim O’Donnell onto the company letterhead as Executive Vice President.
Like Roger Williams, Tim is a second-generation sign man. Beginning his career in 1976 at Heath and Company in Los Angeles, Tim worked his way through the service and sales divisions, creating an impressive vendor base, developing a keen methodology for identifying qualified contractors and establishing tight client relationships. He’s lived the sign business from the ground all the way up to holding the higher positions of vice president, general manager, chief operating officer, president and chief executive officer. Not to mention, being involved in mergers and acquisitions to take a small company to $70 million a year, is no small feat. We are blown away by Tim’s experience.
Tim will be bringing his consult-style game to our new Dallas office. Cue more confetti! That’s right, dust of your boots because we’re going to Texas, y’all. Harbinger’s past tells us that we have a customer base that is west of the mighty Mississippi River and they need us to be a little closer.
The welcoming of Tim O’Donnell to create our western presence is key to Harbinger establishing a national first-class, dedicated service center that will allow us to bring life to our vision of providing an on-call vendor-partner service network, sign and lighting maintenance, LED and parking lot light retrofits, and energy management of your Harbinger products. Our Jacksonville headquarters will support our growing network to offer high-quality products anywhere in the U.S. at a fair price and with a strong support system to stand behind them.
Long-term, this comprehensive oversight of maintenance, repair and retrofit by Harbinger will benefit our clients by reducing major maintenance, repair and energy costs. We want you to get a positive return from your investment. Your business is important to you, and you are important to Harbinger’s business.
We are so happy for this New Year we are beaming … in low voltage, LED of course.
Sign Industry Sales Veteran Joins Harbinger
Harbinger, a national sign and lighting firm that specializes in fabrication, value engineering and project management, has hired Don Nagel as vice president, west region. Nagel has more than 20 years experience in national sales, with more than half of that in the sign industry.
In this role, Nagel is responsible for new business initiatives including developing national accounts and establishing an office in Dallas, where he currently resides, to increase the company’s presence in the western region. His location also enables closer ties to one of Harbinger’s business alliance companies, Dallas-based FutureMedia Displays.
“Don’s sales expertise and in-depth knowledge in the sign industry is a real asset to our company as we continue to expand our client base nationwide and increasingly serve multi-location c-store, foodservice and retail customers,” said Steve Williams, president of Harbinger.
Most recently, Nagel served as director of sales and marketing for the non-profit organization Citizens Development Center. Prior to that he held various roles throughout his career with General Sign Company in Missouri, Dallas-based Suntec Industries, and Mighty Equipment Company and Allen Displays in Nashville, Tenn.
Sign Scholarship Available to Downtown Jacksonville Organizations
Harbinger, a national sign engineering and manufacturing firm, has launched its “Sign of the Future: Signage Scholarship” program for small and start-up organizations based in Jacksonville, Fla. The program will provide pro-bono signage valued up to $2,000 to a select applicant.
With an initial focus on Downtown Jacksonville, organizations located in the Northbank Core are invited to submit a brief application explaining how their company or group will benefit from receiving a signage scholarship. The scholarship recipient will receive “storefront” signage designed, manufactured and installed by Harbinger.
“Community involvement and giving back is ingrained in our company culture from the days when my grandfather founded Harbinger nearly 50 years ago in Jacksonville,” explained Steve Williams, president of Harbinger. “Signage is vital to the marketing and branding of an organization, and we want to give deserving businesses in our hometown the opportunity to really stand out through custom, professional signage.”
Applications are being accepted now through Friday, May 13, 2011 via an online form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/67HMBKM. Interested candidates also may contact Jaimie DeVries at JDeVries@harbingersign.com for information. The winner of the signage scholarship will be announced on Friday, June 3, 2011.
Harbinger President Joins ISA Board of Directors
The International Sign Association announced Steve Williams, president of Harbinger, as one of six industry leaders to recently join its Board of Directors.
New Online Customer Portal Enhances Communication, Streamlines Sign Installation Projects
Harbinger, a national sign engineering and manufacturing firm, is introducing an online customer portal to better serve its multi-location clients. Through the portal, customers in the retail, convenience store, grocery and foodservice industries with multiple locations and simultaneous sign installation projects will have access to real-time project updates and status, among other features. The online portal is currently being tested and is scheduled to launch Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.
Using a client login on Harbinger’s website, customers will have access to quotes, inventory, drawings of sign mock-ups and graphics, project and order history, invoices, and project status. As well, some multi-location clients may have access to customized approved-product catalogs, especially for those with franchises where it is important for the franchise owners to select from signage options that meet corporate brand standards.
“An increasing number of customers ask us to manage their signage installation or sign retrofitting programs nationwide. For example, we are retrofitting signage in more than 1,750 locations for one customer,” explained Steve Williams, president of Harbinger. “By investing in the technology to most efficiently manage these projects, Harbinger can continue to meet customer expectations while streamlining our internal processes.”
Harbinger will offer the service free to clients that meet certain criteria. The company expects the online portal will further streamline its internal processes by serving as a central location for project and customer information.
Harbinger Showcases Newest LED Sign Technology at NACS Show
For the first time, Harbinger will be exhibiting its LED lighting retrofit system and offering a free signage energy comparison at its booth (#776) during the NACS Show, Oct. 6-8, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Using sign cabinet displays, Harbinger will showcase the latest LED technology for illuminating exterior signs and will demonstrate its LED retrofitting process for existing signage.
Environmentally friendly LED lighting is available in all of Harbinger’s signage, and the company is a leader in the creation of double-faced, LED-illuminated pylon signs. Harbinger was the first to implement LEDs in these types of signs, which are most commonly used by convenience stores, gas stations, grocery chains and restaurants. The use of LED lights provides significant reductions in carbon footprints and an estimated 60 to 80 percent in energy costs.
LED solutions that will be featured include double-faced pylon signs, channel signs, under canopy lighting, building wash lighting, parking lot illumination, and freezer lights.
Harbinger also will display digital gas price signage technology. By partnering with FM, Harbinger can provide to clients the largest selection of digit sizes and available fonts including those approved by most major oil companies. As well, the signage is a modular design with only four components per sign – LED panel, RF receiver, power supply and control unit – and software-controlled security.
Visitors to Harbinger’s booth also can register for a complimentary signage energy and maintenance comparison audit. By analyzing items such as the number of locations, current maintenance costs of signs and types of signs and illumination, Harbinger creates an energy and maintenance comparison that will gauge the projected energy and maintenance savings per sign that could be realized if LED lighting technology is used.
Leading National Sign Manufacturer Rebrands Itself, Launches New Website
Quality Sign Company, a national sign manufacturing company serving some of the nation’s most recognizable multi-location brands, has a new image and name -- Harbinger. Meaning “sign of the future,” Harbinger reflects the company’s rich, 48-year-history while establishing a new brand identity system to better express its forward-thinking approach.
“As we’ve continued to grow and expand nationally, we wanted a name that showcases our commitment to innovative, lasting and cost-effective solutions,” said Steve Williams, president of Harbinger. “Our new name promises what our company has always stood for—a more intelligent signage program from a proven organization.”
Harbinger has launched a new website to coincide with the rebranding. The site features advanced navigation and speed, an enhanced portfolio gallery and detailed information on Harbinger’s expertise, including environmentally friendly signage and lighting, multi-location signage programs and custom large-scale sign fabrication.
Environmentally friendly LED lighting is available in all of Harbinger’s signage, and the company is a leader in the creation of double-faced, LED-illuminated pylon signs. Harbinger was the first company to implement LEDs in these types of signs, which are most commonly used by convenience stores, gas stations and restaurants. Recently, they worked with longtime client, 7-Eleven, to create green LED signage for all the convenience store chain’s new, standard locations across the country. The use of LED lights in these signs will mean significant reductions in carbon footprints and an estimated 60 to 80 percent in energy costs. Harbinger also uses low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and provides complimentary energy audits.
Harbinger specializes in multi-location signage, creating products that remain true to a customer’s design standards while also differentiating them from competition. This is achieved through in-depth consultation, planning and coordination with the customer. These efforts are supported by Harbinger’s nationwide service network. The company is licensed to operate in all states and provides efficient installation and brand consistency on every site.
The sign manufacturer also has extensive experience in custom, large-scale sign fabrication. They have worked with brands like Pepsi to produce creative and compelling, single-location signage, such as a12-foot-tall Pepsi bottle and corresponding 16-foot-diameter rotating sphere, used in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams, an accomplished artist, anticipates that custom fabrication projects will continue to be a focus for Harbinger.
“As large-scale art fabricators across the country are, unfortunately, closing their doors, there are fewer choices for companies seeking customized art and architectural fabrication,” Williams said. “We will continue to meet the complex needs of this market by marrying artistic expertise with innovative design engineering and manufacturing techniques.”
Though “quality” has been removed from the company name, it remains a key principal of Harbinger. Harbinger uses the highest quality materials to create products that last. This includes high-quality vinyl, high-impact acrylic paints to keep colors bright, and seamless fabrication for strength and durability.