FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007

Gottwald To Lead Technical, Education Efforts For Top On-premise Sign Industry Group

Alexandria, VA - Veteran Washington association executive Richard Gottwald, CAE, has joined the International Sign Association (ISA), the nation’s major on-premise sign industry association, as vice president, Technical Affairs and Education. The Alexandria, Va.-based association represents approximately 2,600 manufacturers, users and suppliers of on-premise signs and sign products from all 50 state and 54 countries.

“Rich will play a key role in our plans to reposition ISA for the future,” said ISA President and CEO Lori Anderson. She noted that ISA is in a dynamic growth phase as it rolls out a new strategic plan to provide top quality, innovative new services to its members.

“His extensive background in the association field as a change agent with vision, technical expertise and demonstrated leadership, is a perfect match with ISA’s needs as we develop new programs,” said Anderson. “In his new role, Rich will also oversee our efforts to build capacity in ISA’s ability to respond to the complex technical and regulatory issues facing sign companies everywhere,” she said.

“ISA has a solid base of educational, technical and regulatory expertise within its staff and membership,” said Gottwald. “We will focus these assets to ensure we are proactively and effectively addressing the evolving needs of the sign industry. I am quite excited and confident about leveraging the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

A certified association executive (CAE) and graduate of the University of Lowell in Lowell, Mass., with a B.S. in Plastics Engineering, Gottwald was formerly executive vice president: finance, administration and standards program at the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. He previously served as president of the Washington, D.C.-based Plastics Pipe Institute, held several senior management positions at the Society of the Plastics Industry, and was a research engineer for Dow Chemical Company. Most recently, Rich founded The Gottwald Group, a boutique consulting firm offering issues management services to trade association and corporate clients.

The International Sign Association is a 2,600 member organization comprised of manufacturers, users and suppliers of on-premise signs and sign products from all 50 U.S. states and an additional 54 countries. ISA exists to support, promote and improve the sign industry, which sustains the nation’s retail industry.

International Sign Association (ISA)
707 North Saint Asaph St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-836-4012
E-Mail: laurie.kusek@signs.org
Website URL: www.signs.org