Our Design Staff
Andrea is a formally trained (graphic/print) designer with over 15 years experience in the sign, design, marketing, manufacturing, & print industries.
Andrea - Owner
After graduating from Bishop Fenwick High School, I started college in accounting (to be like my Dad), changed to mechanical engineering, moved to CAD/CAM, then discovered & finished in Graphic Design. During my (lengthy) college career, I worked in all sorts of industries from many positions at Fidelity Investments, to pharmacy technician, to (movable type and 4 color web press) printing & bindery, to marketing, to machinist & welder, to auto parts sales, to photographer, to musician, to fine artist.
Of course, every college student is required by some unwritten law to work as a waiter, and to deliver pizzas. These require hard work with long hours, but teach appreciation and working knowledge of the food industry. The other jobs range from fast-paced & deadline-based, to technically and detail intensive, physically challenging, creatively motivated, and having to deal with the public. This also helps in the sign & print business to design & output viable products for our customers in these fields. Though not in any specific order, my endeavors have shown me quite a wide gamut of industries, how they work, and most importantly-the skill to deal with all sorts of people. I excelled in math, physics, English (literature & grammar), art history, 3D art, and my minor was philosophy. With my diverse & eclectic experience, I am a product of the technical, logical, and creative schools of thought...very beneficial to our business-which has customers in wide variety of industries. We've also helped individuals needing varied event specific items, and one-of-a-kind projects. Leeanne - Cohort We were very fortunate to have Leeanne walk in one (very busy) day and ask if we were hiring. I had every intention of just getting her résumé & looking it over later. BUT, my Mom was there & kept her occupied while I dealt with the customers. I finished. Leeanne was still there. I'm so glad! We spoke briefly, and I showed her around. I asked the standard questions, and she said she was going to school for Graphic Design-after having worked in the same place for 18 years. There, she was Manager, Marketing Aficionado, and Store/ Display/Window Designer, and was looking for a "mentor" of sorts, (as well as keeping herself busy while her 2 children were in school). She made the mistake of saying she wasn't afraid of hard work, or trying/learning just about anything. GREAT! I said I had to get back to work, and she asked if she could stick around to watch, and maybe offer some perfunctory help. EVEN BETTER! She made a call home, and stayed. The rest, as we say, is history. Leeanne has lived up to her promises of being a fast learner, and eager to try anything...and with success, I might add. Although no one knows a business like its owner, Leeanne is running a close second & has become an invaluable asset to Signs Plus. Everything happens for a reason.
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