2025 CSA Annual Convention & Educational Conference
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED US FOR THIS YEAR’S CSA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE! WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT ALL OF YOU!
The 2025 CSA Annual Convention & Educational Conference just held in San Diego, August 20-22, represents the successful year had as CSA approaches the end of it’s fiscal year.
On Wednesday, August 20, the CSA 2025 Golf Tournament kicked off this year’s annual gathering! Plenty of networking, food and drinks, education, great camaraderie and fun!
GOLF BALL DROP!
Weather was beautiful and golfers were ready. Registration began at 7 a.m. and just prior to the shotgun start, many of the golfers participated in a Golf Ball Drop with a bucket full of numbered golf balls dropped from the basket of an Altec service truck over the green. The golf ball assigned to Golf Ball Drop participant, that landed in the designated hole, was awarded a cash prize of $650. Golfers headed to their assigned golf carts and off they went. Golf swings started!
BOWLING RECEPTION!
Following the Golf Tournament, the last meeting of the 2024-25 CSA Board of Directors took place that afternoon at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside, in San Diego, CA. On Wednesday evening, convention attendees headed over to East Village Tavern + Bowl, 930 Market Street, San Diego, CA, for the CSA Convention Welcome Reception. For those of you who have not yet had an opportunity to experience a CSA Convention Opening Party, it is something you don’t want to miss! A private room at the East Village facility was reserved by CSA for the evening. Six lanes were set aside for bowling, with plenty of open space available for networking, food and drinks, great camaraderie and fun!
EDUCATION SESSION #1
Thursday was action packed! Thursday, August 21, began with a seminar presentation, “Gotcha! Always Use Protection…! Internet Copyright Gotchas, Trademarks, Trolls & Tactics.” We were excited to have Teresa M. Young, President/CEO of Sign Biz® Inc., and CSA legal counsel, Jeffrey Aran, in an interactive, eye-opening, ear-turning seminar! Attendees discovered the NEW copyright frontier for all digital work and heard how sign shops have already been exposed. They learned what to watch for and how to protect their company from aggressive copyright trolls as they design and develop websites, materials, and contracts. A big THANK YOU to Teresa & Jeff for sharing your wealth of knowledge!
The next order of business was our annual membership meeting where President Michael Schmidt brought members up-to-date information on where CSA is and where it’s going. The election of the board of directors for the year 2025-26 was conducted, along with the election of next year’s officers: Immediate Past President Michael Schmidt (P.S. Services), 1st Vice President Neal Tibbs (Ad Art), 2nd Vice President Patrick Mulholland (Current Lighting), and Secretary/Treasurer Bob Shimmin (Montroy).
MEET THE ELITE!
The CSA 2025 General Membership Meeting moved quickly to a networking lunch, with an opportunity to “Meet the Elite”. CSA is proud to have ISA Elite Alumni as members and we were excited to have Ryan Drury (Pacific Neon), Patrick Mulholland (Current Lighting), Nick Wilson (Montroy), and Jackie Soria (Signtech Electrical Advertising), present an outline of the ISA Elite program and share their personal experiences. All in attendance enjoyed the fabulous food, exchanged how they are addressing business challenges, expanded on a great day on the golf course, shared excitement at last night’s opening party, and discussed current events and family.
VENDOR SHOWCASE!
Immediately following lunch, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Vendor Showcase opened with 30 exhibitors, that were delighted to share their products and services, and to spend time with existing as well as potentially new customers. A Scavenger Hunt was a great way for the Exhibitors to keep attendees engaged, as they pursued the NEW and INNOVATIVE product and services available. The Scavenger Hunt prizes were an added bonus!
2025-26 CSA OFFICERS/DIRECTORS!
Thursday’s activities concluded with the Annual Banquet, celebrating this year’s theme “GAME ON: CSA-Your Competitive Edge”; here, the 2025-26 CSA Officers and Directors were installed, the silent and live auction conducted, CSA awards for 2025-26 were announced, and the always exciting $10,000 Drawing was held. A special thank you is extended to Michael Schmidt’s wife Laura, and daughter Taylor, for the beautiful table decorations that truly complimented the night.
LAST DAY – EDUCATION SESSION #2
Friday began with breakfast and our second Education Session addressing Standardized Engineering: For Estimating & More. Our guest speaker, Brett Sauers, P.E., Reverence Engineering, brought engineering to life and outlined how standardized engineering can be utilized throughout various departments; Design, Permits, Estimating, and Project Management. A big THANK YOU to Brett for your sharing your knowledge and expertise!
Following the seminar, the first BOD Meeting for 2025-26 was conducted. Discussions of the newly elected Board included commitment, education, budget and calendar, and focused on goals for the new year.
EXPLORE SAN DIEGO!
Finally, to conclude the multi-day itinerary, it was off to lunch for fabulous Mexican food at Miguel’s restaurant across the street, and then explore San Diego leisurely on the famous San Diego Amphibious Tour, narrated with a fascinating and fun mix of trivia and stories, on the One-Of-A-Kind journey through both the city streets and the sparkling bay, unique “Hydra-Terra” amphibious vehicle. What an experience!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Friendships are built on shared experiences. Without active engagement and interaction with each other our bonds of camaraderie deteriorate. Associations dissolve as surely as neglected buildings do. After participating in events, celebrations and even small rituals, we remark how good it is to gather, and remember.