Day at the Races — Bing Crosby Season
Thirty-seven CSA members and staff attended the races on Nov. 16 at Del Mar Racetrack, located in Del Mar, California. Entrance fee, a program, the CSA-sponsored Six Race, a picture in the winner’s circle for two and a fabulous buffet lunch all were included in the CSA Event Package. Pictured Right: The horse and jockey in the photo, are the “win” from CSA’s Race 6.
Two from our group (CSA sponsors; Dennis Lytle, Federal Heath and Brandon Damato, N Glantz) watched the race from the “winners circle”, then had their photo taken.
With the help of our two sponsors — one $1,300 sponsor (Federal Heath) and one $500 sponsor (N Glantz & Son) — this CSA SoCal event was a huge success. THANK YOU!
We couldn’t have asked for a better day. The weather was perfect, the track was fast, and the beverages and conversation started flowing at 11 a.m. After the pledge of allegiance and acknowledgement of our veterans in attendance, lunch was served at 11:30 a.m., and first post was 12:30 p.m. Betting was active, and cheering for favorite horses was lively and loud, with networking and camaraderie shared by all.
“Let’s do it again next year!”
In Memoriam: Charles Barnard
Charles Barnard, a masterful Stockton sign artist whose scintillating and spectacular creations helped turn Las Vegas into a supremely dazzling destination, died Monday, October 23, 2017. He was 89.
Barnard, who worked for the Stockton firm Ad Art for 36 years, 23 years as executive art director, passed away peacefully at home.
“We believe he was one of the great sign designers,” Cynthia Behr Warso of the Neon Museum of Las Vegas said. “Not just of his era. We think his work stands the test of time.”
Charles F. “Chuck” Barnard was born in Glendale in 1928. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. After serving in the U.S Army from 1948-51, working in Southern California, and marrying, Barnard moved to Stockton in 1957 to work for Scott Bros. advertising. In 1965 he joined the design staff at Ad Art, Inc.
Ad Art then was an upstart advertising company breaking into the intense competition to create ever-larger and more brilliant signs for Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The signs, lightwork and architecture that they designed and fabricated were phenomenal. Barnard designed the concept for Vegas’ 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower; the New Orleans Superdome’s 200-foot mega-sign; and the Reno Arch.
Barnard’s scintillating and sophisticated port cochere for The Aladdin.
In the 1990s, Barnard cut back on his hours and stepped down as art director to author the Bible of Vegas neon, “The Magic Sign.” The book captures the excitement of the feverish competition, incendiary creativity and round-the-clock work that went into designing and fabricating Vegas signs. In the text, Barnard displays his modesty, celebrating rival designers and sometimes mentioning his work last.
Barnard’s friend, Steve Wynn, thought that typical. In the forward to “The Magic Sign,” the casino magnate behind resorts such as The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio, wrote in 1993:
“His work in Las Vegas and elsewhere powerfully establishes his credentials as … the most recognized and creative man in this singular profession today.”
Barnard fathered four children. The youngest, Kim Barnard, called his father “a great dad, a wonderful human being and a person I’ve been aspiring to be as good as all my life.” “He really did set a milestone,” Kim Barnard said. “And he did it naturally. He didn’t try. He did everything with a level of perfection, and humility.”
Barnard retired in 2001. At the 2005 Centennial of Las Vegas, city officials presented him The Fabulous Neon Award “for illuminating Las Vegas to the World.”
In retirement, Barnard traveled and painted. He was working on an updated edition of “The Magic Sign” when he took ill.
Inside Look: Sign Manufacturing Day 2017
Cabrillo and Lakewood High Schools Explore Sign Manufacturing
Sign Manufacturing Day brought together the experts at Superior Electric Advertising with the curious minds of high school students from Cabrillo and Lakewood High Schools. Two tours of 25 students each were crafted to give students a close up view of the complete sign operation. Hosted on October 5th, this was Superior Electrical Advertising’s first time participating in ISA’s (International Sign Association) annual Sign Manufacturing Day and the team at Superior really loved it. Following the first tour, four students asked for a job! Of course they had some really fun stuff on the production floor along with many brand names they recognized, giving them a true sense of the impact of this industry. Continue Reading
SoCal Membership Event in Del Mar 2017!
Join us as Thoroughbred athletes and world class jockeys take to the track for the most exciting 2 minutes in sports! Del Mar Race Tracks, Where CSA Comes to Play! Join sign industry professionals, both members and non-members, for an event to highlight camaraderie and networking! Marvel as the Thoroughbreds dance on “toes” as they are led from the paddock to the track. Watch as the trainers saddle and prepare for the race. Listen as the bugler sounds the call to post. Before you know it, the caller is heard from every corner of the park “racing” and the horses are off dashing for the finish line.
The horses thunder down the stretch towards the finish line – CSA Members can’t help but stand up screaming encouragement. As the horses reach the wire, we erupt into victory hugs and high-fives all around. All part of the amazing fun!
Del Mar racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 mi north of San Diego. Meet us there! 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA 92014
- No Host Cocktails: 11:00am-12:00 Noon
- Lunch-Network-Races: Noon – 4:00pm
Package Includes: Entrance, Program and Lunch
Sponsorship Packages Available! Click Here for PDF
Book Online OR Download PDF Here
“Great vibe, good races. The amenities are fantastic.” 
“Really nice race track with really good food and really good beer. .”
NorCal Seminar, Dinner and Presentation Oct 12, 2017
Education Seminar, Network & Dinner Meeting at Holiday Inn
Education Session: 3:30 – 5:30 PM:
Meet our guest speaker, Mike Sullaway PE, as he brings Standardized Engineering to life and outlines how it can be utilized through your departments: Design, Permits, Estimating, and Project Management!
Michael F. Sullaway, P.E., President and CEO of Sullaway Engineering, Inc. is a 1985 graduate of the prestigious Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering. He has over 30 years’ experience in the design of international bridge projects, nuclear containment structures, steel pedestrian bridges, post-tension concrete foundations, parking structures, commercial and residential buildings, remodels and retaining walls. In 2009, Sullaway co-founded Sullaway Engineering, Inc., a nationwide structural engineering firm and recognized leader in the sign and awning industries for providing structural analysis and stamped structural engineered drawings and calculations for projects throughout the United States and Canada. Sullaway holds professional engineering licenses in 48 states, including the District of Columbia, and has affiliate engineers licensed in Alaska, Hawaii and Canadian provinces.
No Host Cocktails: 5:45pm – 6:45pm
6:45 – 9:00 PM: Dinner and Presentation following the Seminar:
Sip on some-thing cold to drink, with an opportunity to network with fellow CSA Members. Then it’s time to experience some fabulous food and a presentation on Signs Americana by Heather David. Heather is the author of Motel California and is the Who’s Who historian of the sign industry in northern California! Be inspired by your Signage History!
Register online – see link above (includes option for PDF form)
CONNECT: A Conference to Remember
The first CSA Educational Conference of the new, six-year plan was phenomenal!
Hosted Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 23-25, at the Ontario Convention & Airport Hotel in Ontario, the emphasis was on education. From the first swing of the golf clubs, to the last enlightening seminar, the 2017 conference was memorable! Continue Reading
CSA FISHING TRIP 2017
EXCURSION IMMERSION
CSA’s 15th voyage found first mate Joann Quiel with a new captain on board! Stalwart Captain Gary Quiel was unable to hit the water on Aug. 12, so CSA board member Randy Crossno stepped up to the plate! Forty-five anglers booked the trip, and forty actually boarded the Clemente at 5 a.m. The following is commentary from Randy Crossno:
“We decided to take the long trip to Catalina, due to the questionable catch off the coast in the preceding two days, especially when the captain announced over the PA that “zero fish were caught yesterday.”
On our way out, like CSA’s previous years’ fishing excursions, we were once again escorted by the friendly dolphins– but it was a short visit when they realized Captain Gary Quiel was not on board. They sent their best to the Quiel Family and headed north.
Arriving off the Catalina Shore at 9:30 a.m., lines were dropped and our first catch that was immediately caught was a nice size yellowtail. We continued to fish until 1:30 p.m. bringing in yellowtail, bass, bonita, and barracuda, with the “Big Catch of the Day” by Jose Abundez, Team RNS!
We arrived back to the dock at 6 p.m. It was a great group and a beautiful day on the water!
A special shout-out goes to Richard Pando, RNS Channel Letters, Co-Captain for the day. Hope to see everyone next year!”
CONNECT: Connections + Education for Sign Trade Professionals
The first CSA Educational Conference of the new, six-year plan is scheduled to take place Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 23-25, at the Ontario Convention & Airport Hotel in Ontario.
Consistent with the goals of the CSA Board, the emphasis this year will be on education. With the finishing touches being put on the enhanced training (STEPS) program, the conference provides a good opportunity to kick off this ambitious program for the 2017-18 CSA year. Teeing off with golf, you will make new connections that boost your business. Then soak up knowledge, hang with movers and shakers at the dinner event, and leave with batteries charged! Participation in the 2017 conference is sure to be memorable! READ AND REGISTER HERE. Continue Reading
First CSA Certified Crane Operator Class
FROM CLASSROOM TO CRANE
CSA’s first training class to become a Certified Crane Operator took place July 20-22 at Quiel Brothers Electric Sign Company, located in San Bernardino, CA.
Gary Quiel, CSA Director Emeritus, along with his brothers Larry and Jerry, hosted this event for CSA. ALTEC provided the crane used during testing at no charge to the association – A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!
David Shelley (Crane Care Operations), along with his son John, conducted the classroom training as well as the practical training and actual testing on the crane. This was conducted over a full day on Thursday and Friday, plus a Saturday morning; an NCCCO proctor conducted the written exam on Saturday afternoon.
All candidates in attendance stated they thought the training was very well done. Dave Saudargas with Quiel Brothers added, “The instructors were excellent – we couldn’t ask for more.”
“The instructors were excellent – we couldn’t ask for more.”
The candidates are anxiously awaiting their results from the 3-part practical and 2-part written tests– “a little nervous,” they indicated. David and John were extremely pleased with the efforts put forth by the attendees and worked very hard with them, individually and as a group, to assure they would be safe crane operators AND pass both exams.
It will take up to two weeks before the results of the exam will be published.
Future classes will be conducted at Superior Electrical Advertising, Pacific Neon, CNI Signmakers, Sign Designs, AD/S – Architectural Design & Signs, CNP Signs & Graphics, as well as an additional class at Quiel Brothers.
For further information on the CSA Certified Crane Operator Classes, look on the CSA Website or contact Cheryl Flahive, Dir. of Member Services: cflahive@calsign.org
In Memoriam: Raymond Quiel
It is with a very heavy heart that we share with you the passing of CSA Director Emeritus Ray Quiel, Quiel Brothers Electric Sign Company. Raymond V. Quiel passed away on July 6, 2017 in San Bernardino, CA. He was 90 years old. Ray was born in Des Moines, IA and traveled to San Bernardino with his mother and 5 brothers when he was 3 years old. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Sturges Middle, and San Bernardino Highschool, was a Navy veteran, founded and co-owned, with his brother Gordon, Quiel Brothers Electric Sign Co and Stardust Roller Rink. Quiel Brothers Signs began operating in 1961 with the erection of a 5,000 square foot facility. Ray Quiel started out with just one employee and one truck under the name Electric Sign Service. That beginning paved the way for a multi-generation family business that has left its very visible mark in thousands of places across the Inland region.
He also owned the Brass Key with his wife. He was heavily involved with the California Sign Association, National Sign Association, and World Sign Association. Ray was a longtime member of the CSA Board of Directors, having served as president in 1982; he was elevated to serve as a Director Emeritus in 1994.
Ray was involved in so many CSA activities it would be hard to enumerate all of them; the one activity he took the greatest pride in was being the person who managed the publication of the yearly CSA Directory for many, many years.
Another of his many achievements was the first McDonald’s signs at the original location on E street. Ray traveled to the four corners of the world and enjoyed vacationing with his wife, family and friends. Ray was a longtime member of the Elks and Arrowhead Country Club. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret L. Quiel, brothers Lawrence, Marvin, Gordon and Norwald. He is survived by his brother Robert, sons Larry (Tammy), Jerry (Mary) and Gary (Joanne) of San Bernardino, grandchildren, Ashley, Michael, Kristina, Kimberly, Erik and 7 grandchildren.
Ray Quiel took this picture of the Mcdonald brothers in front of the first Mcdonalds. The photo was later donated to the Smithsonian.
A viewing will be held July 20, 2017 at 5-7:00 p.m. with a funeral service on Friday July 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. both at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel 1299 E. Highland Ave San Bernardino, CA 92404. A graveside service will follow at Montecito Memorial Park in Colton. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Ray’s honor to Inland Empire Lighthouse for the Blind, 359 E. Parkcenter Circle South San Bernardino, CA 92408. A form is available here: Inland Empire Lighthouse for the Blind