Congressman Schweikert’s background as a tax assessor, real estate agent and property rights advocate provided him with a good background for understanding and appreciating the economic value of signs. But he learned even more about sign construction and the various technologies used in sign lighting as a result of his visit.

“I am proud to represent this fine manufacturing facility and the hardworking employees of YESCO as they continue to make signs to help Arizona’s businesses advertise and identify themselves,” said Congressman Schweikert. “It was a great opportunity to see YESCO’s talented artisans create the latest in LED technology as well as more traditional types of lighting like neon.”

Congressman Schweikert also spoke with many YESCO employees about Congress’s wrestle with reducing the country’s $15 trillion debt, improving the housing market in Arizona and making health care more affordable for employers.

Thanks for the visit, Congressman!

Hi all,

We’re making some changes to our office in Southern California that we wanted you all to be aware of. We’ll be relocating our sales, service and installation operations to better serve our customers in Southern California. We currently dispatch professionals and technicians from our San Bernardino facility, but with this change, we’ll dispatch from multiple locations throughout Southern California to reach our customers more efficiently. We’ll utilize our manufacturing facilities in neighboring states to produce signs for California.

“You can continue to expect the same level of service that you are accustomed to,” said Mike Young, President of Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO). “As a result of these changes, we will be closer to our customer base,” said Mike.

YESCO began operating in Southern California in 1987. “Southern California remains a very important market,” said John Williams, General Manager of YESCO. “Because of our size, experience, and diverse product offering, we are uniquely positioned to serve the diverse needs of this market,” said John.

If you need further information, feel free to contact Ken Person at 909-923-7668 or 800-99-YOUNG.

“[The training] exceeded our expectations by leaps and bounds,” said Paul Deters, YESCO’s first franchisee. “[We] are still buzzing about the great experience we had last week.”

The weeklong training included classroom instruction as well as plenty of hands-on interaction with the YESCO team.

“The technical instruction was fantastic, but knowing that we are part of such a diverse, talented and professional team is invigorating. We are more confident than ever that we are going to build a remarkable business in Michigan,” Paul said.

Courses included training in safety, national accounts, sales, American’s with Disabilities Association (ADA) signage and more. Franchisees got hands-on experience with service trucks and accompanied seasoned YESCO employees on service calls to existing customers.

In celebration of successfully completing the training, we all took a sign tour of the Las Vegas Strip with President Mike Young to see some of YESCO’s most iconic signs. We even got to climb to the top of the New York New York message center!

We’re looking forward to training our next group in the coming months.

YESCO, a local family sign business established in 1920, is headquartered in Salt Lake City. YESCO manages YESCO Outdoor Media and YESCO Electronics. YESCO Outdoor Media operates electronic billboards throughout Utah. YESCO Electronics is the largest provider of electronic billboards in the country and the sole provider of electronic billboards in Utah. YESCO Electronics’ sole manufacturing facility is located in in Logan, Utah.

In 2002, YESCO installed its first digital billboard in Salt Lake City along I-15. The business has since become a worldwide enterprise. “Despite the recession, our electronic billboard business has solidified and strengthened us as a Utah company,” said Michael Young, President of YESCO. “Because of the growth in the electronic billboard business, YESCO’s statewide presence has expanded over the past five years, with new manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake, Logan, and St. George,” he said. “YESCO works closely with the Utah Manufacturers Association and local communities, investing in model manufacturing facilities, providing good jobs, and nationally recognized quality products,” added Thomas Bingham, President of the Utah Manufacturers Association.

YESCO employs over 575 individuals in Utah and approximately 1,500 nationwide.

YESCO joined forces with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the FBI to provide AMBER Alerts, Most Wanted Ads, and other public service announcements on electronic billboards throughout the country. “Seconds count when an AMBER Alert is issued and electronic billboards are the best way and sometimes the only way to show motorists a picture of an abducted child. The Utah AMBER Alert Plan relies on these billboards to be available 24/7 so we can bring every abducted child home safely,” said Paul Murphy, Utah AMBER Alert Coordinator.

Electronic billboards are not allowed to flash or have any motion. “Electronic billboard advertisements must remain still for at least eight seconds according to state law and guidance from the Federal Highway Administration,” said Michael Wardle, Government Relations Manager for YESCO. “The brightness of electronic billboards is carefully controlled within regulatory constraints that we volunteered to impose on ourselves. We believe that the proper regulation of electronic billboards is important; but bans or de facto bans on any respected business are not good for the community,” he said.

Numerous traffic safety studies show that electronic billboards do not pose a threat to driver safety. Public opinion studies show that most individuals view electronic billboards favorably.

Some City officials have asserted that electronic billboards make Salt Lake City look like Las Vegas. “To compare a few electronic billboards in Salt Lake City to the numerous, large-scale, full-motion video signs in Las Vegas is an exaggeration,” said Rod Wardle, General Manager of YESCO Electronics, who oversees the installation of digital signs in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and other locations throughout the world. “The difference is obvious,” he said.

Jared Johnson, YESCO Outdoor Media’s Director of Real Estate has participated in numerous public meetings since the ban was proposed in late 2010. “We’ve worked diligently with the Salt Lake City Planning Commission to develop reasonable regulations for electronic billboards, but we haven’t made much progress. Based on my observation at the public hearings on this issue, there have been no complaints recorded, and therefore no justification for a ban or severe regulation,” he said.

A public hearing on Mayor Becker’s proposed ban will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 315, Council Chambers, City County Building, 451 South State, Salt Lake City, Utah.

April 1, 2011
For immediate release

Media contact:
Jared Johnson, YESCO Outdoor Media Director of Real Estate
(801) 464-6455
jjohnson@yesco.com

###

About YESCO

YESCO has been a family-owned provider of a full spectrum of sign and lighting products and services since 1920. YESCO provides custom signs of all types and sizes—from simple wayfinding plaques to towering, spectacular displays. YESCO Electronics manufacturers versatile, color LED signs and is the leading supplier of digital billboards in North America. YESCO Outdoor Media has approximately 1,700 billboards strategically located on major thoroughfares across 10 western states. For more information visit www.yesco.com.

Laura V. Sausedo of Intermountain Catholic has written a terrific article on the hall’s new signs. Check it out to find out more about the work the good people of Catholic Community Services are doing.

The sign is environmentally friendly, made with updated, more energy-efficient technology. Today’s LED displays consume substantially less power than first-generation LED signs.

The new Avondale Auto Mall sign replaces the old sign that was in place for about ten years. “It’s a great project,” says Daniel Davis, director of economic development for the City of Avondale. “The sign will be highly visible from Interstate 10, generating increased activity at the valley’s largest Auto Mall. Special credit should be given to the Avondale Auto Mall dealers for having the foresight and willingness to collaborate on this great project.”

Joe Gambino, president of the Avondale Auto Mall Dealers Association said, “The new display gives our individual dealers more visibility by allotting each of them, individually, a block of time on the sign.”

Since June 2010, Duane Wardle has been fulfilling the role of Division Manager at the YESCO Los Angeles division.

Duane served as YESCO’s vice president and CFO from 1979–2009, during which time he played an integral part in the rapid growth of the company in both size and complexity. In addition to earning the respect of his associates within YESCO, Duane has also gained the admiration of his colleagues in the financial world for his attention to detail and fiscal sharpness.

During Duane’s tenure with YESCO, he has developed and overseen countless projects, systems, procedures, and controls that have resulted in record-setting revenues and profits for the company. He has also made building his relationship with YESCO’s sales force a marked priority.

We’re pleased to have Duane acting as interim Division Manager while Steve Jones takes a leave of absence. We’re certainly looking forward to seeing what comes from Duane and all the hard-working members of the YESCO LA team in the coming years.

University of Utah block U on the front lawn of the YESCO corporate office

The YESCO corporate headquarters is five minutes from Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, so we thought it was a fitting salute to ESPN and the University of Utah.

Mike Young, President of YESCO, says, “This is just for fun. We love to support the Utes. We wish them well against TCU on Saturday. Go Utes!”

Congratulations on your election, Ed. We know you’ll represent YESCO and the city of Sparks well.

To read the interview, click here and scroll down until you see the large YESCO logo.