In the spirit of celebrating 20 years in the awning and sign industry, our executive team has compiled a list of 20 lessons learned over this period that have helped us reach this major milestone.

These lessons were provided by Tom Armstrong, Founder and CEO; Rick Hunt, President; and Cassie Easton, Director of Operations.

1. Try to surround yourself with smart people who have drive and ambition and are problem solvers. "Don't tell me you can't, tell me how you can."

   
   

2. Learn how to listen to others and encourage others to be involved and contribute ideas. You’ll be surprised at what you will learn.

   
   

3. Treat others as you would want to be treated: be fair and honest with them. This will go a long way to building a strong and successful business.  

   
   

4. The best leaders are those who inspire and lead by example, not fear. 

   
   

5. Remember that change is the only thing constant in life.  Be open to suggestions and be willing to try new things.

   
   

6. Lead by example. A good manager can unlock others' potential by challenging them to do more than they thought they could.  Give them the tools to do their job and support them as needed. 

   
   

7. Good management does not need to remind people they are in charge.

   
   

8. Repeated mistakes are more a reflection of a lack of management and leadership. 

   
   

9. Those who are the smartest ones in the room need to find a new room. Those who claim to be the smartest one in the room need to be shown the door. 

   
   

10. Don't rely on common sense and assumptions. Rely on clear and concise directions/processes and ensure they are defined and understood by all. 

    
    

11. Always have a check-and-balance system in place for ALL staff members. It's not a matter of trust; it's a matter of security and transparency. 

    
    

12. Define the company's standards clearly and hold everyone accountable to meet those standards. 

    
    

13. Data needs to work for you. Develop processes and systems that are measurable, so you can understand your strengths and weaknesses.

    
    

14. Retention is built on trust. People stay where they feel heard, supported, and valued.

    
    

15. Consistent communication, transparency in decisions, and follow-through matter more than incentives alone.

    
    

16. Small wins deserve recognition. Celebrating progress, not just big milestones, builds momentum and keeps teams engaged during high-pressure seasons.

    
    

17. Culture is shaped in moments of stress. How leaders respond to problems, missed deadlines, upset clients, internal mistakes, defines our culture more than mission statements do. 

    
    

18. Growth requires letting go of "how we've always done it". Scaling from a small team to a structured organization requires redefining roles, accountability, and expectations.

    
    

19. Buy-in, expectations, and accountability drive a successful organization. You can't have just one and expect good results; it requires all three.

    
    

20. Plan for the future, and don't get stuck in a perpetual cycle of playing catch-up.