Meet our team of dedicated professionals leading the way for advancements in the sign industry.
Chair
Owner, Signarama Silver Spring & Signarama DC North
Stacey Brown is a visual communications leader and entrepreneur who helps businesses turn ideas into visible, impactful brand experiences. She is the Owner and Chief Image Builder of Signarama Silver Spring and Signarama DC North, where she takes a consultative approach to signage and branding rooted in business and marketing strategy.
With more than 20 years of experience in project management, business operations, and marketing, Stacey is known for leveraging signage as a powerful branding and engagement tool. Her perspective is shaped by earlier corporate experience at Mars, Incorporated and an MBA from the University of Maryland.
A frequent industry speaker and educator, Stacey has presented at ISA International Sign Expo and has taught visual branding as an adjunct professor at Prince George’s Community College. She is also active in her local business community, serving in leadership roles with regional chambers and business organizations.
Secretary/Treasurer
Project Manager, Ashton Design
Elizabeth (Liz) Griswold is a seasoned leader, practitioner, and passionate advocate for Experiential Design.
She is a Project Manager at Ashton Design, overseeing a diverse portfolio of projects and initiatives for the firm. Prior to Ashton Design, Liz held pivotal roles leading Experiential Design markets at two A/E firms, earning a total of 28 design awards throughout her tenure. Most recently, she was Director of Education and Experience at SEGD, where she shaped event programming and professional development for the experience design community.
Past Chair
Managing Director, Consumer Goods & Service, JLL
Sarah Wexler is a recognized retail design leader, corporate retail executive and LEED Accredited Professional.
At Foot Locker, she leads the brand’s global storefront signage & branding initiatives. Prior to Foot Locker, Sarah led global store design for Under Armour.
Sarah understands how to navigate the intricacies of signage regulations in the multitude of spaces represented by her brands — whether on city streets, in shopping & outlet malls, and in shop-in-shop environments — to provide clarity on best practices and effectiveness, ensuring both design intent and quality are maintained across the variety of sign types.
Board Member
Director of Architecture & Design, Denny's
Thais Bohli is a licensed architect and Director of Architecture & Design at Denny’s, where she leads design strategy and oversees restaurant development across multiple national brands.
With over 20 years of experience in high-volume retail and restaurant programs, she specializes in scalable, brand-driven environments and the integration of signage and visual identity. She brings a systems-level approach to design delivery, translating brand vision into repeatable prototypes that support efficient multi-unit rollouts.
Thais works closely with cross-functional teams to align design, operations, and construction, supporting consistent and adaptable brand execution across diverse markets.
She is NCARB certified, a member of the AIA, and was recently confirmed to serve on the Maryland State Board of Architects.
Board Member
Director, AGI
Manish (MJ) Jaisinghani is a strategic leader in branding and the built environment, with expertise spanning manufacturing, design, engineering, operations, and global sourcing.
As Director of Brand/Design Standards and Global Sourcing at AGI, MJ drives global sourcing strategy while ensuring brand consistency across complex, multi-market programs. He translates brand vision into immersive physical experiences that shape the customer journey, partnering closely with design, engineering, and supply chain teams to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions.
Previously, MJ held senior roles at Principle Global, leading large-scale domestic and international retail rollouts across signage, graphics, and furniture/millwork—consistently bridging design intent with execution.
Certified in Six Sigma and Kaizen, MJ is known for driving continuous improvement, enhancing efficiency, and elevating quality across organizations.
Board Member
Deputy Director, Senior, City of Richmond
Leonard (Leo) A. Mantey is a municipal planning and development professional with extensive experience in zoning, development review, and land use regulation.
He currently serves as Deputy Director of Development Review for the City of Richmond, where he oversees zoning administration, manages development review processes, and coordinates interdepartmental collaboration on complex development projects.
Previously, Leo held planning and strategic operations roles across multiple Texas municipalities, including the City of Fort Worth. He is widely recognized for his expertise in sign ordinance interpretation and application, providing clear guidance to developers, businesses, and municipal staff navigating complex regulatory requirements.
Board Member
On-Premise Market Manager, Daktronics, Inc.
Board Member
CEO, Future Sign Company
Brenda Velázquez is the CEO of Future Sign Company, with more than 20 years of experience in the sign industry working with both local and national partners.
Brenda is known for her collaborative and creative approach, shaped by decades of hands-on experience navigating evolving codes, complex projects, and challenging industry conditions. While she has many success stories to share, she credits the lessons learned through tough situations and change as the experiences that have driven the greatest growth for her and her team.
Through her leadership at Future Sign Company and her service on the SRF Board of Trustees, Brenda is committed to sharing insights, collaborating with peers, and contributing practical, creative ideas that help strengthen and advance the sign industry.
Executive Director, SRF
Sapna Budev is a visionary strategic leader who brings a vast awareness of academic research and educational resource development to her role.
As the Executive Director of the Sign Research Foundation, she establishes and oversees the Foundation’s program, financial, and operational goals; guides the creation and implementation of the strategic plan, and represents the Foundation before key constituencies. Previously, Sapna served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the International Sign Association (ISA).
Her interest in academic research was launched when she partnered with the Sign Research Foundation to spearhead the 2013 joint publication of the Urban Wayfinding Planning and Implementation Manual. This research produced a series of webinars and workshops which educated over 2,000 planners and downtown managers on the concepts surrounding complex wayfinding systems and projects.
Director, SRF Programs and Research
Michel Williams is Director of SRF Programs and Research, where she leads the strategy, development, and execution of research and resources for the Sign Research Foundation.
At SRF and the International Sign Association (ISA), Michel has led major initiatives including technology and data system implementations, website modernization, and new resources such as the Signage Visibility Calculator and online courses.
With deep experience in association program and project management, Michel is known for turning complex goals into well-managed, actionable initiatives. Her work focuses on revitalizing SRF’s research pipeline while expanding how research is delivered through practical tools, data-driven resources, and accessible learning formats, ensuring SRF research not only gets produced, but gets used.
We are grateful to our former board trustees who built SRF into the Foundation we have today.
- Grady Brown, iZone Imaging (2017-2020)
- Keith Davis, KRD Design (2019-2022)
- Anne DePalma, 3M Commercial Solutions Division (2017-2021)
- Max Fulton, Alvarez & Marsal (2019-2025; Sec/Treas, 2023-2025)
- Ted Kiper, Cardosi Kiper Design Group (2016-2021; Chair, 2019-2020; Sec/Treas, 2017-2018)
- Wendy Moeller, Compass Point Planning (2015-2018)
- Matthew Shad, City of Cincinnati (2018-2023; Chair, 2022-2023)
- Judy Walton, Simon Property Group (2016-2021; Chair, 2021; Sec/Treas, 2020)
- Deacon Wardlow, Spectacular Media (2017-2019; Sec/Treas, 2019)
- Mandy Wisner, Southern Signs Inc. (2021-2022)
- John Yarger, North American Signs, Inc. (2015-2018; Chair, 2017-2018)
