(CARROLLTON, Texas) July 27, 2016 - Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., will be inducted into Idealliance’s Soderstrom Society at the annual Soderstrom Awards Dinner on September 24 in Orlando, Florida, on the eve of the GRAPH EXPO 16.
The Soderstrom Society is an honors association that recognizes the outstanding contributions of professionals whose careers have advanced the printing and graphic communications industry. Monson is one of twelve industry leaders who will be inducted into the Soderstrom Society Class of 2016.
“I am honored to be selected as an inductee into this respected group of professionals,” said Monson. “This recognition is an opportunity to highlight the importance of the graphic communications industry and how we work together to continue advancing it for the future.”
A 30-year veteran of the print and visual communications industry, Monson is an accomplished executive and leader. Since joining FASTSIGNS in 2009, she has advanced the brand to be “more than” and helped it evolve into a leading visual ideas and comprehensive graphic communications solutions provider. Monson exercises that same commitment to the future of the graphic communications industry as a whole.
Under Monson’s leadership FASTSIGNS’ has continued to grow through the company’s Co-Brand program. Launched in 2012, the FASTSIGNS Co-Brand program offers independent business operators with print-related services the opportunity to add the FASTSIGNS brand and a full-suite of sign and visual graphic solutions, while continuing to own and operate their existing business by adding value for their customers and promoting long-term growth opportunities for their print businesses.
“Over the years, Soderstrom Society members have made many significant contributions to evolve and grow our industry,” said David J. Steinhardt, President and CEO of Idealliance. “Membership in the Society is clearly a mark of industry service, accomplishment and distinction.”
The Soderstrom Society is named for Walter E. Soderstrom, one of the founders of the National Association of Printing Leadership (NAPL), an Idealliance predecessor association. The Society’s origins date back to the 1930’s when membership was limited to NAPL members. Today, the society is represented by leaders from the industry-at-large including print, fulfillment, marketing service providers, journalists and educators.
About Catherine Monson
Catherine Monson is the CEO and President of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. She joined FASTSIGNS® in 2009 and has more than 30 years of franchising and management experience in sales and marketing, operations, development, training and advocacy. Monson is a past recipient of the International Franchise Association’s prestigious Bonny LeVine Award. She has been recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the top 25 Women Industry Leaders and an Innovator and an Influencer by Sign and Digital Graphics magazine. In 2012, Catherine appeared on the two-time Emmy Award-nominated reality series, Undercover Boss, to learn new ways to further advance the FASTSIGNS brand. In 2015, she received the inaugural Franchise Action Network FAN of the Year award for her advocacy work in the franchising community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the IFA, for the franchise company The Learning Experience®, for the franchise company Brain Balance, as well as the Board of Trustees of Pi Sigma Epsilon.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 615 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in nine countries including the US, Canada, England, Wales, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®).
FASTSIGNS centers provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including décor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214.346.5679).
###