FROM THE BRIGHTON STANDARD BLADE ARTICLE: Woman-owned business wins sign industry honors
National sign makers group honors Brighton businesswoman
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Brighton-based entrepreneur Dawn Homa opened her sign-making franchise in 2006, she wasn’t seeking a pat on the back. But that’s what she’s getting now, thanks to a national sign industry magazine and their award program. Homa won the Spurred Innovation Award from the National Women in Signs contest. The contest is honoring five woman-led sign-making companies out of 150 nominees nationwide and in Canada, according to a news release. The contest is sponsored by Signs of the Times Magazine, a monthly publication covering the sign industry, news, and technology. Judges for the “Spurred Innovation” award considered a sign company’s documented growth and how the business made a significant positive impact in a highly competitive field.
“It was extremely humbling. It’s nice to be nominated but it’s amazing to win,” Homa said. “Especially when I met the other women. They are amazing and have done so much in the industry. Sometimes you work so hard and build your team, and you don’t really think about recognition,” Homa said. According to the magazine, Homa employed a novel marketing strategy that led to a 30 percent growth in each of the last three years.
Homa moved to Colorado in 1993, and she and her husband Jack moved to Brighton in 2000, then relocated her Signarama business to Brighton from Lakewood in 2010. She volunteers her time with the Hobo Boxer Rescue.
Homa has always loved design, interior decorating, sales, and marketing. It inspired her to use her creative talents to start a sign and branding business. “I left Corporate America in 2006 and bought my Signarama, which is a franchise and they have a proven business model, “Homa said. “I really love being on my own and building this business. It has been so rewarding both professionally and personally to help other businesses and people see their branding vision come to life.” Not only does her team create artistic signs, but they also design history walls and employee recognition walls. Homa said schools, non-profits, and businesses want to share their history. “Those are the really fun projects. We designed a menu board that looks like a beehive. Making those hexagons and figuring out how to attach them together and to the wall, was a fun project for my team,” Homa said. “When this happened, it made me realize that all that hard work and innovation, especially through these last two years, did not go unnoticed,” Homa said. “This award is such an honor not just for me, but for my amazing team who I could never have accomplished all we’ve done without them.”
“I want to thank Brighton and Adams County for all their support and for embracing our business. We are a certified woman-owned company. We strive to support our community with all kinds of donations as well as volunteering. It’s been an incredible journey these last 16 years and I love being a part of the Brighton business community,” said Homa.