A respected urban planner/land use attorney and the head of Global Store Design for a leading retailer have joined the Board of Trustees for the Sign Research Foundation. Matthew Shad and Sarah Wexler, along with other Trustees, will set strategic direction for SRF, including overseeing its research projects and events.
Shad was introduced to Sign Research Foundation as part of the inaugural class of SRF Scholars in 2017. He is currently zoning administrator for the City of Cincinnati, has more than 25 years of experience in the public sector in regulatory, economic development and city management positions. Shad has had a passion for small business development and witnessed first-hand the powerful results that occur when assisting small businesses, during his tenure at the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) in Columbus. He is a certified urban planner, licensed lawyer and real estate agent in Ohio.
Wexler, head of Global Store Design for Under Armour, oversees store design for both the retail and wholesale channels. She led the effort to establish brand consistency and recognition globally through developing branding and signage principles and guidelines. These guides navigate the intricacies of signage regulations in the multitude of spaces that the brand is represented.
“Having Matt and Sarah on the Board of Trustees shows our commitment to a diversity of perspectives,” said Sapna Budev, SRF’s executive director. “With their experience and passion for effective signs and branding, we now have thought leaders representing sign fabricators, retailers, property developers, material manufacturers, city planners, and technology companies.
“With this brain trust, SRF is poised to produce some of our most exciting work in the coming years.”
