The Signage Foundation, Inc., based in Washington, D.C., is proud to announce the appointment of Sapna Budev as its new, full-time Executive Director.
Budev will be responsible for the organization, oversight and implementation of the Foundation’s administration, including communication and public information, and assisting the work of the SFI Board and committees. She will also work closely with SFI’s Academic Liaison, Patty Herbin, on research and educational platforms to address critical, emerging on-premise signage issues, as well as strategic outreach to academia and professional-practice associations.
Budev most recently served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the International Sign Association. Budev joined ISA in 2005 to direct the association’s international growth and tradeshow operations. In 2009, she took on responsibility for managing emerging sectors of ISA’s membership, such as sustainability, digital technologies and architectural signage. She spearheaded the 2013 joint publication of SFI and ISA’s Urban Wayfinding Planning and Implementation Manual and designed a series of webinars and workshops to educate more than 2,000 planners and downtown managers on the concepts within the workbook.
Budev has worked closely with U.S. regulatory and code-making agencies, such as the EPA, the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, the Federal Trade Commission, OSHA, and many others. Budev is an active member and volunteer for the U.S. Green Building Council and sits on the ANSI A117.1 Committee, which advises the federal ADA guidelines.
She has published numerous articles and spoken around the world on the global sign industry, international commerce, integrated design and sustainability. She received her bachelor’s degree in international studies and political science from Miami University and has worked in business development and strategic operations for more than 15 years with top technology companies and associations, such as Compaq Computers, Hewlett-Packard, Trilogy Software and RosettaNet.
In making the appointment, Duane Laska, SFI’s Board Chairman, stated “The SFI Board is excited to have a person with Ms. Budev’s background, passion and enthusiasm, guide its operation as our first full-time staff member. The appointment of Sapna will enable SFI to greatly increase its presence as a research and education foundation.”
