MEDIA 1 SIGNS INC.
SANFORD, FLORIDA

Orlando Business Journal Gregarious and fearless, Dale’s next horizon includes public speaking about his journey and how his hard-won lessons can be adapted to any business model.  Dale has been a gymnast and martial artist for most of his life, and is a student of Yoshikai karate. directs Media 1’s highly professional sign fabrication and installation teams.  His central mission:  deliver aesthetically-pleasing projects, engineered to exact specifications, as smoothly as possible—absolutely on time.   Rick has over 30 years of sign industry experience.  He first worked in a sign shop, then owned a sign installation and repair business, and went on to sell his second sign business before joining Media 1.  Our customers rely on Rick’s knowledge and expertise to anticipate and solve problems.  Sometimes, he even questions rules that don’t make sense.  In Santa Monica, for example, he found errors in the regulations, which led to changes in the city’s code. “I believe in doing what you say you’re going to do, and meeting the timelines and deadlines you commit to.” “My work is most rewarding when I see the smile or an unexpected tear on a client’s face when they see our final product.” is Damon Coppola’s forte.  With a graphic designer’s heart and a marketer’s mind, he creates designs that help clients take their vision to the next level—and to the bank.  Right out of high school, Damon started a specialty item and screen printing business, which happened to be right next door to Dale Salamacha’s first sign shop.  He soon worked with his future partner on signs before re-joining him later at Media 1 and Wrap This.  Damon’s long history of working with identity advertising companies honed his focus on legibility, composition and client brand identity, defining his style early on. For a short time, Damon joined his family’s cabinet company where he coordinated large jobs and managed installation crews on the road.  During that time, he developed what he calls “snowball” management, believing that how he reacts as a leader affects how his team reacts—and he prefers to train them to admit mistakes and address them immediately with a solution. After two years of working in the family business, the creative pull of his artistic nature drew him back to the sign industry. “I love helping clients look better and make more money.” Nothing makes Damon happier than tackling a concept that no other company can execute, or one that has never been done before.  He finds it exciting to create a design concept that captures a client’s vision, reflecting what they say they want—and often delivering surprising elements they didn’t even know they wanted. When asked about his biggest influence, Damon said, “My grandfather.  He was a strong leader.  He was always pushing us as kids to focus and stay out of trouble.  He would say, ‘always try to learn, advance in what you do and be a good person’.  He was a great all-around person, always helping people.”  As a global company with more than 120 years of expertise, UL works with customers and stakeholders to help them navigate market complexity. UL brings clarity and empowers trust to support the responsible design, production, marketing and purchase of the goods, solutions, and innovations of today and tomorrow. We connect people to safer, more secure, more sustainable products, services, experiences and environments – enabling smarter choices and better lives. UL certifies, validates, tests, verifies, inspects, audits, advises and educates. We provide the knowledge and expertise to help navigate growing complexities across the supply chain from compliance and regulatory issues to trade challenges and market access. UL works with a diverse array of stakeholders. We optimize the supply chain for manufacturers and provide them a broad range of services that support every stage of the product life cycle. UL works with retailers, we consult with governments and we collaborate on standards that create level playing fields. Our Businesses Around the world, UL delivers expertise and leadership through three strategic business units. These unique businesses cover the full spectrum of safety for the evolving needs of customers, from health and risk to environments and innovation. Mission Our mission is at the core of everything we do. We conscientiously advance safety science through careful research and investigation, applying our efforts to prevent or reduce loss of life and property and to promote safe living and working environments for all people.