Todd Bringuet is a Springfield native and the fourth generation to be involved in the family business, Ace Sign Company. He and his brother, Scott, and cousin, Cory Boatman, all work for the company founded in 1940 by Franklin G. "Frank" Horn and his wife, Alvina, who began painting signs in the basement of their Spring Street home. He became CEO in 2019 following the retirement of his father, Dennis Bringuet.
Todd and his wife live in Chatham with their two children, Madison and Max.
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job?
I was born at St. John's Hospital and raised here in Springfield, where I have lived all of my life. My first official job was mowing grass for the neighbors, and I also helped people with odds-and-ends-type of jobs.
How did you work your way up the ladder at Ace Sign Company?
I've done a lot of odd jobs here at Ace Sign Company. I started out with routine tasks like assembling bolts, and learning through observation with some patient mentors in different areas of the business who were kind enough to show me the tricks of the trade. We've got a great team.
I spent a great deal of time working in graphic production and shadowed people in the other departments where I learned to weld, do sheet metal, fabrication, installation and electronics.
We had a piece of glass in the basement of our house, and I practiced the trade of hand-painting on it. I mention this because while we are innovative, at the same time we preserve history by using the earlier skills of the industry, which is why hand-painting and neon-bending are still a part of what we do.
What are the rewards of operating a multigenerational family business?
Stewardship of our heritage is a priority. It's an honor to serve our clients across the generations who we help to be successful by building inspirational signs for them. Also, being there for the community – we recently had the opportunity to help out with the Chatham Strong campaign. It's rewarding to take our resources and use them for our clients, the community and to keep the company and our employees strong and moving forward.
What are some of the more memorable or unusual jobs you've been involved with at the company?
We produced the Roman numerals for Super Bowl XLVIII; that was pretty prime-time. We use a lot of Google technology like Google AI and Gemini, and we were one of 50 stories, one from each of the 50 states, that Google featured in a recent Super Bowl commercial.
We've had the opportunity to do a lot of theater marquee restorations which is a tribute to our embrace of history and innovation. We are working right now on some signage for the new Scheels Sports Park in Springfield, and that's an exciting thing for the community.
How is Ace meeting today's industry challenges?
The constant evolution of technology is something we have to be intentional about, and we also maintain a team that is continually improving. We also keep focused on delivering at a higher level and improving every day.
How do you feel when you drive around the area and recognize a lot of the work that Ace has produced?
That's super rewarding. We are very, very honored to have the opportunity to create signs for so many local businesses. That is one of the greatest marketing opportunities for us, to have those impressive pieces out there captivating the audience and inspiring folks. When people see a sign that, hopefully, they can recognize as being produced by Ace, they see that inspirational quality and its impact.
What does the future look like for Ace Sign Company?
We are always looking to innovate and produce a product that provides a value to our clients. We've grown and now do a lot of work outside of the region. We want to grow more opportunities locally, regionally and on a global scale. That helps our employees and the local economy.
It hasn't always been a growth path for manufacturing in Springfield and Illinois. But there are a number of amazing manufacturers that are maintaining a strong path forward. Our goal is to continue to be part of the growing manufacturing community in this city and the state.
Why is community engagement important for the company?
We exist to serve the community, so to be an active part of it and to give back is natural. We are here to serve and are honored to do so.
What career advice can you give to young people?
Character is one of the greatest attributes a person can have. Also, a drive to develop new skills, to be present, to be curious, to be engaged and to be safe. We look for all of these qualities in people who will help to drive our business toward the future.
I recently had the opportunity to be involved with Capital Area Career Center as one of the interviewers for their student of the year program. What was obvious to me was that the award finalists had such high character. They were selfless-servant leaders and that drove all of them to learn more. Seeing the quality of those students coming up is promising for the future.
What may people be surprised to learn about you?
I try to wear my heart on my sleeve, and that catches many people by surprise.
People also ask me if being in the sign business was what I really wanted to do, or was I kind of forced to do this. I feel fortunate to be a part of this business, along with my cousin and my brother where our passion for art and technology align with our jobs. I think that is a big part of why we continue to be successful.