SHOP TALK

SHOP TALK WOMEN LEADING THE INDUSTRY

and marketing efforts and play an integral part of bringing on new product lines as well as growing current lines. I focus heavily on distributor education, streamlining communication between manufacturers, our sales representatives, and sign shops, and bringing the latest information to industry publications so Y&A can be a reliable resource for the industry.

Tell us about a standout achievement in your career.

women a safe place to discuss aspirations, challenges, and issues we face in our day-to-day roles.

What are some of the benefits of a program like WLI?

There are so many benefits, and this program supports and nurtures growth for all of us women in the industry. It provides the opportunity to learn from the most successful women in the industry.

Q&A with Ellen Dyar Balancing motherhood and a career.

Ellen Dyar is business development manager at Yorston and Associates (Y&A), a manufacturer’s rep group in the sign industry. She’s spent eleven years in the sign industry, starting at Matthews Paint in 2009 and then joining Y&A in 2016.

In April 2019, she participated in the kickoff session at the ISA Sign Expo for Women Leading the Industry (WLI) as a table lead. WLI is an initiative launched by the International Sign Association together with Sign Builder Illustrated. We spoke with her about her career and the benefits of WLI.

SBI: Tell us about your role at Y&A.

Dyar: At Y&A, I lead our social media To date, my standout achievement is being accepted into the 2019 ISA Elite Class. It automatically connected me to thirty-five individuals that became my friends, mentors, and support system. This opportunity has opened a lot of doors and many opportunities that have helped me grow personally and professionally.

Tell us a bit about how you balance motherhood and your career.

I am a mother of three children ages seven, five, and eight months, so life can be hectic managing family and my career. Lots of coffee is a must! I am very schedule oriented and like lists to stay on track. When I learned the idea of urgent versus important and the Time Management Matrix by Stephen Covey, it was a life changer. I didn’t realize how much time I spent managing crisis. There are still weeks when I don’t create a quadrant list and the stress builds up so I have to get back on track managing myself. I also have a strong support system and husband to push me and step in when I travel.

Why did you get involved with WLI?

The sign and visual graphics industry has needed a program like this for a long time in order to encourage the involvement of women. This program gives

Can you speak to any benefits you specifically have received from WLI?

It has provided me with an awareness of how many other women are in the industry and has given me a fresh perspective of where the industry is headed.

Would you recommend other women join WLI?

I highly recommend that every woman become involved in WLI. The sign industry is so vast. This network of women makes it seem a little smaller and easier to navigate with a common group of people who have similar experiences and face similar challenges. WLI provides support and education for women in the industry. As the membership grows, so does the body of knowledge we can share with one another to further our success in the industry.

Do you have any advice for how women can progress in their careers?

Never say no to an opportunity that is presented to you even if it is out of your comfort zone. Get involved as much as you can with your local sign associations, attend industry shows and events, make as many connections as possible, and never stop learning. You grow from every opportunity.

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