Meet the PDAA Committee
Ken Burns is the President of Capital INK Branding Solutions, Axis Graphic Installations and GSI Project Management. He is a native of Boston, MA and studied Business Management in college. He has consulted, developed, and managed multiple Fortune 500 companies. In 2006, he left his career to pursue the art of sign & graphic installations. Ken saw the value of this niche industry and decided to bring his knowledge of large corporate structure to a newer industry that was mostly comprised of independent installers.
Ken started his first installation team in South Florida in 2009 and has since developed teams in Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. In 2021 he started his first print company and utilized the space to create GSI Academy, a learning center for Graphic & Sign Installations of all types. GSI serves as the PDAA's Mid Atlantic hub.
After years of training, certifying and developing relationships with installers all over North America, Ken opened GSI Project Management, a project management company with a network of installers with all of the capabilities to handle any retail graphic and signage rollout.
Fadi Ballut President of Applied Graphics & Signs. He has close to a decade of experience in the visual marketing and graphic installation industry. Fadi's expertise in installation services covers a diverse range of areas, including retail displays, corporate branding installations, and vehicle graphics.
Recognizing the immense potential and demand for graphic installation services, Fadi decided to shift his career focus from print production and apparel and delve into the installation side of the industry. Under the guidance of an experienced mentor, he honed his skills and expertise in this specialized field, acquiring in-depth knowledge of the intricacies involved in effective visual marketing.
Motivated by a desire to create his own path and make a lasting impact in the industry, Fadi founded Applied Graphics & Signs in Southern California, with a commitment to excellence, customer satisfaction, and dedication to delivering the ultimate in visual marketing solutions.
Eric Kahle currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer for Visual Marking Systems (VMS), a custom graphics provider of OEM product identification, vehicle wraps, wide-format graphics, and decorated apparel, located in Twinsburg, Ohio. He manages the Sales and Customer Relations teams at VMS and is responsible for revenue growth, while optimizing the business's bottom line.
Eric joined the company in 2017 and is in his 6th year of a 10-year management trainee program which will prepare him to serve as CEO of the company upon his father, Dolf Kahle's retirement. In addition to his responsibilities at VMS, Eric serves as VP of Operations of Badlime Promo & Apparel, VMS's sister company, that specializes in screen print, embroidery, digitally printed solutions, and fulfillment. Since the company's inception in 2018, Eric has managed production and administrative functions while working to develop a strong team to run the day-to-day operations of the business.
Eric graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a focus in management and finance. After college, he worked in operations at Bausch and Lomb and then in logistics. Eric is a PDAA Master Certified Installer, sat on the Next Generation Committee for SGIA as a co-chair, and received the Screen-Printing Magazine Rising Star award in 2019. Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, Brittany and their daughter, Rose.
Jim Miller is the co-chief visionary at Miller Decals, LLC, the largest exclusive vinyl installation company in Atlanta, Georgia. Jim has been installing vinyl since 1979. For four decades he has performed an extensive array of roles as a competitor and/or judge, TV show cast member, board member, brand representative for numerous trade shows, teacher, technician, and Allstar wrapper straight out of Compton, CA.
He is known globally for his ability to make wrapping “look so easy”. In 2016 he became the first American to win the title of World Wrap Master. At home he is surrounded by women; his wife, Starla and three daughters, Brittney, Kiley, and Audrey.
Matt Richart is the owner of Digital EFX Wraps. He has over 25 years of experience in the sign and graphic industry and started laying vinyl when he was 19 years old. He started his company in 2004 with his business partner, Dallas Fowler. They have been in three buildings since they first opened their business.
Matt has done live demonstrations at trade shows for Roland for over 13 years and has been a PDAA member since 2018. He is a member of Masters of Branding, and a 3M preferred installer.
Matt was born in Louisville, KY, and is married to Cindy and they have three boys. He grew up playing basketball his whole life and still plays once a week. He also coaches elementary basketball for his sons’ school. He enjoys playing golf, working out, and taking care of his landscaping which is very therapeutic for him.
Paul is a graphics and wrap industry veteran of over 35 years. Currently a consultant, He assists companies and individuals manage the complex relationships between media, printers, and applications.
Previously working as the North American Technical Manager and Wide Format Printing OEM Relationship Manager for the Avery Dennison Corporation he has supported the development, conversion, and application of self-adhesive materials.
Paul has been instrumental in providing educational and marketing strategies to channel partners, PSPs, and ultimate end users of commercial graphic self-adhesive materials. He partnered with industry experts in the development of warranty programs, wrap training sessions, and other educational platforms.
Rich Thompson is the founder, and principal of AdGraphics, a premier Large Format Digital Imaging and Signage Service Bureau since 1992. He earned his bachelor's degree from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI., and his master's degree in Cross Cultural Studies and Anthropology from Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Rich was a faculty member with The Big Picture Conference and is an Advisory Board member for Keiser University. He is also one of original members of the Editorial Advisory Board with Digital Graphics Magazine and is currently on their Technical Advisory Board. He has been a consultant for both 3M's Commercial Graphics Customer Advisory Panel and HP's Customer Advisory Group. You can find links to some of the articles he has published in his LinkedIn profile.
He has served on the Board of Directors with DPI (Digital Printing & Imaging Association) and FGA (Fabric Graphics Association). He is a founding member of GIGA (Global Imaging Graphics Association).
Rich also served on the SGIA (Specialty Graphics & Imaging Association, now PRINTING Unted Alliance) Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 2012–2019, ultimately serving as Chairman 2016–2017.
Among the many accolades, he was bestowed the Pioneer Award for being the first company to complete a full vehicle wrap using digital printing. Being selected as the first ever FESPA (Federation of European Specialty Printing Association) International Hall of Fame inductee, as the world’s top printer as selected by his peers from over 40 countries, and Disney’s Innovation Award as Supplier of the year in 2014.
Chris Ulmer founded Crystal Coast Graphics with a passion and drive to help businesses gain notoriety and professionalism in their community. The company helps customers make lasting impressions and they do so by devoting themselves to continuous education, being at the forefront of new technology, and exceeding their customer's expectations with service.
Being devoted to continuous education is a foundation for the company and keeping their skills up to date and pushing the envelope with the latest trends of wraps. Chris has eleven current personal and facility certifications. The company prides itself on its superb customer service with outstanding knowledge and training.
The company's current certifications are: 3M preferred, Dinoc certified, Avery CWI, Orafol certified, PDAA Master Certified, Hexis Certified, Bodyfence Certified, Arlon certified, Wrapify certified, Lowen certified, and a member of Paint is Dead. The company's work has also been featured in several industry magazines such as Signs of the Times, Sign and Digital Graphics, and Wraps Magazine.
Troy started his career at an early age hand painting signs and progressed into airbrushing, hand painted murals, and pinstripes. In the early 90's he was introduced into the Thin Film world of vinyl products. As time went on the sign industry spawned a new segment that we refer to as the “wrap industry“. In 2001-2002 Troy began to learn along with the manufacturers about the new technology for air egress films and the industry soon changed.
In 2005, Troy and his business partner founded Capital Wraps, and the company just celebrated its 20-year anniversary.
Capital Wraps has been perfecting the art of installation, production, sales and of course the art aspects. Today, it specializes in architectural projects, special events and trade show graphics and wraps of all kinds.