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(July 2009) posted on Sun Jul 12, 2009

A financial-services expatriate creates a new niche in the sign industry.

By Steve Aust

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When people ask me what I do for a living, I proudly tell them I write about the sign industry. They often respond, “What do you mean…signs?” I remind them of the signage and wayfinding that identified and helped guide them to the stadia, shops or restaurants they frequently visit. Each time, I win another convert to the importance of signage.

Similarly, Roxanna Meyers, president of Century Sign Builders (Albuquerque, NM), didn’t initially envision owning a signshop as her next career as she planned her exodus from the financial-services industry to begin an entrepreneurial venture. But, after carefully vetting the sign industry’s opportunities, she liked the opportunities the right signshop could provide. Twelve years later, she’s transformed her shop into one of the leading architectural-sign providers throughout the Land of Enchantment and beyond, and plans to expand her work towards the West Coast. For all the differences between the banking and signmaking industries, Meyers understood the value of building and maintaining relationships would transfer from one occupation to the other.

Creating a new path

After having graduated with a marketing degree from the University of Arizona’s business school, Meyers went to work for a small bank in Albuquerque. She soon realized her “balance of left- and right-brain abilities” would provide both the financial and people skills required for success in the commercial-lending field.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet business owners, listening to their situations and opportunities, and finding solutions for their issues,” she said.

Her excellent work earned her swift promotion, and she ultimately became president of Wells Fargo’s Alququerque Community Banking. However, for all of her success, she still craved the autonomy and challenge of entrepreneurship.

“In my early 30s, I decided that I wanted to own my own business by the time I was 40,” Meyers said. “I was willing to consider any opportunity, provided it offered a good profit margin, broad opportunity and a necessary product or service.”