The Tuesday Interview: Bill Sundberg, general manager for SignArt

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Age: 62

Lives in: Mooresville

Family: wife, Carol; children, Lauren, 25, Taylor, 22

Education: attended Eastern Michigan University but didn’t graduate

Bill Sundberg has changed jobs a lot. One might say that’s a sign of the times, but for this Charlotte sign manufacturer the career shifts came earlier in his life.

Sundberg, who attended college for three years but left to pursue a career, started out in marketing. His journey to Charlotte was circuitous.

After years as a marketing manager and public relations writer, he came to Charlotte in 1989 to work for a different company. But after it reorganized and he found himself seeking employment, he decided to give Charlotte-based SignArt a try in 1992.

His company restored the iconic, 40-year-old JFG Coffee sign, which was placed on top of the NC Music Factory in April.

How did your company get involved with restoring the JFG sign?

Our former owner, Zeke Foard, was involved with (preservation group) Historic Charlotte, so we wanted to help fix up the sign.

Did it take a lot of work to fix it?

That sign was stored in a barn somewhere in South Carolina before we found it. It would have been easier to make a new one, but it was historical so it was worth it. We had to replace the neon, fix the bulbs and we had to replace the old-style transformers that were no longer meeting code.

Where else can we see your work?

We’ve done all the signs at Concord Mills outlet mall. And we do a lot of work for banks like Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank and we have been working with Wells Fargo on changing over the Wachovia signs.

What do you like about the job?

It is a problem-solving business.

Anyone ever ask for something that just can’t be made?

As long as there is enough budget we try to do it.

Your signs can be huge. How do you make them?

We have about 50 employees in our shop, where we cut and press custom metal. We have our own neon shop and several painting rooms.

Scott Baughman, [email protected]