The United States Sign Council (USSC) has honoured James Weinel, founder and owner of channel letter manufacturer Gemini, with a lifetime achievement award. It is the first time the award has been given.

Weinel (pictured, left) received the award from Wendy Kern (right), president of the USSC’s board of directors, at the end of Gemini’s 50^th anniversary year.

“James has been at the forefront of every major movement and change this industry has seen over the last five decades,” says Kern. “He spearheaded an effort to establish a university chair dedicated to studying and teaching the importance of signage in marketing, has been instrumental in the success of the American Sign Museum and has been one of the strongest supporters of the USSC. To have an individual who has dedicated not only his business life, but also his personal life, to the betterment of the industry, consistently over a span of 50 years, is truly a remarkable achievement.”