Making Moves in Mobile: Another Stop on the Daktronics Journey

When Jesse Ulrickson came to me with the opportunity to attend the Mid-South Sign Association event in Mobile, AL, with him and Carter Mahlum (On-Premise sales for the Southeast region), I was still at corporate for my first week of training. I accepted and booked my flight then and there; to say that I was excited for this trip would be an understatement.

Scenery, Socials and Southern Hospitality
Arriving in Mobile on Wednesday, midday, was a nice change of pace. Unlike my trip to Florida, I actually had a minute to breathe and even walk around the city a bit before our first event. I took some time to check out the Spanish Colonial buildings surrounded by live oaks and Spanish moss, which made for a nice intro to the city that birthed Mardi Gras.

That evening was the 'Early Bird Social.' I walked in with Carter and Jesse, not totally sure what to expect and hoping to make a good first impression. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. Not only did they go out of their way to introduce me to people, but folks were coming up to me and starting conversations on their own. I must have met over 30 people that night...man, was I grateful for nametags on this trip.

Business, Bites, and the Boardroom
Thursday brought another full day of social events and introductions. Around midday, Jesse and I took a stroll through downtown Mobile to check out a spot that had been featured on Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.” While the service wasn’t quite up to Daktronics standards, the food hit the spot; a solid pick before heading into the Board of Directors' Business Meeting.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from the meeting, but I was pleasantly surprised. I not only got to hear about key updates within the association, but I also learned about current trends shaping the industry.

Once the meeting wrapped up, we attended an event in which individuals got to place wagers on Friday’s team scramble golf tournament, where Carter proudly carried the torch for Daktronics. This is where I was able to meet the legendary Clay Garcie (South Central On-Premise sales) who I had heard so much about the day prior. Not only was I able to share some laughs with Carter, Jesse and Clay, I also had a great chance to keep networking and continue conversations I’d started the night before, strengthening relationships with clients.

Sweat, Certificates and Sweet Caroline
Friday morning was a blur of activity. While Carter geared up to hit the links (and only lost a couple of balls in the process), Jesse, Clay and I headed off to a veterans' volunteer project. Alongside 28 other MSSA attendees, we hopped on a bus to a facility that temporarily houses veterans while helping them find jobs, apartments and a fresh start.

While we were there, we did everything from digging ditches to pressure washing the duplexes where the veterans stay. It was an incredible opportunity to give back to those who’ve sacrificed so much for our freedom, and it made me appreciate MSSA as an organization, as well as the attendees, even more for their commitment to the project.

Once we returned to the hotel and caught up with Carter, we regrouped to get our expo booth set up. After that, we headed to an awards dinner where Carter, along with a group of other dedicated individuals, was recognized with an 'Elite Leadership' certificate. Jesse, Clay and I were all extremely proud of him, and naturally, the only proper way to celebrate was with karaoke at a spot down the street. No videos were taken (for everyone's sake), but we had a blast and even sounded halfway decent.

Spotlights, Seminars and Scholarships
Saturday was the big day we had all been waiting for: the expo. Jesse and I kicked things off by attending a seminar focused on how AI could shape our industry and the market opportunities it might create. After the insightful presentation, we headed over to our booth and met up with Clay and Carter to start connecting with both current and prospective clients.

The three-hour event flew by as we talked to countless individuals and showcased what Daktronics has to offer. Once the expo wrapped up, Jesse and Clay hit the road for home. Carter and I stayed behind and had a great time at the tiki-themed dinner and auction — with all proceeds going toward a scholarship fund, while continuing to socialize with individuals we had met days prior.

Mentorship in Motion
This trip was nothing short of amazing and has me looking forward to my next round of travels. I gained valuable insights, not just into our industry and the people who bring it to life every day, but into the unique and supportive culture that defines Daktronics. I can confidently say that Daktronics fosters one of the best company cultures out there. Jesse, Carter and Clay all took me under their wing, generously shared their knowledge and continuously pushed me to grow and succeed.

I’m grateful for the experience and even more excited to see where this journey takes me next.