Pinnacle Sign Group gets new partner

Pearce’s father, Dale Pearce, established The Carpet Shoppe in Springfield in 1971. Watching his father run a successful retail and service business inspired Darren Pearce to also become an entrepreneur.

When opportunity knocked in September to become a partner in Pinnacle Sign Group, Pearce took action. Now he’s majority owner and the business partner of Chris Braun.

Pinnacle Sign Group manufactures, installs and maintains practically any kind of signs, ranging from vinyl banners to electronic displays.

Jobs typically range from $5,000 to $50,000, said Pearce, who declined to release company revenues.

The company operates from a 20,000-square-foot facility at 505 N. Glenstone Ave. It has 19 employees and about 1,000 clients, including Executive Coach Builders, Liberty Bank and Isabel’s House.

“What I was looking for in a company was a good foundation and good people who put out a good, quality product that I could take all my years in customer service and manufacturing and really help make an impact,” Pearce said. “This is an ideal situation.”

Pearce brings with him 20 years of management experience. His career began with Minnetonka, Minn.-based work-apparel company AmeriPride Services, which sent him to New Mexico and Kansas before he returned to Springfield. He then spent four years as president of his father’s Carpet Shoppe, a year as chief operating officer for Springfield Striping & Sealing and two years as president of American Products in Strafford.

Braun and Mark Galloway co-founded Pinnacle Sign Group in 2002 when they bought 10-year-old Savage Sign Co. Galloway sold his 67 percent stake in Pinnacle Sign Group for “personal reasons,” according to Braun, who wouldn’t go into more detail. Galloway couldn’t be reached for comment.

Pearce and Braun had a mutual acquaintance who informed Pearce of the opportunity to buy Galloway’s share. After four months of negotiations, the two sides came to undisclosed terms.

Pearce now serves as president and general manager, while Braun maintains his 33 percent share and serves as vice president of operations.

Sweeping changes aren’t expected, but Pearce has worked to open internal communication lines. He’s instituted morning “huddle meetings” where the entire staff recaps the previous day and charts goals for the current day. He’s also beginning to employ the open-book management style made famous by SRC Holdings Corp. founder Jack Stack.

“It’s been a real fresh, eye-opening beginning for us,” Braun said.

The aim of the increased communication is to improve efficiency and customer service, Pearce said.

“I have a firm belief that a company needs to be transparent to all the people who work there,” Pearce said. “I really see my role as a support role.”