The Making of a Sign Guy

Meet Sterling Mueller

If you think good sign makers are made, not born, Sterling Mueller just might challenge your logic.

At the time he was hired by Meyer Sign & Advertising, Sterling was whipping up beverages at a local Jamba Juice — a gig that was a temporary respite from the more physically demanding labor of roofing (“I don’t know if you’ve ever done roofing,” he told me, “but it’s pretty tough work.”).

If you find yourself wondering what relationship blending fruit drinks or laying down shingles has to making a sign, you’re missing the bigger point.

Sign fabricators don’t typically graduate from degree programs. It’s a specialized skill that is best acquired through “on the job training” and a semester or two at the school of hard knocks. In our business, it’s as much about attitude and aptitude as it is about what’s on your resumé; and when general manager Ken Hitt first met Sterling, based on a recommendation from a mutual acquaintance, it was quickly evident that the young Skagit Valley native had plenty of the former. As it turns out, he also has plenty of the latter as well.

As sign makers go, Sterling Mueller is as close as it comes to being a “jack of all trades.” While his primary expertise is in the making of channel letters, he’s similarly handy when it comes to fabricating vinyl and handling a paint sprayer. And did we mention that he also works on the occasional install?

“I do a whole bunch of things, which is awesome,” Sterling says. “I’m the only one here who does channel letters, which means I use the CNC router, the bending machine, and our AccuClinch. The router makes the back and the face of the letters — it’s a cutting tool. The AccuBend bends all the sidewalls, and the AccuClinch is an alternative to riveting. It’s tough to use, but once you get the hang of it, it speeds things up a bunch.”

In addition to fabricating, painting, and installing signs, Sterling also refurbishes them — which can involve replacing ballasts, sockets and lamps, as well as sanding and repainting. The sheer variety of signage tasks, along with the creativity involved, is what Sterling, who describes himself as “ADD,” likes most about his job.

“It’s always changing. You might be stuck on a particular project for a little while, but the next thing you know there are five new ones,” he explains. “I’m pretty much an active person. I could never go home and just watch TV — I’m always out doing something.”

An avid hunter and fisherman, Sterling’s eyes gleam in anticipation of the upcoming duck season…followed by snowboarding in winter. In warmer weather you can find him at any number of disc golf courses in the Skagit Valley.

When you consider the variety of things Sterling does at Meyer Sign & Advertising, and his proficiency at doing them, it’s hard to believe that he’s been with the company for less than two years now — although he does profess to facing the occasional challenge.

“Painting is pretty hard,” Sterling admits. “I’m always learning something. Consistency is really important, and a lot of things can go wrong. Your arm can touch the paint, and then you have to start over. It feels really good to do a nice job, and when it ends up looking beautiful, that’s pretty cool.”

Sterling has plenty of “cool” projects under his belt. Not long after Meyer Sign acquired its latest generation of fabrication tools, he produced the channel letters for the Xfinity Arena in Everett — an accomplishment that as a hockey fan he can point to with pride. Among his very first jobs was fabricating the now familiar SaviBank signs with their trademark owl logo. “It’s cool to be able to go around and see things that you’ve made, he says proudly.

Asked what he imagines himself doing five years from now in his sign making career, Sterling seems puzzled…but quickly smiles. “I haven’t thought five years ahead. I’m kind of in the moment.” From our point of view, where Sterling Mueller is concerned, that’s a good place to be.