History

Family Owned

Founded in 1975 by William "Bill" Korman, Jr., Korman Signs, Inc. has grown from a small family business into a leading name in the traffic sign industry. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from NC State University and seven years of experience at Reynolds Aluminum's South Plant in Richmond, Virginia, Bill Korman set out to create a company dedicated to quality and innovation in traffic signage. His first hire, John Murray, who now serves as the Executive Vice President of Sales, joined the company in its earliest days, followed by Dale McDonough, currently the Executive Vice President of Operations, in 1980. The company's roots are firmly tied to the Korman family. Bill's father, W. M. Korman, Sr., a veteran of 38 years at Reynolds Aluminum and former Director of its Can Division, was instrumental in assisting with the launch of the business, providing crucial financial support. He joined the company a year after its founding, serving as Vice President for 18 years. Susan U. Korman, Bill's mother, also played an essential role, contributing as Corporate Secretary. Both have since passed away but their legacy continues to guide the company’s principles of integrity and hard work. Korman Signs initially started from scratch, as Bill’s attempt to acquire Dominion Traffic Sign and Signal didn’t go through. Undeterred, he launched the business in a 6,500-square-foot rented space, focusing on quality, hard work, and integrity—values that remain core to the company today. Over nearly five decades, Korman Signs has expanded its facilities to include over 150,000 square feet, investing heavily in cutting-edge technology and equipment to stay ahead in digital printing and automation. The company also boasts a comprehensive fabrication shop capable of creating everything from portable sign stands to large interstate guide signs. With one of the largest inventories of traffic safety products in the U.S., Korman Signs is proud to provide reliable products and responsive delivery to meet the needs of customers nationwide. Korman Signs remains a proud, second-generation, woman-owned, and family-operated business. In 2019, Sarah Korman Boutwell became President, while Mary Korman Lee assumed the role of Vice President. Together, they lead a committed team dedicated to maintaining the company's reputation for quality and reliability. Korman Signs continues to uphold its legacy by driving advancements in the traffic signage industry through innovative solutions and unwavering customer service.

Korman's Values

We began our business as a traffic sign manufacturer from scratch after efforts to purchase Dominion Traffic Sign and Signal, a long time fixture in the traffic control industry, failed. The fledging business began in a 6,500 square foot rented building. Hard work, integrity and continued investment in our efforts were and still are the cornerstone values of our operation.

After 37 years we are still in the same building plus an additional 93,000+ square feet of adjoining property. Our staff has grown to over 50 people and we have invested in state of the art equipment to keep us on the edge of technological developments including digital printing. Our base manufacturing approach is still centered in screen process printing and we make traffic and work zone signs and faces every day. We maintain one of the largest inventories of signs and blanks in the United States and take pride in being responsive to our customer's delivery needs providing trustworthy products.