Allegra Network Appoints New Executive Leadership After Steve White Resigns

PLYMOUTH, MI—June 18, 2012—Allegra Network, the marketing, print and graphic communications franchisor of Allegra, American Speedy Printing, Insty-Prints and Signs Now brands, has announced the appointments of Bob Milroy as president of the company’s Print/Marketing Division and Ray Palmer as president of the Sign Division.

On Friday, the company also announced that Steve White, chief operating officer and president of Signs Now, has decided to resign his position and leave the company to pursue new interests.

Milroy, a former marketing agency president, joined the Allegra Network executive team in 2009 as chief marketing officer. He has guided the company’s aggressive plan to help franchise members evolve into professional marketing services providers.

“Bob has been instrumental in spearheading the training, sales support, internal marketing resources and supplier partnerships that are enabling our franchise members to make the transition to offering broader-based marketing services,” said CEO Mike Marcantonio. “He has made a significant impact in a short amount of time, and his wealth of knowledge and experience will continue to drive new opportunities for our franchise system.”

Most recently president of Columbia, MD-based Signs By Tomorrow (SBT), Palmer has also assumed the leadership role for Signs Now to become president of the Allegra Network Sign Division. Members of Allegra Network’s investment group, Palmer and SBT Vice President of Operations Andrew Akers assumed controlling interest in SBT earlier this year.

Palmer’s appointment as president of Allegra Network’s Sign Division was made as part of a strategic decision to provide executive oversight for both brands, which share very similar business models, though they will remain separate companies with separate support staffs and programs.

“Ray’s industry insights as a multi-unit franchise owner and proven record in the Signs by Tomorrow franchise system will be assets to Signs Now,” said Marcantonio. “During his tenure at the helm of the SBT network, it has enjoyed nearly two years of solid sales growth, a testament to his leadership skills and business acumen.”

White had been with the company for 18 years. He served as director of sales and marketing, executive vice president of the Allegra brand, and in 2006 moved to Sarasota, FL, shortly after Allegra Network purchased Signs Now. White returned to company headquarters in Plymouth, MI, in 2010 to assume his most recent role. He was also an investor in the company.

White cited his desire to take on new challenges in the franchise industry as his reason for leaving.

Marcantonio commented, “Clearly, our loss will be someone else’s gain. Steve is a knowledgeable and capable executive with 25 years’ experience in the franchise industry. He will be missed by our staff and our franchisees. We wish him the best in whatever new challenges he chooses to tackle in the next chapter in his career.”

About Allegra
Allegra Network is one of world’s largest marketing, print and graphic communications franchises linking more than 450 locations across North America. The company ranks in the top 200 among all franchise companies in the world and is considered a leader in franchise training, technology implementation and system profitability. Allegra Network was founded in 1976 and today supports three primary brands under its print division—Allegra, American Speedy Printing and Insty-Prints, and the Signs Now brand under its sign division.

Source: Allegra.