Jim Howe Named as President of FASTSIGNS® by Parent Company Propelled Brands®

The Leading Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchise Poised for New Growth and Innovation with Howe at the Helm

CARROLLTON, Texas, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today the appointment of Jim Howe, former president of Propelled Brands' company NerdsToGo^®, as president of FASTSIGNS, effective immediately. 

"Jim is the perfect fit to lead FASTSIGNS, bringing his strategic vision and deep expertise in franchising to drive the brand's objectives and large-scale initiatives forward," said Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands. "I've witnessed Jim's positive impact firsthand across the Propelled Brands network for over a decade, and I'm honored to appoint him to this role."

Howe brings more than 30 years of franchising experience to his new role, including 11 years as vice president, leading operations and franchise support at FASTSIGNS. Most recently, he served as president of NerdsToGo^®, the managed IT services brand for small businesses under the Propelled Brands^® umbrella. During his tenure, Howe demonstrated exceptional brand stewardship, leading NerdsToGo's transformation into a Managed Service Provider (MSP), positioning him for success in his new role as FASTSIGNS president.

"It's an incredible honor to return to FASTSIGNS as president," said Howe. "Having been part of the brand's journey for over a decade, I'm eager to build on its legacy of innovation and drive continued growth by empowering our franchisees and strengthening our network."

As president of FASTSIGNS, Howe will be responsible for increasing franchisee profitability through effective leadership, innovation, new revenue streams, and operational efficiencies, as well as driving growth in the number of franchise locations. He will focus on franchisee/franchisor collaboration, sharing best practices, optimizing processes, increasing franchisee profitability and satisfaction, as well as deepening customer relationships to bring the brand promise to life.

About FASTSIGNS^®

FASTSIGNS^® is the leader in the custom signs and visual solutions industry. With 40 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps customers bring their vision to life and achieve more than they ever thought possible. As the largest service-oriented business within the Propelled Brands® family, FASTSIGNS spans over 785 independently owned and operated centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE^®).

FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and with awards that include being ranked #1 in its category on ENTREPRENEUR's highly competitive Franchise 500^® List in 2025 for the ninth consecutive year, and being named a 2024 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review for the sixth consecutive year.

For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit fastsigns.com or contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679).

About Propelled Brands^®

Propelled Brands^® is a multi-brand platform company dedicated to accelerating the growth of service-oriented businesses with an unrelenting focus on franchising best practices and franchisee profitability and satisfaction. We have a robust franchise business model that provides a clear growth trajectory for the unique position, purpose and momentum of each brand. While there are many paths to success, there's only one direction we know: forward. Our portfolio includes highly recognized and award winning brands: FASTSIGNS^®, MY SALON Suite^®, Camp Bow Wow^® and NerdsToGo^®. Propelled Brands is looking to partner with other service-oriented franchise concepts.

For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit propelledbrands.com or contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679).

SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.