Hartington couple sign on to business opportunity

HARTINGTON — A simple ask about a potential job opening turned into a sign of things to come for a Hartington woman.

Lauren Kathol contracted frequently with Mayer Signs to produce marketing materials while she worked for Mount Marty College in Yankton.

At one point in her working relationship with the owners — Dick and Diana Thompson — she inquired if they had any part-time employment available. In return, they asked her if she would like to own the business.

“She came home and said you’ll never guess what happened today,” said her husband, Jamie.

The Kathols signed on the dotted line and officially became the owners of the business on Feb. 25.

With a degree in advertising and design, Lauren said it’s always been her goal to own a business in her field.

“We never thought anything like this would come up as soon as it did. It’s very exciting,” Jamie said.

Mayer Signs has been in business since 1959 with the Kathols as its fourth owner.

With the sale, the Thompsons signed over the business located at 408 Broadway Ave. in Yankton, the equipment, the clientele and all data and files on projects in process.

“It’s very busy,” Lauren said. “When we walked in, we had a little over 100 projects.”

Since they took over, the Kathols have been working on growing business in Nebraska — picking up projects in Hartington, Bloomfield, Wausa and Wakefield, which is Lauren’s hometown.

“The sign business is very essential,” Lauren said. “It’s what every business needs. Driving down the street that’s all we notice now — signs.”

Mayer Signs can handle any type of signage project from start to finish — from house and boat numbers to huge electronic or digital signs, a banner for your next family reunion or standard municipal signs.

Right now, the business is finishing up signs for the new aquatic center opening in Yankton in the next few weeks.

Lauren said that project is exciting due to all the different types of signs needed.

“That will be really cool to see it all come together,” she said.

She’s also been able to put her personal touch on signs for a mobile axe throwing trailer for The Boat House in Yankton and a scoreboard for a family who has a regulation-sized baseball field in their backyard.

“We really do it all,” Lauren said.

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