Key Executives




Kurt Ripkey, CEO & President



Kurt Ripkey has been with The Icon Companies since 1991, working his way up through positions in project management, ATM development, ATM-division management, national sales, sales management, and the senior executive staff. As executive vice president, he pioneered major account growth, consumer and product strategies, and business plan development.

In recognition of his exceptional efforts to drive The Icon Companies to become the leader in our industry while most of our competitors struggled, Kurt was promoted and added the CEO title as of January 1, 2010.

Kurt was previously appointed president of The Icon Companies in January 2007. In this role, he provides the leadership and direction necessary for the ongoing growth and stability of Icon clients, employees, and shareholders.

Kurt graduated from Loyola University in Chicago.

John Noonan, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing



John Noonan has been with The Icon Companies for over 8 years. He manages sales and marketing teams for the company’s 3 divisions: Icon Identity Solutions, East Coast Sign Advertising, and ImageCare Maintenance Services. John is a recognized industry expert, and he speaks at many national conferences, including SPECS, PRSM, RFMA, and NRA.

Before joining Icon, John spent 2 years as vice president of sales and marketing for Collins Signs in Alabama. Prior to his work there, he served as president and COO at GDT’s Ariston division, a $54 million printer and installer of retail and fleet graphics. He also held sales and management roles at Engraph Corporation and Avery Dennison.

John holds an MBA in marketing and finance from Pace University in New York and earned his BS in marketing and management from New York University, where he graduated cum laude in 1983.

Larry Brigman, Executive Vice President, Human Resources

Larry Brigman brings over 25 years of human resources experience to The Icon Companies. His functional and leadership roles have included selection, training, retention, strategy execution, change management, government compliance, and benefits management, including health, safety, and wellness.

Before joining the Icon team, Larry served as vice president of human resources at The Revcor Companies, an HVAC-component manufacturer with over 800 employees. He has also held various positions at 2 Fortune 100 companies: Wendy’s International and Allied Signal.

Larry earned a bachelor of science in human resources from Northern Illinois University. He is certified by the Society of Human Resources Management with the SPHR designation.

Doug Long, Executive Vice President, Operations

Doug Long brings The Icon Companies over 35 years of experience in all phases of operations. His background includes inventory control; purchasing; production control; warehousing; logistics; materials requirements planning (MRP); capacity requirements planning (CRP); distribution requirements planning (DRP); order entry; plant, multi-plant, and Mexico-based manufacturing management; and service and information technologies.

Before joining Icon, Doug served as VP of manufacturing at RG Ray Corporation and worked at Emerson Electric as director of manufacturing and materials, director of plant operations, VP of sourcing, VP of supply chain management and business systems, and VP of manufacturing.

Doug holds a business degree from the University of Illinois.

Thomas Hunt, Executive Vice President, Program Management

Tom Hunt has been with The Icon Companies for over 19 years. During this time, he has worked in manufacturing, installation, and program management.

Tom spent 7 years as vice president of manufacturing at Icon, managing facilities in California and South Carolina. In 2004, he was promoted to vice president of operations and assumed full responsibility for all manufacturing operations at both Icon and East Coast Sign Advertising. In 2008, he assumed his current position as EVP of program management and is positioning the department for further growth.  Tom's latest initiative involves the spearheading of value propositions, providing superior service and cost savings to our clients. 

Tom earned his BA from Florida State University.

John Callan, Chief Financial Officer

John Callan has been with The Icon Companies since 1993. He has over 25 years of finance experience with various manufacturing companies.

Before joining Icon, John spent 13 years with Federal Signal Corporation, holding financial management positions at several division locations. He also worked as an accountant with Sunbeam Appliance Company for 2 years.

John earned his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago and holds a BS in accounting from Western Illinois University. He is a CPA and a CMA.

Melanee Jech, Executive Vice President, IMS

Melanee Jech has over 25 years of industry experience implementing national programs specific to the sign industry. Until taking over as EVP of IMS, Melanee has been with East Coast Sign Advertising, one of The Icon Companies, serving as VP of Program Management for the last 3 years.

Prior to joining The Icon Companies, Melanee was responsible for developing, training and managing national service programs and project management teams at Federal Heath Sign Company and Kieffer & Company. Specific experience includes custom projects, program management, national service programs and several remote service and installation centers. She has also led several task teams in system implementation, acquisition transitions and strategic operations.

Melanee has served as Vice President of Texas Sign Association, Member Coordinator for Division 5, World Sign Assocaition, as well as the Board of Directors for Illinois Sign Assocaition. She studied at Glendale Community College and is currently completing her degree at the University of Delaware.

Gregory Goulette, Lead Director

Greg Goulette formally joined The Icon Companies in 1998. As a former Stonebridge operating partner, overseeing both Icon and another portfolio company, Greg brought industry knowledge and management expertise to the Icon team.

Before joining Stonebridge, Greg was chief operating officer at Elizabeth Webbing Mills, a $120 million textile manufacturer and distributor. Prior to that, he served as a workout consultant in the plastic injection molding industry and, from 1978 to 1990, worked as an audit manager in the public accounting sector, providing merger and acquisition related services to privately held client companies.

Greg graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor of science in accounting. He is a certified public accountant.
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