Tama Starr, President

As the third-generation of owner-mangement at Artkraft Strauss, Tama Starr brings creativity and innovation to the century-old company.

She has served as Chair of Manhattan Community Board #5, member of the board of the International Sign Association, and member of the Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture of the Federal Reserve Board of New York.

Her essays and articles have appeared in Reason, Partisan Review, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Her third book, Signs and Wonders: the Spectacular Marketing of America, was published by Doubleday/Currency.

Robert Jackowitz, VP Design and Engineering

A lifelong "sign man", Bob joined Artkraft Strauss as Chief Designer and Project Manager in 1989, and has been responsible for many of its groundbreaking signature projects, including Morgan Stanley, the Coca-Cola/Suntory/Samsung "stack" at 2 Times Square, and the 42nd Street Development Project, where he was responsible for major displays for such clients as British Airways and Nike.

Bob also helped organize Local 137's sign hangers' school, the professional training program for NYC's sign hanging industry, and has taught there from 1971 through the present. He holds teaching certificates from both the New York City and New York State Boards of Education.

James Manfredi, VP Special Projects

Jimmy Manfredi, a life-long "sign man," manages real estate and special projects for Artkraft Strauss.

One of the most well-respected members of the NYC sign industry, Jimmy joined Artkraft Strauss Sign Corp. as a sheet metal journeyman in 1971, becoming sheet metal foreman in 1974. From 1982 to 1983 he was general manager of Hi Signs, then returned to Artkraft as assistant to the general manager. He became Artkraft's VP of Operations in 1985 and Chief Operating Officer in 1994. In 2006 he joined Clear Channel Outdoor to manage its sign maintenance and installation. He remains active in Artkraft's real estate, site development and leasing operations.

Arthur Boehm, Archivist

Arthur Boehm heads the Artkraft Strauss photo and video archive.

Previously, he was an editor at AARP The Magazine and has also authored several cookbooks. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Gentlemen's Quarterly, among others. He organized and supervised the 2006 auction of the Artkraft Strauss Collection at Freeman's Auction House in Philadelphia.