THE DICKINSON AREA CHAMBER of Commerce recently had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Xcell Graphics & Signs in Spread Eagle, Wis. From left are chamber ambassadors Teresa Schettler, Denise Lind and Mark Sertich; Xcell Graphics owner Ryan Doda, wife Emma Doda and son Damien (Maki); Misty Vassar and Tyler Box, Xcell; and Suzanne Larson, chamber executive director. In front is the family dog, Charlie. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

SPREAD EAGLE, Wis. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony recently took place to celebrate Xcell Graphics & Signs joining the Dickinson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Xcell Graphics & Signs opened in June 2009. Owner Ryan Doda had six years of experience with another sign company that was closing. One of the employees there asked Doda if he thought he could make enough banners to pay the bills if he put a printer in his basement. Doda didn’t think so, but he loved the sign business so much he decided to proceed and work extra jobs if needed.

Since then, Doda built a garage onto his house and moved there. A few years later, he finished a new building that put him and his employees under one roof.

Doda also specializes in wraps, mostly for commercial fleet vehicles, but they offer color changes as well for personal vehicles, custom graphics and rally or pin stripes. They have applied and provided graphics for floors and walls, staying 6 feet apart during applications due to COVID-19.

Doda and his staff have done several large patriotic wall applications at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain.

When asked what drew him to the business, Doda replied, “The opportunity to create art and have it displayed all over town. I love driving by and feeling proud of the work we’ve produced. When I first started working in this industry almost 20 years ago, I instantly became passionate about it and found myself looking at other signs in other towns and cities when I traveled, for inspiration. I’m always learning new things. Once you think you can’t learn anymore or become arrogant in your profession, it is probably time to move on to something else. I absolutely love what I do. I start every morning, Monday through Friday at 6 a.m. watching new wrap instructional videos, learning new techniques. I’ve taken and passed an Avery Dennison certification wrap program, which made me an Avery certified installer. Many large companies will only use certified installers for applying graphics to their vehicles. It’s an amazing privilege to be part of this prestigious program.”

Xcell Graphics is at 835 U.S. 2 in Spread Eagle. They can be reached at 906-282-7232 or www.xcellgraphics.com.