When John Miller walks through airports, he’s often stopped by strangers asking the same question, “Are you the guy in the blue shirt?”
In fact, Miller is the guy in the blue shirt doing sign language demonstrations on the website of the East Lansing-based company
Signing Savvy. Though the sign language education site has only existed since 2009 and Miller and his business partner Jillian Winn are just now leaving their fulltime jobs to concentrate on the venture, being recognized at airports was a sure sign that the business was taking off.
“The Signing Savvy web site has grown to become the most comprehensive online sign language resource,” says Winn, who is currently teaching her last semester at MSU’s Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media. “Although Signing Savvy has some solid experience under it's belt, we are a young company and we've decided that it's time to focus our energy into making it grow.”
Signing Savvy is part of the newest generation of growing local businesses moving into the
Technology and Innovation Center. According to Winn, the company’s mission is to be the go-to sign language resource for educators, students, and anyone interested in sign language. Locating at the TIC during their growth is intended to help make that dream a reality.
“This is a new chapter for Signing Savvy,” says Winn. “We're looking forward to the TIC because it's an environment with like-minded technology enthusiasts that encourage risk, hard work, and innovation.”
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.