Finding Creative Expression

A FORMER music major, Jane Bloodworth was working as an outside salesperson at an office supply company when fate intervened. A friend who owned an advertising agency asked her to volunteer as a coordinator on a large dairy industry kitting project.

“He was impressed with my abilities and ended up hiring me,” recalls Bloodworth, business manager for the World Bank’s Printing, Graphics and Map Design unit in Washington, D.C. “It was a small agency, and I had an opportunity to do everything from writing and editing to production management and press approvals.”

Bloodworth went on to become the director of travel publishing operations at AAA national headquarters in Heathrow, Fla., before alighting at World Bank approximately 10 years ago. At that time, the in-plant typically printed operational documents for internal use, publications featuring black-and-white text and covers, spot-color maps and two-color newsletters.

“For many years, the volume of the black-and-white operational work had been quite large and had pretty much kept the shop at capacity,” Bloodworth explains. “But, as World Bank’s document review process changed, volumes fell off, and like many in-plants in the mid ’90s, the organization considered outsourcing and contractual staffing.”

Fortunately, internal and external reviews determined the shop could be maintained. An industry consulting firm advised some technology upgrades, and existing capacity was modified to increase service and quality levels. This brought outside work back into the shop, helping to fill available capacity.

Now, she says, in addition to the operational documents, “our work includes commercial publishing books, brochures, booklets, CDs and posters—a real variety.”

The spirit of growth through evaluation and change continues to shape the in-plant. The department has implemented many new technologies and served as a Beta test site for the NexPress 2100 digital color press.

“We were the first in-plant to have a NexPress,” Bloodworth proudly states. She is also delighted that her department recently won six awards, including four Gold awards, in the In-Print 2006 contest.

“Every year since we first started entering the contest in 2001, we have won at least one Gold award in the In-Print contest; this year takes our total to 15 awards,” she says. “The fact that this year’s six awards are for a wide variety of products—from CDs to perfect bound books—demonstrates our depth of skill and diversity.”

Bloodworth goes on to sing the praises of her team—a staff of 45 employed by the Bank, as well as 35 individuals hired by a facilities management firm to staff the copier and parts of the digital print programs.

“They are extremely dedicated to the Bank and its mission,” she says. “Moreover, they have all had to relearn their jobs at least once in the past 10 years as we have continually evolved. In addition to upgrades and new technologies, we’ve brought on new business lines, such as large-format poster services, digital printing and CD ROM/DVD replication and labeling.”

Forward Thinking

Plans are under way to add a second cut-sheet digital NexPress printer, as well as a digital web device for black-and-white and spot color work, large-format color scanning and larger-format poster printing. Meanwhile, the department is exploring implementing JDF technology within the next 12 months, as well as printing and distribution to some of its overseas locations.

“We’ll also be venturing into digital asset management to improve archiving and retrieving capabilities for ourselves and as a value-added service to our clients,” adds Bloodworth.

She acknowledges that it is not easy to sustain change and remain competitive and current without burning out staff, who have to continually upgrade their skills.

“But, having a thriving in-plant that is helping the institution meet its goals and staff who seem to enjoy what they’re doing is a huge reward,” adds Bloodworth.

Outside of work, Bloodworth likes spending time with her children, ages 15 and 21. She also enjoys singing and gardening in her spare time.IPG

World Bank’s Jane Bloodworth.