A Smart Career Choice

HAD IT not been for Vietnam, Gary Boyd might never have become a printer. Instead, the manager of Iowa State University Printing & Copy Services would probably be an independent contractor today, managing his own construction company.

One of five children born in a small, central California town to parents possessed of a nomadic spirit, Boyd traveled around quite a bit as a child. He attended schools throughout the state, before eventually graduating from high school in the East Bay region of California.

“My father and older brothers were all involved in the construction industry,” says Boyd. So from an early age, he was indoctrinated in the business of building homes.

“I was working in construction at the time I was drafted into the Army in 1965, and ultimately the Vietnam conflict,” he says. “Upon returning from the Army, my former father-in-law—a news compositor with the San Jose Mercury News—suggested I consider printing as a career.”

Boyd interviewed with the Bay Area Typographical Union, and subsequently started an apprenticeship with the small, biweekly Los Gatos Times Observer newspaper in California’s South Bay area in 1968. He transferred to a larger newspaper just outside of San Francisco, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, to complete his apprenticeship, and remained there as a journeyman for 10 years.

From the Coast to the Plains

In 1980, Boyd moved to Iowa seeking a better environment in which to raise his two young daughters, and there completed his Bachelor’s degree in business. While teaching a construction trade program at Iowa Western Community College, he learned of an opportunity for a print production manager at Perfection Form Co. Boyd remained with the large printer and book publisher for five years, until he saw a classified ad seeking a manager for ISU’s print and copy center.

Today, the department occupies five different locations on campus and is supported by a staff of 41. Over the years, Boyd has observed the growing demand for four-color jobs. This led to his petitioning for, and acquiring, a four-color press and direct-to-plate capabilities. Then, last October, the in-plant added a Kodak NexPress 2100 SE five-color digital press.

“We needed to address short-run four-color work more efficiently than on our four-color press and also have capability to produce customized pieces,” Boyd explains. “Since we’re a full-service operation, we produce a broad range of products.”

These include course packs, business cards, stationery, brochures, books, posters and engineering prints.

“In addition, our staff normally provides a lot of consulting and training for our customers,” he says, adding that the shop has more than 320 customers on campus.

Originally called the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm when established in 1885, ISU will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year. Boyd’s department worked with the university’s marketing office to make the 150th logo available.

“One of our staff actually assisted with the creation of the...Web site, and we [produced] a hard copy resource booklet in support of the event,” notes Boyd.

He acknowledges that the human resources aspects of overseeing a large department can be just as challenging, if not more so, than the ever-shrinking turnaround times. Boyd is also keenly aware that most in-plants must justify their existence within the parent organization. His department is currently undergoing an external review, though he is confident the shop will provide services to ISU well into the future.

Boyd says having a skilled, dedicated team helps reduce work-related stress. Still, when the going gets tough, Boyd —a grandfather of five—gets going on his Harley. He has owned three Harley Davidson motorcycles while at ISU. Boyd also enjoys playing golf and visiting wineries with his wife of 14 years, Karen, herself a former in-plant manager for Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

And he still plies his skills in cabinet making and home remodeling during his spare time. Could this be, then, where his heart truly lies? Probably not.

“Even while on vacations, I’ve been known to stop in and visit printing operations,” says Boyd. “My in-plant peers are great about sharing ideas.” IPG