IPMA: A Legacy of 
 Growth

The constant pressure on in-plant managers to justify our operations is taxing to us, as well as to our staffs. Retaining good employees is hard when the water cooler talk is about another effort to shut down the operation. So as we run up against these challenges, we look to friends and colleagues for help and answers. What we find is that others have already fought these battles. The In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) has become a powerful repository of this knowledge—and knowledge is power.

I have spent the last four-plus years as part of the leadership team for the IPMA, the last two as president. During this time IPMA has achieved remarkable growth and overall success. I am not here to take credit for this. Much of what has happened is the direct result of the hard work of my predecessors. To them I owe a large thank you. My job was much easier because of their efforts.

The beauty of IPMA is the collaboration between like-minded individuals, striving toward a similar goal. We are each different in a variety of ways, but we all face the same challenges. Whether we are in higher education, manufacturing, insurance, government or any other type of in-plant, it is the day-to-day issues that bind us together.

IPMA has made major strides in member support via webinars, white papers and vendor-supported activities. Every advancement was implemented to help each of us do our jobs better and keep us abreast of changes and challenges.

Conference Better than Ever

I am proud of how the annual IPMA conference has continued to grow and improve. I'm not just speaking about attendance, but also the quality of speakers and sessions, the level of support from our growing list of vendor partners and the association's ability to provide these benefits while reducing the cost to attend each year. The IPMA board has taken the stance that it is critical to make the annual conference into more of an educational conference and be welcoming to all groups of in-plant printers.

This year we have expanded the board to include an important position that will deal directly with our vendor partners. Debbie Pavletich, from Briggs and Stratton, has accepted this position. Debbie was my predecessor as president, and her advice and guidance have been very beneficial to IPMA. I am confident that our vendor relationships will thrive with her as our liaison.

IPMAs' relationship with In-Plant Graphics has also been very beneficial to both partners. In particular, the In-Print contest continues to grow in popularity. The prestige of winning an award and being recognized by colleagues and our internal management is proving to be a huge feather in our caps. Having something tangible to show at home can and has made the difference in continued funding for some operations. Plus the awards provide instant marketing opportunities. Even if you don't win, every submission will enhance your marketing effort.

I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to the home office staff of Carma Goin and Deb Svoboda. Their hard work and dedication to make the association run smoothly every day, making all of our lives easier. On April 1, I will turn over the reins of the association to Tony Seaman, director of Brand Creative Services at the University of Mississippi. I have known Tony for many years and am confident that he will continue the pattern of success.

So to the IPMA members and all in-plant printers, it has been my pleasure to serve as the association's president for the past two years. My help and guidance are always available to each of you. As a life-long educator, I firmly believe in the sharing of knowledge, and if the truth be told, that is what IPMA is all about. IPG

John Sarantakos is administrator of University of Oklahoma Printing & Mailing Services and outgoing president of the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association. You can contact him at: sarantakos@ou.edu