Leading The Top University Shop

As the University of Washington's first director of Publications Services, Eric Mosher presides over the top university in-plant in the country.

By Joe Ranoia

Eric Mosher didn't set out for a career in printing. However, his ability to do many things well and adapt to challenges led him on a fascinating career path, culminating in his appointment as the first director of Publications Services in the University of Washington's history.

Mosher, 59, was born in Pittsburgh, but grew up in Boulder, Colo., where he briefly attended Colorado State University before joining the Army. Mosher served in Korea during the Vietnam War and fortunately saw no combat.

After three years, he took his discharge and returned to Colorado State via the G.I. Bill. There he pursued a degree in journalism with a specialty in television news. He took many jobs to work his way through college. Most notably he helped build a nuclear power plant.

After graduation, Mosher stayed on staff at Colorado State.

"In 1973, I made a move over to the University Media Relations branch as film/TV news editor," he recounts. "I researched, developed and printed news stories for the university to local TV stations."

Mosher's versatile background finally led him to printing.

"In 1978, I took a step into management with Publications Services," he reports. "I had responsibility for the creative and coordination end of publications...I did client relations and coordinated with the university printing facility. In 1984 [the university] added responsibility for printing."

The Move West

Then an unexpected opportunity arose.

"In 1989 I was recruited to come out to University of Washington to interview for director of Publications Services," Mosher says. The director of Publications and the director of Printing Services had both retired, and the university decided to merge the departments under one director.

"It was an opportunity both in terms of business and profession because…it was a much larger institution," he says.

The restructuring was a massive undertaking.

"The organization was existing in name when I got here, but not in fact," Mosher says. "The integration of services didn't take place until I got here. Each organization had its own culture that I had to become familiar with. Each one had its own territory that it was protective of, own client base, advocates, detractors. Making sense of all that was a challenge. I think once we made it clear that we had a common purpose, meeting client needs…it became easier over time."

Mosher says dealing with a unionized work force for the first time took some getting used to.

"Coming to understand their roles, my role as management and how we can work together, that was probably my steepest learning curve," he says.

When the in-plant moved to its current location, a three-story, 60,000 square-foot facility, "it allowed us to consolidate the bulk of the operation in one building," Mosher says.

Now the in-plant ranks seventh on the IPG Top 50 and is the top university in-plant, providing everything from design to fulfillment, including 20 million mailed pieces per year. The in-plant employs 141 full-time workers.

"I have now hired my entire management team," he says. "I have a good quality team. That might even be my biggest accomplishment."

Mosher loves his job, and he doesn't mince words expressing that.

"I think I'm working for and contributing to the finest university in the United States, possibly the world," he enthuses.

Although he was hesitant at first to leave the beauty of Colorado, he couldn't be happier living in the Pacific Northwest.

"Seattle is such a great city," he says.

In his spare time, Mosher enjoys backpacking and sailing with Georgia, his wife of 37 years. He's also a big sports fan, recently celebrating the WNBA championship won by the Seattle Storm, and suffering the last-place finish of his beloved Seattle Mariners baseball team.