Linda Balsamo A Multitalented, Multitasking Manager

Linda Balsamo enjoys Walgreens' ethical work environment and her dedicated staff.

By Maggie DeWitt

THE FACT that Linda Balsamo's father worked for Chicago-based commercial printer R.R. Donnelley & Sons most of his career may have somewhat influenced his daughter's employment decisions, but hers is more a case of being in the right places at the right times.

Its not like the in-plant manager of Walgreens, in Deerfield, Ill., was purposely gearing up to walk her particular career path.

"None of my education directly relates to my printing career, except for providing a well-rounded background for running a business," explains Balsamo, who recently received a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems from Fielding Graduate University, and already holds an MA in the discipline from the same institution."This degree is sort of a hybrid between business and the social sciences. Since my interests lie in diversity and human resources, it was a natural fit."

While an undergraduate student majoring in marketing at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Balsamo started working in the photo lab of the facility's department of publications services. She completed her Bachelor's degree, went on to earn an MBA in finance from Loyola University, and upon graduating, was appointed associate director of finance for UIC's publication services department.

"Then, in February 1996, Walgreens made me an offer I couldn't refuse," says Balsamo. "They were interested in combining the printing and mail facilities, which we had done at UIC with good results. I was brought in as manager of Mail Services until the Printing Services manager retired in 2000, and then took over Printing Services also."

Today, the department produces materials for her store and more than 5,000 district locations, including recruiting materials, pharmacy information, corporate communications, statements and various mail-merged documents.

"We have four employees in Printing Services and 30 employees in Mail Services across four locations—soon to be five locations with three additional staff," says Balsamo. "Between both units, our annual budget is approximately $6.7 million for salaries and expenses."

Pressing On

Every five years, Walgreens does an analysis that includes looking into outsourcing printing.

"So far, the department has been able to demonstrate the value and flexibility it brings to the corporate office," says Balsamo. However, there have been changes over the years in response to technology developments. "Color printing has changed the most," she observes. "We used to have an offset shop, but closed it down about six years ago, replacing all the offset and darkroom equipment with black-and-white and color digital equipment."

An HP-Indigo digital press replaced approximately 85 percent of the color work, and the rest was outsourced. Eventually the Indigo was replaced with a smaller color copier at tremendous cost savings.

"We're at a point where we might bring back envelope printing with a piece of digital equipment," continues Balsamo. "With its reduced costs, increased speeds and enhanced quality, digital technology allows us more flexibility in processing jobs. Ongoing equipment upgrades make leasing and renting more attractive options than purchasing."

Being in constant crunch-time mode is a challenge, but the rewards are working in an ethical environment for a company committed to hiring people with disabilities.

"I run a pretty autonomous operation and have the ability to shift job responsibilities around to meet employees' special needs," explains Balsamo. "Right now, 40 percent of our staff—14 people—has some known disability. I wouldn't have it any other way."

The job is flexible enough to allow Balsamo to pursue her other interests, particularly an online course she teaches called Ethics in Business.

"I'm also designing workshops for local vocational rehabilitation organizations and the local Postal Customer Council," she adds. "I've already done several behavioral interviewing workshops. The next one will be on body language and interviewing."

When not working, teaching or advancing her own education, Balsamo enjoys watching television and movies, writing fiction, painting and sewing.

"I promised myself I would take guitar lessons when I finished my Ph.D," she says. "I also promised my eight-year-old twin boys that I would learn how to play video games, but that's not going so well."