Government Printers Meet in Virginia Beach
In September, the National Government Publishing Association met for the 34th time, bringing together government in-plant managers from as far away as Alaska, Vermont, Arizona and Mississippi. Though attendance was lower than usual, the conference was a nonstop festival of knowledge and information, with presentations on lean manufacturing, proving the value of your in-plant and how to re-engineer government mail.
“We are now faced with a rapidly changing print environment, the like of which we have never seen before,” said NGPA President Lise Melton, Print Manager for the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. “At our meeting this week we have acquired an incredible bounty of ideas, facts and tools to help us in the upcoming year. As we wrestle with terrible economic conditions, and calls for shrinking government, it is important to be able to demonstrate why we exist and the benefits we provide to the public through cost savings, integrity and quality work.”
The conference kicked off with William J. Boarman, the Public Printer of the United States, who detailed the ways that the Government Printing Office services the government and the changes being made there to increase efficiency. Employees and management are working together to achieve the same goals, he noted, which include increasing services while reducing costs.
He implored attendees to evolve with new technology. The printer needs to be the broker, supplier, educator and in the end, the manufacturer of a product that ties all these new threads of our industry together.
“Instead of being the government’s printer, today we’re the government’s digital platform,” he said, noting that official, authenticated digital files for all congressional publications are maintained in GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDSys).
At the end of his talk, Boarman presented each attendee with a copy of GPO’s book “Keeping America Informed: 150 Years of Service to the Nation.”
The theme of technology driving us forward in a more connected world was repeated throughout the conference.
• NAPL’s Howie Fenton gave a presentation entitled “Only the Strong Will Survive: Three Ways to Become a World-Class In-plant.”
• New attendees Mike Lincoln and Mike Sexton from the State of Colorado’s Division of Central Services also gave a talk on “Re-engineering Government Mail.”
• Consultant Vic Barkin gave a training session about Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and In-Plant Sustainable & Green (IPSG) group certification opportunities.
• EFI’s Udi Arieli talked about lean manufacturing.
• Ricoh’s Greg Cholmondeley gave a talk on proving the true value of your in-plant.
The conference concluded with the swearing in of new officers. The new NGPA president will be Douglass Beckham, House Printing Manager, Joint Legislative Operations, Mississippi. Susie Barthel, Louisiana State Printer, will assume the vice presidency.
Next year’s NGPA conference will be held in Denver, Colo.
Related story: Government Printers Wrap up Virginia Beach Conference