Printing Is All In The Family

After 33 years with the state of Louisiana, Irene Babin looks forward to retiring this month.

By Joe Ranoia

Several years into her printing career, Irene Babin made a startling discovery: Her grandfather had been a printer.

"That figures," she muses.

But it's also fitting, since Babin, director of General Services for the State of Louisiana, already feels she has lots of family among her employees at the state's Printing Services department.

"The people in the shop are the most important part of any success I've had," she declares. And she's enjoyed a lot of success.

For example, two years ago she managed to get the in-plant relocated to a 67,000-square-foot facility near downtown Baton Rouge.

"I struggled [for the expansion] almost the entire time…and it finally appeared," Babin states.

Last month the in-plant followed up that move by adding a new NexPress digital color printer, the first state agency in the country to do so.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Babin, 53, started her 33-year career with the state as a revenue officer with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Then, by chance, she was asked to evaluate a test developed for the position of printed forms manager. She took the test—and scored the highest grade. So, she applied for the job. In 1976 she was named director of Forms Management. This began her 25-year relationship with the state's Printing Services department.

"I started out as a customer," she quips.

In 1980, the state asked Babin to temporarily take over Printing Services with the unenviable task of preparing for its shutdown. Babin arrived on the scene and promptly saved it.

"One of the biggest problems was cash flow," she reports. "We had lots of business coming in, but didn't have a lot of money to spend."

Instead of watching the in-plant die, Babin took a unique course of action. She asked the shop's paper supplier for paper on credit until the shop had the cash to pay.

"I thought he might throw me out of his office." she jokes. But to her surprise, and relief, he agreed.

The next step required complete cooperation from the in-plant staff.

"I told them if they could work with me, I could save their jobs," she says.

Babin admits she knew little about printing at the time.

"I could run a copier. That's about it," she says. "I knew I had to depend on them to turn the shop around."

Back In The Black

The staff worked overtime without pay and set out to find more customers. In only nine months, the in-plant was $90,000 in the black. Today, it maintains an operating budget of nearly $6 million and still turns a profit.

The in-plant now safe, Babin returned to her post at Forms Management. However, in 1985, she was named director of both departments. Her first course of action was to combine them.

"It was a good marriage because Forms Management was the print shop's largest customer," she says.

The restructuring proved to be more efficient and saved money.

Running the in-plant put Babin in a few odd situations. She often would be seen working the shop's forklift. On one occasion she even had to drive the delivery truck because she was the only one who could handle a stick shift.

"A police officer stopped to look at me," she reminisces. "He must have thought 'what's a lady in a business suit doing driving that truck?' "

In 1996 Babin's success earned her yet another promotion and even more responsibilities. She was named director of General Services. Added to her umbrella were the Department of State Mail, the Louisiana Property Assistance Agency and the Louisiana Federal Property Assistance Agency.

"I wear a lot of hats," she says. "It's not easy to do all that."

After eight years of being the state of Louisiana's Jack-of-All-Trades, Babin will retire this month. She plans to travel with her husband, Albert, and spend time with her sons Brian and Christopher. A trip to Alaska is already scheduled, along with a foray out west.

"We'll point the trailer west and drive," she enthuses.

Babin leaves a remarkable career behind, including distinguished service as the president of the Women in Management Group and leadership roles in the National State Publishing Association. She has represented the governor in ribbon cutting ceremonies and has held the honorary rank of State Colonel in Louisiana and Kentucky.

Of course, if you ask her, she'll say the accolades are nice, but her greatest accomplishment is being the "mama" of her family at the state of Louisiana. She admits leaving will be difficult.

"After all," she asks, "who retires from their family?"