Rolling With the Changes

Wes Morgan didn't let technology drive him out of the printing world when the position he loved was largely replaced. He adapted.

After starting his printing career as a cameraman/stripper at Warrenton Printing/Fauquier Democrat, in Warrenton, Va., Morgan moved through several printing operations before assuming his current role as director of operations exhibit services at Afflink Business Services.

With two years at Warrenton under his belt, and a stint with A OK Printer in Fairfax, Va., Morgan moved into his first managerial position at an in-plant for the International Communications Industries Association. Two years later he took a job as a four-color stripper at what was then Byrd Press at Cadmus.

"I was able to hone my skills," Morgan says. "You could spend eight hours building one page. Each image would have a color separation that could include knockouts, chokes/spreads and many layers of film. It was an art—a craft. With the development of Quark–XPress, I could see the end in sight for the stripper."

At Cadmus, Morgan eventually became a manager, supervising 21 people. "I enjoyed troubleshooting and getting the presses back up and running." he notes. "I believe in the team concept, so getting buy-in with new procedures and hiring was very important."

After six years in Cadmus's Springfield, Va., facility, Morgan moved to the main Cadmus plant in Richmond.

"I felt a little more stable there," he remarks. "Plus, Richmond is a great place to raise a family."

The printing industry continued to evolve. Electronic prepress, imposition software and imagesetters became more prevalent. Morgan felt fortunate to be involved in the first team at Cadmus to work out workflows with the new systems. At one point Morgan recalls thinking, "Wow, I just did in 45 minutes what it would take an experienced journeyman stripper eight hours to do."

The very technology that he described as an art form was for all intents and purposes replaced by computers.

"Mac operators used to check files for customers," he says. "Nowadays, the client is supplying print-ready PDFs, and the printer runs the files through imposition software. Again, incredible."

Eventually, Morgan was laid off from Cadmus for economic reasons and in January 2002 took a position with Pocahontas Foods/Progressive Group Alliance, which is now Afflink, a subsidiary of Performance Foodservice, headquartered in Richmond. His main responsibility was the in-house print shop, a profit center for the company. Unfortunately, the in-plant had very outdated equipment.

A Dual Role

That was nine years ago. Now, Morgan works for Afflink Business Services. The in-plant is all digital, including a wide-format printer purchased two years ago for vinyl banners and signs for the company's Exhibit Services business. Morgan is also involved with that side of the business. He is part printer, part exhibit foreman.

"If a venue needs carpeting, decor, theme items—we provide them," Morgan explains. "The Afflink summit is coming up, and we are getting tables, carpet, AV, decor, pipe/drape, the whole nine yards together. It's a challenge. Every day is different. My career has definitely taken a turn in the last nine months.

"The events department is doing very well," Morgan continues. "When we sell a large event it drives print. Anywhere from $2,500 to over $10,000 per event."

When the company was Pocahontas Foods, the in-plant had three-and-a-half full-time employees, but with changes in the structure of Performance Foodservice, print shop revenues were cut dramatically.

"We're off over 30 percent," he reveals. "We try to handle as much work as we can internally, but if we can't handle it we'll outsource to a few local vendors."

Given that it's just him running the in-plant now, Morgan takes a bottom-line approach. "I try to focus on the work that is the most profitable," he says. "My time is divided. Before, I would try to do everything; now I don't."

When he is not focusing on his career, or spending time with his children (two boys and a girl, all in college), Morgan stays in shape by swimming and running. He has completed the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k run five times. He also has a new house on five acres in western Hanover County, Virginia. Keeping all that looking good "is more difficult than I thought it would be," he admits.