In-plant Profiles

After putting up with an inefficient, Excel-based job management system for years, Ashland University Printing & Imaging Solutions acquired EDU Business Solutions' Print Shop Pro Manager software. Since then, life has been so much simpler for the in-plant's six full-time and four part-time and student workers. Customers can now pull up previous jobs and review the details, sparing staff from fielding their calls.

More than 40 year after moving to Alaska, Warren Fraser—manager of Printing Services for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks—has no regrets about having left New England. Fraser became manager of the University's Printing Services in 1990, and immediately set out to establish a benchmark for quality.

WHEN GARRY Boytos arrived at the University of Texas Health Science Center's in-plant (UT Print) in 2008, he faced a challenging situation. Boytos knew that to effectively compete with outside vendors, UT Print would have to make a lot of improvements.

AS SHE closes in on 35 years at the same in-plant, Debby Messina has absolutely no regrets. "I've always loved my job," she proclaims. That job is print room supervisor for the Delaware Division of Research, Legislative Council. One of the reasons she loves it—besides having a lifelong fascination with printing—is that it gives her a chance to serve her beloved state of Delaware, where she has spent her whole life.

ASK BILL Neff about the key to his success over his long printing career and he'll tell you it's his ability to listen—to customers and coworkers alike. His prowess at solving problems, his knack for adding just the right services to his in-plant—it all comes down to paying attention when people talk, and not being afraid to ask, "What more can I do to help?"

One of the more exciting acquisitions for the Print Solutions department at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in 2011 was a new four-color Presstek 75DI digital offset press with an aqueous coater. It joined the Print Solutions family in May.

Wes Morgan experienced the evolution of prepress technology as he moved through the Virginia printing industry en route to his current position with Afflink Business Services.

Michael Luzzo, of Fidelity Investments, told the IPMA audience how he consolidated four in-plants into one and got leaner in the process.

Shana Farrell talks about how she brought major improvements to her in-plant. 

Ever Since she took over Kellogg Community College's print shop seven and a half years ago, June Lewis has never had more than one or two student helpers to assist her. But after an equipment overhaul a few years ago at the Battle Creek, Mich., in-plant and a two-year effort to restore confidence in the shop's capabilities, Lewis says her full-time staff is about to double.