In-plants on List of Best Employers

By Bob Neubauer

Forbes’ recent listing of America’s Best Midsize Employers included several companies and organizations with in-plants. A quick look at the top 100 on this list revealed the following organizations with in-plants:

Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield	Aflac
Olathe Public Schools	Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana
Shelter Insurance	Blue Valley Schools
OGE Energy	American Fidelity
NJM Insurance	Hannover Insurance
California State University, Fullerton	Brown University
East Tennessee State University	Western Carolina University

Managers at these in-plants have great things to say about their parent organizations’ support and why their in-plants are great places to work:

Al Goranson, Western Carolina University

“Western Carolina University is a great place to work because the culture is awesome,” lauds Al Goranson, director of Print and Mail at Western Carolina University. “My entire team pulls together to support the university. The upper management has our back and supports our decisions in the print shop.”

Ben Fowler

“I have always told others that our company, and in-plant, was a great place to work because of the people,” remarks Ben Fowler, manager of Document Services at Shelter Insurance Companies. “It might sound hokey, but our company not only does the right thing to take care of our customers, but they do the same for all employees. Our company has been around since the ’40s, but they have purposefully kept our company at a size that makes us very profitable and strong enough to do what is needed for the benefit for the people who rely on Shelter Insurance. A perfect example is our recent addition of a new inkjet press to make us more efficient and productive for the years to come.”

Willis Jones

“OG&E challenges us to grow and develop both personally and professionally,” observes Willis Jones, supervisor of Managed Printing & Mailing Services at OG&E Energy. “We are empowered to seek out new opportunities to grow as an employee and empowered to grow the communities we serve through many volunteer opportunities. Whether it’s Printing & Mailing Services, or the dedicated linemen restoring power to a family’s home after a storm, it’s truly rewarding to be part of a company that helps our communities grow and thrive.”

Erica Derrington

“The Olathe Public School district is a fantastic employer because they provide their in-plant with the necessary staff and tools to match the needs of our teachers and students,” notes Erica Derrington, manager of Graphic Communications at Olathe Public Schools.

Paul Bethel

“I have to say our employee longevity makes for a great in-plant because we have so many folks that are very broadly trained, which allows us to have someone here during dual shifts that knows how to delve into other areas when someone else may be out, and most everyone gets along very well,” says Paul Bethel, manager of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Digital Printing Services.

Jason Gillam

“The Blue Valley School District is focused on providing each student unprecedented academic success and unparalleled personal growth through personalized student learning,” says Jason Gillam, director of Business Operations at Blue Valley. “Doing so allowed us to align our Printing Services mission of offering services that allow teachers and support staff to submit their work to our in-plant and focus on what they do best to support students. One of the reasons staff choose to work or stay in Blue Valley are the supports we have in place, like Printing Services.”

IPI congratulates all of the in-plants on this list for the part they play in making their organizations great places to work.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 170 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.