IPMA Report: Becoming a Better Leader
The 2025 In-plant Printing and Mailing Association conference brought more than 125 managers to Spokane, Washington, for four dynamic days packed with insights, networking, and awards. Attendees returned home inspired and armed with fresh strategies to improve their operations.
Sherri Isbell talks about the Lincoln Leadership Institute, named to honor Mike Lincoln, former Colorado State Printer who passed away unexpectedly last year. | Photo courtesy Sam Lauersdorf Photography
One unique session at the conference focused on leadership and was the culmination of a four-week self-taught program that had participants practicing various aspects of leadership in their daily lives. Led by Sherri Isbell, director of Printing and Mailing Services at the University of Oklahoma, the course was named The Lincoln Leadership Institute: Leading with Vision, Purpose, and Heart in honor of Mike Lincoln, former Colorado State Printer who passed away unexpectedly last year.
Prior to IPMA 2025, participants explored four core leadership themes – authentic influence, everyday impact, perseverance, and emotional intelligence – through readings, videos, reflection prompts, and journaling to encourage personal growth and value-based leadership.
Attendees of the leadership session at IPMA 2025.
During the IPMA session, in-plant managers shared their personal leadership missions and related “small acts of leadership” they carried out in their daily lives. Michele Woodrum (Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance) said she had emailed each of her peers to thank them for their impact on her career growth as she prepared to take on a new leadership role. Christina McDonald (Seminole County Public Schools) noted that she had put staff in charge of responsibilities outside their comfort zones to help them grow, and then gave them positive feedback for areas in which they excelled.
Attendees of the leadership session at IPMA 2025. | Photo courtesy Sam Lauersdorf Photography
Tammy Golden (State of Tennessee) related a meeting she held with a direct report to tell her she had faith in her and encourage her as she entered a program for new leaders. John Cruser (Bloomberg) noted that he keeps a calendar of birthdays and anniversaries so he can recognize employees on those days.
Sherri Isbell
The program explored how great leaders inspire, adapt, and take the lead for change. Great leaders don’t just have talent, Isbell noted in the course materials, they persist through setbacks, stay committed to long-term goals, and lead by example.
The IPMA 2025 conference was filled with useful sessions like this. Here is some of our additional conference coverage:
- IPMA Report: Curing In-plant Labor Woes with Robots
- IPMA Report: Becoming a Better Leader
- IPMA Report: RFPs Can Unlock Better Tech, Lower Costs
- IPMA Report: Stickers and Samples Drive In-plant Marketing Success
- IPMA Conference Delivers Valuable Insights
- IPMA Report: You’ve Got Mail… Updates!
Attendees of the leadership session at IPMA 2025.
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 200 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.
