
Among the 60 largest in-plants listed in In-plant Impressions’ December ranking, we counted at least 15 whose managers or directors started their jobs in 2024 or in late 2023. That’s 25% of the 60 largest in-plants with new leadership.
Here are the in-plants that have gone through leadership changes:
State of California | University of Tennessee - Knoxville |
State of Colorado | University of Texas at Austin |
State of Washington | University of Virginia |
City and County of San Francisco | University of Washington |
University of California, Davis | Deer Valley USD |
University of Nebraska - Lincoln | New York Police Department |
University of North Texas | Houston Independent School District |
University of Oklahoma |
Some of these incoming managers and directors are new to the in-plant community; others are more familiar to readers of In-plant Impressions. To introduce you to them and give you an idea of the steps they have taken since starting, we reached out to all of them with a few questions. Here’s what those who responded had to say.
State of California,
Office of State Publishing
Lou Butera started as California State Printer August 12, 2024, succeeding Paul Dixon, who was appointed deputy director of Facilities Management. He was previously vice president of operations for a large printing and mailing business, where he ran multiple facilities, which produced close to 1 billion pieces per year.
What is your background in the print industry?
I have been in printing since high school, taking classes in graphic arts and following that with a degree in Printing Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
With oversight responsibility for 41 in-plant facilities, we have established regular and ongoing communications. We have also fine-tuned our methods for collecting data to better understand each of their performance levels.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
We are now writing a five-year strategic plan, establishing a balanced scorecard at both the enterprise and department level, establishing key metrics, and improving our workflows to allow for faster production cycle times.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
My deputy director is allowing me to manage the business in a meaningful way and provides good insight as needed.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
We want to reduce the amount of work that is being exempted by the state and share that work where it best fits each in-plant.
State of Colorado,
Integrated Document Solutions
Jeff Peeler started in February, 2024, as the regional director for the State of Colorado’s Integrated Document Solutions unit, a position held for many years by the late Mike Lincoln.
What is your background in the print industry?
Prior to joining the State of Colorado, I enjoyed 25 years of service at Seagate Technology, where I had the rewarding opportunity to serve in a number of roles, my recent being Senior Director for New Product Introduction in the Cloud Services group. I started my new career in the print industry when I joined the Integrated Documents Solution team at the State of Colorado.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
Some of the changes we've made include a reorganization of the unit, designed to provide increased support and focus on our variable data design and account management teams. We have also initiated a formal process improvement program, supported with a bi-monthly lunch-and-learn event.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
My predecessor assembled a passionate and committed team, ready to serve the best interests of the people of the State of Colorado. He also ensured the facility had the proper equipment to meet the needs of our production crew. My focus has centered on driving increased efficiency in our overall operations, from order entry to fulfillment. The team has stepped up, providing multiple process improvement suggestions and demonstrating accountability and ownership in their areas of responsibility. We have also worked to increase the quality of communication between our teams and with our clients.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
My senior management and executive leadership chain has been and continues to be, very supportive of the approach we are taking.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
As with most other print and mail operations, we keep an eye focused on the growing and future needs of our clients, and ensure we have a strategic plan for equipment acquisition to align with and support those needs. We will continue our continuous process improvement projects, increase cross-training efforts with our production staff, and work to make the client/customer experience a positive event.
Washington State,
Department of Enterprise Services
On April 1, 2024, Cherrie Imbao started as interim Print and Mail Program Manager, a role that became permanent on August 1, 2024. She replaced previous manager Damien Bernard. In the print industry since 1995, she was previously Print and Mail Operations Manager and prior to that served as Production Services Operations Manager.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
My team is actively working on the co-location and integration of the Print and Mail units. As part of this initiative, we are aligning similar functions within teams to streamline processes, improve efficiency, reduce long-term operational costs, promote work-life balance, and enhance support for both staff and customers. Additionally, we are focused on combining our two digital print sections into a single, unified Digital Print unit. This consolidation, which will include aligning locations, workflows, processes, and financials, is set to take place at the start of the upcoming fiscal year (FY26). The goal of this consolidation is to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, and foster enhanced collaboration among team members. This move supports our commitment to continuous improvement, aligns with organizational objectives, and provides a more adaptable and unified structure for future growth.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
I have had the opportunity to implement changes that align roles and positions with the appropriate teams to better support the different sections within Print and Mail, while also reducing costs. Additionally, I am focusing on our Business Plan for this fiscal year and the upcoming biennium. The plan includes several initiatives, with one of the main priorities being the integration and co-location of the Print and Mail programs.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
There are no upper management challenges after the previous program manager left. Our upper management team has always been supportive of our program.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
As I mentioned, we are working on co-locating our Print and Mail programs in the same facility. Currently, these two programs are located in separate buildings in the Olympia/Tumwater area. As part of this co-location, we will evaluate our operations, processes, capacity, service offerings, and equipment to ensure we can continue supporting the needs of our customers while also reducing long-term operational costs.
City and County of San Francisco,
ReproMail
René Antonio Alvarado is currently interim manager of ReproMail following the retirement of Salla Vaerma-Jadlos, who ran the in-plant since 2008.
University of California, Davis
Repro Graphics
Darin Hinman stepped into the role of director - Repro Graphics on May 6, 2025, following the retirement of Donna Horbelt. He previously served as director of mail operations – output solutions at Fiserv Inc. in St Louis, Missouri. He has worked in production mail since the early 1990s.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
There has been nothing identified that was ‘broken’ in the operation, just some things we can improve upon. We have implemented some revised processes that have achieved efficiency.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
Nothing really other than refining processes.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
We are looking at adding some new equipment: an inkjet envelope printer and an in-line booklet maker on one of our Xerox presses. We are also looking at adding large-format equipment that will improve some of our processes and provide redundancy.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln,
Print & Mail Services
After nine months as interim director Mike Chaplin assumed the role of director of UNL Print & Mail Services, a PRINTING United Alliance member, on July 1, 2024. He replaced John Yerger, who retired.
What is your background in the print industry?
I’m beginning my 41st year in the printing industry. I owned a commercial print shop from 1984 to 2009 in Beatrice, Nebrasla. As part of the sale agreement, I worked with the purchasing company for three years, after that, I joined Jacob North in Lincoln, Nebraska, to develop their digital operations following the installation of some new equipment. When Jacob North was acquired by a South Dakota company, I was hired by Colonial Press in Omaha as vice president of operations. In 2018, I joined UNL Print & Mail Services as mail manager, was promoted to assistant director two years later, and now serve as director.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
Several exciting things are underway, although some are still confidential. One significant focus has been expanding our insourcing efforts, which are beginning to show results. We've hosted multiple tours and meetings with potential new clients recently. A local healthcare provider recently closed their in-plant copy center and we’ve begun producing their projects in our copy center.
Additionally, I’ve been addressing staffing challenges due to difficulty in hiring qualified personnel and reductions in workforce. To adapt, I’m evaluating staff responsibilities to better align with their talents and skill sets. I’m currently planning further strategic changes to optimize our operations.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
I’ve been striving to increase transparency in our financial discussions with the leadership team and actively involve them in key operational decisions. My goal is to cultivate a culture where every team member feels empowered to share their ideas and contribute creative solutions, ensuring innovation and collaboration thrive at all levels of the organization.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
The most significant change was the elimination of the assistant director position, which I previously held. This required a reorganization of responsibilities to maintain operational efficiency and address gaps left by the position’s removal.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
Our primary, ongoing goal is to strengthen collaboration with campus departments, helping them optimize their marketing and recruiting campaigns by effectively integrating print solutions. Rising material and postage costs have led many departments to shift focus to email and social media, often overlooking print's potential. We’re emphasizing personalization and showcasing the capabilities of our KM1 inkjet press. Many designers on campus have had minimal training on how to incorporate print into their strategies. We have successfully produced products for some departments and the pieces have generated some buzz across the campus which prompted interest from other clients. Our goal is to keep building on this momentum, demonstrating print’s value in achieving impactful and well-rounded marketing and recruiting campaigns.
Wide-format and promotional products are two areas where we’ve seen some growth. Getting online storefronts established for both print and promo has been integral to that growth.
We are also working on expanding our storefronts to create some “Store within a Store” where each department head can establish its own catalog of items that their staff can access and order. Some of the department heads have expressed the desire to place a budgeted amount for each staff member, which they can spend on whatever items they’d like to order from their unique departmental page. Others just want to order in bulk and have us fulfill from their inventory.
As far as equipment is concerned, embellishment is definitely on our radar and also upgrading our equipment in wide-format to include a flatbed printer and flatbed cutter.
When looking into the future, the most intriguing thing to me is centered around how AI and automation are going to impact the printing industry by streamlining complex tasks and eliminating some of the learning curve for equipment operators
University of North Texas,
Printing and Distribution Solutions
Ron Allred has assumed the role of associate director, Print Services, following Lora Connaughton’s retirement. Though he started this position on September 01, 2023, he is also manager/assistant director of UNT Mail Services and has worked in mail for 37 years.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
For Printing and Distribution Solutions (PDS) to be successful, we had to completely redirect our focus to improving efficiency and reducing costs. We adopted the just-in-time approach to assist with the stabilization of expenses.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
We have simplified our pricing structure, increased our marketing outreach for both on/off campus opportunities, and implemented Smartsheet for ‘live’ tracking of production and invoicing.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
Yes, there were many challenges to be overcome. Upper management worked hand-in-hand with PDS to help us establish a new direction. PDS received, and is still receiving, support from upper management.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
We are currently working on cross-training within all areas, beginning with our customer service representatives. In the past they were specialized in either print or promotional sales. Once training is complete, each will be able to provide customer service support for all areas.
The University of Oklahoma,
Printing and Mailing Services
Sherri Isbell took over as director of Printing and Mailing Services in July 2025 after the retirement of long-time director John Sarantakos. With more than 30 years of printing industry experience, most of it in leadership roles at OU, she previously served as associate director of the in-plant.
What is your background in the print industry?
My journey began in 1990 when I was in college at OU. I started answering the phone and processing basic print orders on a typewriter, but quickly developed a passion for the printing process. Eager to learn, I took every opportunity to expand my knowledge, stepping in to assist whenever help was needed. The In-plant Printing and Mailing Association played a crucial role in my professional growth. The in-plant leaders were always willing to share their expertise, and the conferences were invaluable in proving insights. I found the certification process to be an excellent tool for future leaders. I am an advocate for the organization and served on its board for many years, including a term as president.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
My latest win is a contract with the State of Oklahoma. They are transiting all their print work from internal to external sources and we are under contract to be the new printer for the state starting in January 2025.
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
I’m fortunate to have personally hired or been involved in the hiring process for most of my team, including my direct reports, and I’m proud to work with such an incredible group. I’ve been collaborating closely with my direct reports to provide them with increased responsibilities and resources, empowering them to take full ownership of their roles. My goal is to foster greater staff engagement and build a more motivated workforce.
I have increased marketing across our campus locations for print, mail, novelties, and the copier contract. In addition, I changed the sales model to better reflect the goals of our university’s mission and customers’ needs.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
I already had a relationship with my direct reports, our vice president, and our president. My previous director set the groundwork with our department, so I had a good foundation to move forward.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
I plan to transition to larger format inkjet technology at the appropriate time while continuing to expand the variety of products we offer. We consistently analyze our customers' evolving needs to stay ahead.
As many in our workforce are nearing retirement, I am actively seeking new employees to train through apprenticeship programs. The positive side is that once people join our team, they tend to stay long-term. However, this makes finding replacements challenging when they eventually leave. Currently, I oversee a team of 50-plus employees working in both offset and digital environments, and like many in our industry, we face a shortage of available and experienced professionals.
I’ll also be leveraging the power of AI and implementing it wherever possible. Technology is constantly evolving, presenting us with both the challenge and the opportunity to navigate its unchartered waters.
University of Tennessee - Knoxville,
Printing & Mailing Services
Paul Jones is the new director of Printing & Mailing Services after previous director Tim Price left to become director of Business Development for Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. Jones formerly served as material services manager for the Montgomery County Board of County Commissioners.
The University of Texas at Austin,
Document Solutions
Kelly Hogg, formerly director of Printing & Copying Services at the University of Virginia, assumed the director’s role in August 2024 following the retirement of Richard Beto. He has worked in the print industry for 34 years.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
I’ve been busy learning the UT and state of Texas way of operating; staff/operational re-alignment; I formed a safety committee and started engaging with our Environmental Health and Safety Department; and I’m working on developing operational SOP’s and process/control mapping.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
I’m developing plans for an upcoming move of the operation (location and date yet determined); revamping our fleet management program; developing a five-year strategic plan; and developing a departmental Continuity of Operations Plan.
University of Virginia,
Print and Mail Services
Christa Nuckols, a 28-year print industry veteran, is the new senior director of University of Virginia Print and Mail Services, a PRINTING United Alliance member. She started in April 2024 following the departure of former director Kelly Hogg.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
I worked to change how departments view print—not just as a traditional medium, but as a strategic solution that compliments and enhances their communication goals. Through targeted outreach, educational sessions/tours, and collaboration, I emphasized how print can deliver impactful results, helping departments and students see its relevance. This approach positioned UVA Print and Mail as a trusted partner in achieving high-quality, in-brand projects that drive engagement.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
Continue to grow revenue and create a positive, client-centric culture while utilizing process improvements that drive internal and external ease of business.
University of Washington,
Creative Communications
Jessica Colinares is now director of Creative Communications following the retirement of Katy Folk-Way.
Deer Valley Unified School District,
Print Services
Erik Hackenschmidt is the new manager of Deer Valley USD Print Services, a PRINTING United Alliance Member, as of Oct. 23, following the retirement of Martin James. He previously served as print production lead at the in-plant.
What actions have you taken at the in-plant since starting?
With the limited amount of time I have been the manager, I have started conversations on joining purchasing cooperatives and want to make it easier for small districts to find our services,
What are you doing differently than was done in the past?
I’m taking a more engaged approach with all employees and the workflow of production.
Were there any new upper management challenges after the previous director left?
Since Martin has retired there have been no major issues with the upper management. They have all welcomed me with open arms.
What can you tell us about your future plans for the in-plant?
My work has only started, and I want to expand and be able to print and supply materials for all students of Arizona. I will continue alliances with AASBO and other state organizations to further this cause and provide the best and most affordable product.
New York Police Department Print Section
Julio Rosado, former director of the NYPD Printing Section, was reassigned. No word on who has taken on the position. The NYPD Printing Section is a PRINTING United Alliance member.
Houston Independent School District
Chuck Werninger, Senior Manager and Records Management Officer for HISD's in-plant, left to oversee print operations at the Region 4 Education Service Center. His replacement has yet to be named.

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 180 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.