In-plant Profiles

I spent two days this week in Washington, D.C., where I toured five in-plants, ranging from the two-person Smithsonian American Art Museum sign shop to the massive Government Publishing Office. I even ran into a visiting in-plant manager on the street.

Though he planned to be a veterinarian, Drew Burgering has been happy with his successful career as an in-plant manager at three different universities.

Tami Reese has been in the print industry for more than three decades because it’s simply what she loves — from the smells to the products produced, Reese is passionate about print.

While in Nashville recently, I took the opportunity to visit two in-plants: Vanderbilt University Printing Services and the State of Tennessee’s Document Services operation.

The past few months have brought big changes to the Hunter Engineering Co. in-plant. Not only did the shop undergo a complete renovation, it upgraded two of its production color printers and added a laser cutter/engraver, enabling it to create customized gifts for company visitors.

The Marine Corps veteran has utilized his leadership skills to forge his path in the world of printing and empower his employees to be the best they can be.

Only the third university in-plant to add a production inkjet press, University of Tennessee Printing & Mail is using this technology to advance into a new world of possibilities.

From her serendipitous start in the printing industry to her current role as manager, Tina Wolfgram has no regrets about her four decades in print — and no fear of working the production floor to meet deadlines.

Only a third of those working in the printing industry are women. So that makes it even more extraordinary that three in-plants have ended up being staffed and managed entirely by women.

From stickers and print embellishments to kitting and fulfillment, Oregon State University Printing & Mailing Services is relying on innovative offerings to recoup lost revenue from declining toner work.