Sustainability in the In-Plant

Welcome to my blog, “Keeping it Green - Sustainability in the In-Plant.”

First, I thought I should introduce myself by telling you a little bit about my background in printing. I started my print career in my stepfather’s printing company in Los Angeles, where at the time (the late '70s), in addition to a camera and vacuum frames, he still had two hot type machines. I also learned how to make color separations on camera. Boy, talk about the old days.

Always the rebel, I ventured out to become a rock star. That didn’t work out so well, so I went back to printing, taking a prepress position at my first in-plant, General Dynamics. I went from there to the in-plant operation for a large financial institution where I was promoted to prepress manager. While at this position I helped usher in the “digital age.” It was the early '90s, and we went from paste-up and camera to desktop publishing and imagesetters.

I did a stint as a marketing & job manager at PIP Printing corporate headquarters. I traveled around the country negotiating contracts for PIP with large commercial printers and also worked with national account sales and marketing. After an acquisition and management change at PIP, I moved on to become the general manager of the printing division for an entertainment industry advertising company. While at this position, I purchased a couple of 40˝, six-color presses and, as an early adopter, brought in CTP.

The tragic events of 9/11 had a widespread impact in many ways, including a negative impact on the advertising industry, and with dwindling revenue, I was laid off. After looking for work all over Southern California with no prospects, I interviewed and was offered the position of director of Printing Services at the University of California, Santa Cruz, 500 miles north, I accepted.