2004 HALL OF FAME Charles Krehbiel -- Picture Perfect
By Erik Cagle
Senior Editor
As if life in general were not enough, it seems art has taken to imitating the commercial printing industry. Just ask Charles "Tuck" Krehbiel, CEO of CJK: Print Possibilities, in Cincinnati.
Krehbiel, 54, a trustee of the Art Academy of Cincinnati for the past three years, is an avid collector of fine art photography. He is enamored with the landscape works of Edward and Brett Weston, the figurative masterpieces of Ruth Bernhard and the fashion works of Horst P. Horst. His wife of 26 years, Deb, has a fine arts degree and operates an interior design company. Krehbiel himself owns a darkroom and studio.
Just like art, commercial and book printing is in Krehbiel's blood. He heads the fourth generation of the family owned business and is amazed at the parallels between his twin passions of photography and printing.
"I've taken a number of photography courses and have learned so much about cameras, orthochromatic film and panchromatic film," says the 2004 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductee. "It's interesting that the trend in both photography and printing is moving away from film. Another interesting parallel in my life is that the Art Academy is moving within a couple of blocks of the original site of The C.J. Krehbiel Co. in downtown Cincinnati. When I walked into the new home of the Art Academy, I sensed, 'this is awfully familiar.' As it turns out, the Art Academy is moving into the old S. Rosenthal Printing Co. building."
As a keeper of the flame for a company that dates back to 1872, printing has been a constant in Tuck Krehbiel's life. He remembers walking into the downtown building as a youngster, overwhelmed by the smell of ink and paper, and fascinated by the old sheetfed Miehle and GMA gas dryers at the delivery end of the presses and their "wall of flame" through which the sheets passed.
While in college, Krehbiel entertained thoughts of going to law school. But by the time he obtained a B.A. in history from Denison University, he was itching to get into the business world and earn a paycheck. "I was ready to get away from academics for a while," he admits. "It made more sense to go into business and learn first hand than put in another two years of academe."
Krehbiel joined the company in 1973 and has held a variety of posts, from customer service and plant manager to vice president and COO. He has served as CEO the past two years; his cousins also hold executive roles with the company: Rob Krehbiel—a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee—is president and COO, while John Krehbiel serves as CFO. Uncle Robert Krehbiel Jr. is chairman.
Name Says it All
The company has undergone a number of changes in its 132 years, including the name change from The C.J. Krehbiel Co. to CJK: Print Possibilities this past March. Its new name reflects the wealth of printing capabilities offered, including books, catalogs, magazines, manuals and specialty products.
"We find ourselves with a very diversified offering of products to different industries," he notes. "We waited for the technology to become reliable before we made a major step into electronic prepress and computer-to-plate systems."
Migrating into casebound products in 1900 helped CJK turn the corner product-wise, and technology followed suit as the company built upon its expertise in four-color printing. The technology aided in quality and cost-effectiveness, while its four-color printing prowess opened new possibilities in magazine, catalog and commercial work.
"The industry has shifted into putting traditional lithographic inks, as well as toner and ink-jet inks, onto paper," Krehbiel says. "The printing platforms have changed and there are very specialized markets, some of which we will not participate. We'll continue to concentrate on traditional lithography as far as converting paper to print.
"Five years ago, I would have said that there's more room for growth in traditional lithography. But that growth has been limited because of the different print platforms that are available now, both for sheetfed and rollfed equipment."
Like many printers, Krehbiel has been amazed at the length and severity of the economic slump that has festered the past four years. Though he saw recessionary signs in early 2000, what Krehbiel didn't forecast was how the slump would change his company's work cycles and alter when the heavy periods would occur.
"The traditional pulse and pace of our industry seemed to change after 2000," he says. "And our ability to forecast has become increasingly difficult over the last three or four years. Technology has allowed customers to wait until the last minute to order printing. With print demand low and the availability of presstime very high, many print buyers have been able to make last-minute orders, and they've also had the benefit of ordering lesser quantities. That creates more demand for new work and new customers, but has increased our difficulty in predicting incoming work."
Fortunately, the wealth of experience that comes with being a part of a long-time family printing operation has helped Krehbiel maneuver through the choppy economic waters. He recalls paying visits to customers with his father, Chuck, along with the president of Diem and Wing Paper. What struck him was seeing the manner in which the client was serviced in terms of paper and print production needs. In the process, Krehbiel had the chance to meet art directors, editors, production personnel and even company presidents.
No "I" in Team
In that vein, Krehbiel has gained an appreciation for the teamwork concept when it comes to service and production. He loves the custom nature of print jobs—how each print order is unique with its own distinctive cycle, from file receipt to the finished product. In the process, Krehbiel relishes the opportunity to tap the great wealth of knowledge the CJK team has accumulated through the years.
"I try to avoid paradigms, instead asking employees for their opinions and point of view," Krehbiel remarks. "I like to think that we foster a culture where people are free to express their ideas and values."
Krehbiel has the same listening skills when it comes to dealing with his clients, who have learned that the man's word is his bond. Allan Conley, manufacturing manager for Wiley Publishing in Indianapolis, relies on CJK for the production of four-color computer technology books.
"Tuck is a very solid guy and a man of his word," says Conley, who has known Krehbiel for nine years. "When Tuck says something, he makes it happen. He's always been very good to us and a solid vendor for a number of years."
A Perfect Mix
Charles Armstrong, vice president of sales for Ris Paper, finds Krehbiel to have a unique blend of a technophile with genuine people skills. "Tuck is a quality-oriented guy and also interfaces well with the sales side of the business because he appreciates the marketing side. Tuck certainly realizes the value of the customer and is very personable."
Krehbiel spent 10 years as a member of PIANKO, the Printing Industries of America affiliate serving northern Kentucky and Ohio. He has served as chairman of the association's health plan for four years and has been on the board of directors for nine years.
Tuck and Deb Krehbiel have two sons, Doug and Mark, both of whom have obtained business degrees. Doug, a production coordinator for nearly three years, is the fifth generation to work at CJK. Mark is getting ready to enter the job market.
In addition to sharing their love of art, the Krehbiels are actively involved in Cincinnati's Nature Center, for which Deb is a trustee. In their free time, the couple love to grab their cameras and go hiking on a trail.
"We're trying to give back to the community through our involvement in the Art Academy and the Cincinnati Nature Center," Krehbiel says. "A combined appreciation of art and nature creates a keen sense of awareness in children of all ages. People who are keen and aware grow up to lead productive, nonviolent lives."
