Quad/Graphics

CHICAGO—Four new members of the Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame were inducted during a gala event coinciding with the 19th annual Gold Ink Awards during Graph Expo last month. Shown at the event are, from left: James Hopkins, president/CEO, Hopkins Printing; Dave Leskusky, group president/publisher, Printing Impressions; Jesse Williamson, president, Williamson Printing; Ray…

WASHINGTON, DC—October 11, 2006—The Print Council, a national business development initiative dedicated to the promotion of greater use of printing and print media, today announced the publication of a new, 24-page marketing brochure demonstrating the extraordinary value and effectiveness of print communications. Titled “Why Print? The Top Ten Ways Print Helps You Prosper,” the full-color brochure marks the launch of an ongoing series of strategic activities by The Print Council designed to make a major impact on media decision makers, significantly elevating their awareness of, and appreciation for, the value of print. The first copies of “Why Print?” will be released

AS MUCH as we’d like to think we control our own destinies, fate often lends a guiding hand to the future. Take Tom Quadracci. He’d just obtained his undergraduate degree at Regis University in Denver and had moved on to Stanford for postgraduate work toward what he’d intended to be a career as a marine biologist. His future was set. “When you’re that age, you have visions of sailing around and collecting specimens,” Quadracci says. Then he got a call from Uncle Sam. Even though the war was winding down, Quadracci’s country (and the U.S. Army) needed him. Or so it seemed.

JUST AS Major League Baseball fans look forward to October for the culmination of a long season with the World Series, printers move into autumn with thoughts of the industry’s largest trade show in the Americas for 2006, Graph Expo & Converting Expo, fittingly held in Chicago, home of the reining world champion White Sox. This year’s Graph Expo & Converting Expo, taking place October 15-18 at the McCormick Place South complex, should provide plenty of action for attendees. Exhibit space has topped 400,000 square feet, with nearly 600 exhibiting companies in attendance. It will be the largest Graph Expo show held since 2000.

Valassis Nixes ADVO Deal LIVONIA, MI—Alleging fraud, Valassis Com­munications has sued ADVO in chancery court to rescind its $1.3 billion merger agreement. Valassis alleges ADVO intentionally provided false information and “withheld material information” regarding operating income. The suit also alleges ADVO executives knew of significant internal control deficiencies associated with ADVO’s order-to-cash system. ADVO sees the move as “merely a smokescreen to hide the fact that Valassis is suffering from an extreme case of buyer’s remorse,” and plans to contest the action. Quad Hits the West Coast SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics has ventured west with the acquisition of Craftsman Press West, based in Reno, NV. The facility becomes Quad’s

Salt Lake City-based AlphaGraphics reports it is planning to reach 500 locations over the next five years. Ingrid Wilmet has joined Impressions Inc. of St. Paul, MN, as an account manager. Kim Hawley has joined Dallas-based Taylor Publishing as vice president of sales and marketing for the Taylor Specialty Book division. He most recently held the position of sales manager for the Commercial Book division of Walsworth Publishing. Richard Eade, formerly of Butler Color Press, has joined Inserts East in Pennsauken, NJ, as director of operations. Des Plaines Publishing, Des Plaines, IL, announced that Michael Ford has joined the company as president and CEO.

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics has ventured west with the acquisition of Craftsman Press West, based in Reno, NV. The facility becomes Quad’s tenth, joining sister plants in Wisconsin, New York, West Virginia, Georgia and Oklahoma.The deal won’t create additional capacity for Quad. It plans to replace Craftsman’s existing press lines with newer, advanced presses that are already…

Purchase Expands Quad/Graphics’ Geographic Capabilities to the West Coast SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics announces it has purchased Craftsman Press West, a privately held commercial printer in Reno, NV. The acquisition immediately expands Quad/Graphics’ geographic capabilities to the West Coast, giving it a competitive position in every region of the country. “Through this acquisition we have fine tuned our domestic printing and distribution network,” said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics President & CEO. “Now clients on the West Coast can take better advantage of our brand of timely, top-quality print services.” The Craftsman Press West facility becomes Quad/Graphics’ tenth printing plant, joining the company’s other facilities in Lomira, Hartford, Pewaukee,

BITS AND PIECES BRUCE DERON only wanted to recover some long-lost war medals he’d earned as an Air Force pilot during Vietnam. Thanks to Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Deron will be getting more recognition than he had expected. Deron, president of Waymart, PA-based SG Printing, had contacted McCain’s office inquiring about a way to replace his medals, which had been misplaced years ago during a move. McCain took a long look at Deron’s military record, verified the original citations and found there were other events where he should have been medaled for his actions, according to Deron’s son, Jason—the vice president of sales at

SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics has obtained a majority interest in direct mail communications provider Openfirst. The deal will see Openfirst operate as a subsidiary of Quad/Graphics, maintaining its name, facilities and management team. With 400 employees and projected revenues of $40 million in 2006, Openfirst was founded by President and CEO Robert Kraft in 1996. The company is based in Milwaukee, with production facilities there and in Fredericksburg, VA. Citing Openfirst’s competence in processing complex data files for quicker mail piece production, Quad/Graphics feels the addition will augment its capabilities in the direct mail sector. “Openfirst’s lettershop capabilities complement our direct marketing expertise,” states Quad/Graphics President and CEO Joel