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 revenue of $40 million in 2006, Openfirst was founded by President and CEO Robert Kraft in 1996. The company is…
ORLANDO, FL—Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes Inc., presented the keynote address at the 54th annual Web Offset Association conference held here May 21-24. Another highlight was the presentation of the 2006 Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award to Tom Quadracci, chairman and co-founder of Quad/Graphics, who plans to retire at year-end after 35 years…
WORLD AND industry viewpoints alike are set to come together at the upcoming 2006 Web Offset Association (WOA) Management and Technical Conference. But what sets this meeting apart in our conference-heavy industry? According to the WOA’s executive director, the combination of heavy-hitter speakers and relevant industry information will keep those attending the event wanting more. “We want attendees to be able to customize the experience for their individual needs,” reports Mary Garnett, PIA/GATF vice president and WOA executive director. Titled “Decision Points 2006,” the 54th annual conference will take place at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL, on May 21-24. Designed for executives
Quad Workers Nailed in Scam HARTFORD, WI—Two former employees at Quad/Graphics’ magazine printing plant here were arrested and charged in connection with an international insider trading scheme that generated $6.7 million, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Former temporary employee Nickolaus Shuster and recently terminated Quad worker Juan Renteria were charged with being sources of illegal insider information, the newspaper reported. Supplying investor tips from an investment feature that appears in BusinessWeek in advance of the street date allegedly netted more than $345,000 in profits. Aurand, Vista Buying Outlook NEENAH, WI—Led by former Banta CEO Calvin Aurand, Vista Group Holdings is acquiring Outlook Group for $13.50 per
This year’s recipient of the Web Offset Association’s Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award might seem like an obvious choice, due to some family connections. Yet, it’s been hard work, determination and technological innovation that propelled Thomas A. Quadracci to the top of America’s largest privately held printer, not his last name. Quadracci will be presented with the eighth annual VISION Award on May 22 during the WOA conference. The honor was named after Quad/Graphics’ late founder and Thomas’ older brother, Harry Quadracci, who was the inaugural recipient in 1999. The timing of the award also couldn’t be better. Currently, chairman and CEO of Quad/Graphics, Tom
SUSSEX, WI—Thomas Quadracci has chosen the 35th anniversary of Quad/Graphics as the day he officially retires from the company, which also happens to be the day he started with the storied printer, alongside brother (and founder) Harry V. Quadracci. Tom Quadracci will retire from his position as CEO on July 1, to be replaced by Joel Quadracci, the founder’s son. The out-going CEO will remain with the company as executive chairman of the board of directors and will fully retire on December 31. Joel Quadracci, a 15-year veteran of the company, will be elevated to president and CEO. His role of COO will not
Quad Workers Nailed in Scam HARTFORD, WI—Two former employees at Quad/Graphics’ magazine printing plant here were arrested and charged in connection with an international insider trading scheme that generated $6.7 million, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Former temporary employee Nickolaus Shuster and recently terminated Quad worker Juan Renteria were charged with being sources of illegal insider information, the newspaper reported. Supplying investor tips from an investment feature that appears in BusinessWeek in advance of the street date allegedly netted more than $345,000 in profits. Aurand, Vista Buying Outlook NEENAH, WI—Led by former Banta CEO Calvin Aurand, Vista Group Holdings is acquiring Outlook Group for $13.50 per
Maryland Printer Gets High Honor BALTIMORE—Peake DeLancey Printers, of Cheverly, MD, received the “Grand Q” Best in Show award from the Printing & Graphics Association MidAtlantic (PGAMA) Print Quality Awards competition. Lallie Inc., of Millersville, MD, won the “Little q” award. Pictured, the Peake DeLancey Printers team poses here after receiving the “Grand Q” award. As part of a nationwide program with its parent company, Consolidated Graphics (CGX), AGS Custom Graphics of Macedonia, OH, has welcomed two new employees into its Management Associate Program—Desirae McBride and Maureen Rourke. McBride was recruited from the University of Akron while Rourke hails from Hope College in Michigan. Quad/Graphics announced that
Workers Say No to Union MONTREAL—An independent arbitrator has ruled there is no need to hold a re-run election for union representation at Quebecor World’s Covington, TN, facility, as requested by the Teamsters. The decision upholds a secret ballot election in which those employees opted against union representation. As part of the decision, it was ruled that Quebecor World’s conduct did not adhere to the neutrality provisions of the May 2005 Neutrality Agreement signed by the printer and Teamsters. CGX Finishes Nies/Artcraft Deal HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics has completed the acquisition of St. Louis-based Nies/Artcraft Companies, which includes Nies/Artcraft Printing, Valcour Printing and Impression Label. Terms of the deal
SUSSEX, WI—Privately owned commercial printing giant Quad/Graphics has merged several client-facing tool sets into a new business unit called QuadSystems. The unit will focus on developing, marketing and supporting publication management systems designed to help magazine and book publishing, advertising and catalog businesses improve operational and cost efficiencies. Its four publication management systems offered—AdSync, Impoze, PlanSystem3 and R.A.P.S.—are being organized into a single entity for more effective use of resources to better serve clients. QuadSystems’ development and support teams are based at Quad’s headquarters here. In 2000, Quad/Graphics acquired Impoze Systems, the software development company that created AdSync, Impoze and R.A.P.S. The printer signed an exclusive
