Sandy Alexander

THE BIGGEST difference between doing business as a publicly traded company, as opposed to one that is privately held, can be found in the boardroom, notes Joe Baksha, president and CEO of Outlook Group. In both cases, the meetings are strategic from a business standpoint. But the board meetings of publicly traded firms invariably turn their attention to the street. Wall Street, that is. And, in this regard, never has the phrase “perception is reality” rang more true. “When you’re publicly traded, you talk about the business of being a business,” adds Baksha, whose company was sold in 2006 for $46 million to Vista

PHILADELPHIA—March 27, 2007—Now in its 20th anniversary year, the Gold Ink Awards competition continues to earn the respect of the nation’s most important producers of printed work.  Entry submissions for 2007 are now being accepted. ENTRY DEADLINE: May 18, 2007. From corporate giants to smaller regional companies, Gold Ink excellence comes in all sizes. The competition is open to all creators and producers of printed materials, including: Advertising Agencies, Book Publishers, Catalog Publishers, Corporate Publishers, Designers, Direct Marketers, Magazine Publishers, Paper Companies, Prepress and Imaging Centers, Printers, Printing Buyers, Printing Press Manufacturers, and Public Relations Firms. Gold Ink award winners become a member of an

Friesens Corporation, Lawton Printing, and Corporate Press Join Organization’s Growing Membership WASHINGTON, DC—March 22, 2007—The Print Council, a national business development initiative dedicated to promoting the greater use of printing and print media, today announced that Lawton Printing, The Friesens Corporation and Corporate Press have joined the organization’s growing membership. As new members of the Council, these well-regarded printers will be working with other companies to increase demand for printed materials. Members of The Print Council include commercial printers, paper manufacturers, press, ink and equipment manufacturers, publishers, industry associations, ad agencies, and public relations firms. Through advertising and speaking engagements, The Print Council is

CALIFORNIA BELMONT—Moquin Press reports increasing its pressroom capacity by 30 percent with the addition of its second Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 sheetfed press. The trade printer does $14 million in annual sales. CITY OF INDUSTRY—A new six-color MAN Roland 700 perfector with in-line coater, UV capabilities and extended delivery is now in operation at Marrs Printing and Packaging. GLENDALE—Macson Printing & Lithography, a family owned commercial printer serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area, installed a four-color Mitsubishi Diamond 3000R convertible sheetfed perfector equipped with an aqueous tower coater. LOS ANGELES—A West Coast shop is rewriting the book on being environmentally greener while improving its pressroom profitability. Schawk Los

WASHINGTON, DC—January 24, 2007—The Print Council, a national business development initiative dedicated to promoting the greater use of printing and print media, today announced that the Jacob North Companies and The John Roberts Company have joined the growing membership of the organization. As new members of the Council, these respected printers will be working with other companies to increase the market for printed materials. Ben Cooper, Executive Director of The Print Council, commented, “We are pleased that Jacob North Companies and John Roberts Company have elected to become part of our important industry effort to promote the value of print to the nation’s

RESTON, VA—December 18, 2006—NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies will conduct a series of Regional Roadshows in the Chicago, New York/New Jersey, New England, and Ohio regions. Running from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the meetings will provide in-depth vendor-customer dialogue, a spotlight on selling strategies for the vendor community, valuable market data, and networking opportunities. “Our Regional Roadshow series was conceived as a convenient way to deliver robust, relevant content to our member companies close to their own offices,” says Ralph Nappi, NPES President. “By spending part of their work day with us at a nearby venue, they can launch

NEW YORK CITY—November 6, 2006—The Association for Graphic Communications (AGC), the industry organization known for its traditional member services and for sponsorship of the annual Franklin Event, has launched a major renewal project that will create an entirely new industry entity that better serves the current needs and interests of members in today’s advanced, high-tech graphics environment. The announcement was made by the Executive Committee of the association’s Board of Directors. The AGC also announced that Michael Brice, former president of Superior Ink, has accepted an appointment as interim president of the AGC and will oversee the renewal project, coordinating the efforts of participating members.

New Additions Increase Efficiency APPLETON, WI—JP Graphics is counting on Kodak’s Prinergy workflow and a new Kodak Lotem 800 II Quantum platesetter with a five cassette automated plate loader to keep up with growth and customer demands. The midsize printer has acquired three different printing firms since 1998, including its latest acquisition 18 months ago that doubled its workforce overnight from 25 to 50 employees. CHICAGO—Hi-Liter/Inland and MAN Roland executives meet at Graph Expo to raise their glasses to the printer’s new 4x4 32-page web press destined for its Burlington, WI, facility. Brian SanFillipo has filled the new position of director of digital operations at

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

Lee Sheds Commercial Assets DAVENPORT, IA—Lee Enterprises is divesting its standalone publishing and commercial printing operations in the Pacific Northwest and a twice-weekly newspaper in Oregon via asset sales to different buyers. The deals involve three buyers and were expected to be completed by early this month. The aggregate price of the Pacific Northwest properties (which include several Websites) is approximately $51 million. Three Printers Join Forces MARLBOROUGH, MA—Three independent printing firms—Pendleton Printers, Reservoir Printing and Apex Press—are being merged into a new company called Synergy Graphic Solutions. The company is owned by Doug Pendleton, president of his namesake company. Pendleton Printers and Apex Press will move