Serving Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
October 22, 2014

WSPA Members Shine In Chicago       

Congratulations to WSPA member companies Cereus Graphics and O'Neil Printing for winning Premier Print Awards (Bennys) in the recent world-wide print competition.  Cereus earned its Benny for Business and Annual Reports (4 or more colors 21-50 employees).  Cereus President Tom Ginter is pictured left with PIA Chairman Jeff Ekstein, receiving his award in Chicago during Graph Expo.

 

O'Neil won for the same category (51-100 employees).  In addition to their Bennys, both firms were also recognized with three Certificates of Merit.  O'Neil also earned two Awards of Recognition in the competition, which had 3100 entries from all over the world. 

  

Other WSPA member companies receiving recognition included Publications Printers Corp. (one Award of Recognition and one Certificate of Merit), Scottsdale Community College (Certificate of Merit) and Vision Graphics (Certificate of Merit).

Speaking of awards, the CALLS FOR ENTRY for the 2015 Print Excellence Awards Competition will soon hit the streets.  Make sure you enter your best print work in a competition which will be truly regional in nature with printers from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming all competing to be SIMPLY THE BEST  - the theme of this year's awards programs, which will be held April 23, 2015 and April 30, 2015 respectively in Phoenix and Denver.
New Group Buying Program

WSPA is excited to announce a new group buying program for companies with revenues under $5 million a year.  The program will capitalize on the combined purchasing power of printers all across North America to realize discounts and rebates on major purchases including paper, ink, prepress supplies, pressroom supplies, and shipping.

The program is offered through Independent Printers Alliance (IPA), a division of Independent Printers Worldwide, Inc. (IPW), a national procurement group specializing in superior vendor programs for independent printers.  It is ONLY available to members of Printing Industries of America or one of its affiliates, like WSPA.

To see how your company might save thousands of dollars a year, CLICK HERE or call 1-855-747-7468..

Denver Meet and Greet

It's not too late to sign up for TOMORROW's special Meet and Greet in Denver, to be held at the offices of Lewan Technology/A Xerox Company.

Learn first hand what's new with your association since its name change and what services you may not be taking advantage of which could improve your bottom line.

This FREE member event will be hosted by Printing Industries of America President and CEO Michael Makin, who will also provide an industry update and share what successful printers are doing to stay ahead of the competition and thrive.

Please join Michael and the Colorado members of the WSPA board, along with your peers from the industry at this important networking event featuring a complimentary wine and cheese reception.

For more information or to register, click HERE.
Be A Successful Supervisor
10 Tips from Jim Kyger, AVP of HR at Printing Industries of America

Supervisors need to be some of the most flexible and creative people in your company.  Here are some tips managers can use to help achieve success.
 
Know your course.  What direction is the company headed?  What are your department's objectives to ensure you'll meet those goals?  What are your employees' strengths and challenges, and what are you doing to address them?

Communication is key. Achieving comprehension and acceptance is the threshold you're after.  You need to ensure that your messages and directions are clear, understood, and respectful.  However, you also need to comprehend your direct reports' feedback, views, suggestions, and needs.  Follow-up and reflective questions will help build understanding.

Adapt as conditions and direction change.  Customers, procedures, equipment, priorities, goals, problems, opportunities, etc. will change.  Adapt or die.

Give credit and appreciation.  Acknowledge that commitment, helpfulness, quality, customer service, suggestions, etc., are more important than you may think.  Recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of your stars is important; however, recognizing those on their way up the learning curve will help to bring those individuals along much faster.

Seek to improve yourself.  When receiving feedback and/or criticism, always find the lesson learned and internalize it.  Keep a list and refer back to it from time to time.

Turn direct-reports' weaknesses into strengths.  Coaching and short-term goal setting can turn weaknesses into competencies.

Document. Yes, the formal stuff HR makes you do (e.g. performance evaluations) is required, but making notes every day will help you set goals, track progress, and keep tabs on the good and not-so-good items.

Treat others as you wish to be treated.  Various published studies show that one of the top reasons why people leave for another job is because of a supervisor, not a company.

Be the trusted source.  Supervisors are not supposed to be their direct-reports' best friends.  Yes, get along and have fun at work with those in your department, but supervisors need to be known as a trusted person in management.  Sometimes you have to deliver not so great news, but if you're known as a trusted and fair person, your direct reports will follow no matter what the challenge.

Maintain a positive attitude.  Everyone has a bad day now and again, but your bad day should not influence others.  How you react to challenges will affect the company's and department's culture.  Be very aware of that and make a change if you have to.

Jim Kyger is a free-member resource of WSPA. Feel free to pose your HR questions to him anytime at jkyger@printing.org. 

Attention Colorado Employers

Colorado Minimum Wage

Enforcement provisions will be amended effective January 1, 2015, to clarify that an employee who receives less than the applicable minimum wage is entitled to recover in a civil action the unpaid balance of the full amount of the minimum wage, along with reasonable attorney fees and court costs (S. 5, L. 2014).

Colorado Record-keeping

Effective January 1, 2015, record-keeping requirements for payment of wages will be amended to require that employers retain records reflecting the information contained in an employee's itemized pay statement for a period of at least three years after the wages or compensation were due. The employer must make such records available for inspection and must provide copies of the records upon request by the division or to the employee. Employers who violate the record-keeping requirements will be subject to a fine of up to $250 per employee per month, up to a maximum fine of $7,500 (S. 5, L. 2014).

E-Connects Weekly Photo Feature:  
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
 


Each week E-Connects will share incredible photos on just how lax companies can be when it comes to safety. 

The goal - to keep a safe work environment front and center on the minds of all of your employees.

Not OSHA-approved for sure!


Quote For The Week 

"I like to do all the talking myself.  It saves time and prevents arguments."

Oscar Wilde