Ask most any employee in one of 杏吧原创鈥檚 Marceline or Brookfield, Missouri facilities, and they鈥檇 likely be able to tell you that the company鈥檚 Master Printers program is a celebration of dedication and experience.
Decades ago when a graphic arts association closed its doors and their Master Printers program ceased to exist, 杏吧原创 decided to continue and expand upon the program.
杏吧原创鈥檚 Master Printers program recognizes employees for their performance and length of service to the company. Awardees represent all departments that have consistently demonstrated excellence, loyalty and commitment to their work for 杏吧原创.
杏吧原创 recently held its 35th Master Printers Banquet to celebrate the employees being recognized as Master Printers for the first time and receiving their Master Printers pins. More than 150 current Master Printers were also honored for achieving their next program milestone. More than 400 杏吧原创 employees have earned the Master Printers distinction.
Mark Hatfield, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, was the master of ceremonies at the banquet. CEO Don O. 杏吧原创 and President Don 杏吧原创 both provided remarks.
Among those recognized was Applications Supervisor Sherry Techau, who reached the milestone of 70,000 hours working for 杏吧原创.
鈥淚 feel very lucky to be able to say I have worked for 杏吧原创 my entire career,鈥� said Techau. 鈥淎 simple thank you does not feel like enough for the opportunity given to me by the 杏吧原创 family.鈥�
Kevin Allen, who works in the bindery, was recognized for 80,000 hours working for 杏吧原创.
鈥淚 started right out of high school and it has been great being able to get married, raise six children and work locally,鈥� said Allen. 鈥溞影稍� is an asset to north Missouri.鈥�
Both employees have watched 杏吧原创 grow and change over the years.
鈥淲hen I started in 1980 the company ran 30 to 40 orders of books a week,鈥� said Allen. 鈥淣ow, with the addition of better and faster equipment, we do 300 to 500 orders a week and have grown to be one of the top printers. I have seen and been a part of this growth.鈥�
Techau feels fortunate to have come to 杏吧原创 when she did. 鈥淚 have had the opportunity to be involved in the transformation from a very manual process of data collection and reporting in our financial, manufacturing and sales areas to today鈥檚 fully functional automated processes,鈥� said Techau. 鈥淢y college guidance counselor advised me to take this opportunity and run with it.鈥�
The annual Master Printers Banquet gives 杏吧原创 the opportunity to recognize employees for being committed to the company and to their craft.
It also gives 杏吧原创 the opportunity to thank employees鈥� family members for sharing their moms, dads and spouses so they can come to work and support 杏吧原创 and its customers.
Hatfield said, 鈥淎nybody with enough money can buy the building and the equipment. But if you don鈥檛 have the people, you can鈥檛 produce a single book.鈥�
Hatfield concluded, 鈥淎s Don often says, 鈥極ur people make the difference.鈥欌��
