That’s why it feels especially meaningful that our March 2026 Employee of the Month is Bill Grizzle, the colleague who stepped up to become our dedicated Mr. Promo.

Bill joined JP Graphics in September 2011 after a long career that included time at Citation Press. He jokes that he found a desk in the back corner, and we never found him again. He has been a steady, valuable team member ever since, and we are thrilled he has committed to staying with us for at least another five years.

After COVID, I set a goal to generate 10% of our revenue from promotional items. Bill reluctantly agreed to help, and what started as a challenge has become one of his greatest strengths. Together we built a program featuring a monthly spotlight item and weekly specials. We focused on practical, fun, and affordable products that small businesses actually want, always including a pen but expanding into more creative options like yo-yos, ping-pong balls, glider planes, and bucket hats.

What began as a bit of a chore has turned into a passion for Bill. He now confidently networks at BNI, pop-up markets, and trade shows, helping everyday small business owners show up prepared without breaking the bank. After we feature an item, orders consistently follow. Colleen and the ShantiArt Design team do a great job laying out each weekly special, so it looks professional and ready to share.

While we have not hit our 10% goal yet, the initiative has delivered real value and even inspired us to add new capabilities like UV transfer label printing so we can monogram almost anything.

Ultimately, it is the feedback from the team that best illustrates what makes Bill deserving of Employee of the Month:

• “Bill has ‘stepped up’, staying late and communicating with prepress whenever he needs a logo applied or a transfer label prepared.” ~ Dave
• “Bill is so much happier (or less grumpy) with every new promotional item sold.” ~ Debbie
• “The Promo Man CAN!” ~ Joe
• “I joke with Bill now: ‘Who are you?’ He’s become an active member in his BNI group. We attend trade shows together to scout giveaways. He comes into the office excited to show his latest featured items, and my response has gone from offering suggestions to simply saying, ‘That is awesome.’ Seeing sales come in after a feature still makes me happy. It takes real effort, gathering quantities, due dates, and navigating the millions of options available, especially when everyone thinks they can handle it themselves. But Bill makes it look easy. Even our own JP Graphics monthly giveaways carry his influence. Whether he’s representing us at CF3 meetings or a booth at Idyll Time Wines, we continue to prove one thing: everything is better with print.” ~ Joan

Congratulations, Bill, and thank you for embracing this new challenge with such dedication.