Ending out 2024 – my Dragon year – I was hoping to get the sales and profitability back up to pre-pandemic levels, and no matter how hard I worked, I just seemed to come up short.
We did succeed in other areas though, bringing the costs down, we had a surplus of papers. But where we succeeded the most was in our TRAINING program, as we began to seek out some youth and train them in the printing field.
One of the MOST outstanding performers is our Employee of the Month for December, Jonathan Barrientos.
Jonathan was hired in January 2022; he caught on so quickly that he was given the EOM in February 2022! He first to be in bindery, he was soon running the MOLL Versa Fold. (shown in the photo) His bilingual skills in English and Spanish have made him an asset across all of our departments.
Once I saw this young man had some serious talent and loved the work, we decided that he would be a good candidate to learn the presses. To become a Jonathan of “all trades”.
We started him on the AB-Dick press with seasoned pressman Eddie Kako, and as a “Feeder” on the Heidelberg 72’s. Since JP Graphics focuses on medical/pharma print, the process must be spot-on and the final product perfect.
Jonathan’s knack for quickly picking up new skills has made him invaluable, as he’s learned to back up on the folders and stitchers and do paper cutting.
Printing may be simply ink on paper, but understanding lithography makes it an art form. Under Norbi’s guidance, Jonathan has become Team Lead, now teaching others how to operate the equipment. He’s eager to learn even more, like die-cutting and letterpress, and is a real problem solver. Here’s what some of the managers have to say:
- “Jonathan is becoming Norbi’s protégé. Everyone turns to him when Norbi’s unavailable or busy.” ~ Claudia
- “Jonathan is learning everything and he is smiling all the time. So happy to be working and learning more.” ~ Debbie
- “Jonathan has stepped up. He can load the 72’ and is almost able to run it. Everyone WANTS him.” ~ Joe
- “Jonathan does not shy away from learning. He will ask questions. Double check his work.” ~ Dave
- “Jonathan has been a true diamond. Being so young, he is showing that print is not a dying business. With his good English/Spanish skills, he’ll continue to excel across all departments. He understands and follows processes, so we’re in good hands. The future of print is bright at JP Graphics!” ~ Joan
A huge thank you to Jonathan for his hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication. He truly embodies the spirit of a new generation in print, and we’re excited to see where his journey takes him next!
