Mai started with the Kodak digital press, one of the first machines to run digital offset, and waterless inks. Mai knew how to operate a press. but adding in the digital aspect was at first a little apprehensive, but then once she got it, sending work to Mai was easy and fast, and we began to see the power of digital.  Her eye for color is remarkable, and her care for her machines is uncanny.  You don’t touch her machines, unless she is there to see what you did and learn how to do it herself.

Mai, soon began to run the Oki, seeing how easy it was to do digital 4C envelopes, she often would decide which machine to run a job on and just have prepress send to the machine she would operate.  She was so helpful; we save remnants here of stocks and Mai is always there to pick out a size paper and stock and then send files to the Oki.

After purchasing a Direct to Garment Printer, no one could figure out how to use it.  So, when I finally brought someone to fix and train our team, Mai learned how to operate it. Since then, she has saved a lot of parties by printing shirts when an order did not arrive in time.

When we decided to get a really unique machine – the X33, it was only natural to ask Mai if she would run it.  Inkjet technology, but really fragile.  It could do a 24 x 36 sheet with 6” depth. and up to 10 hits of Opaque White. Mai has mastered it. Doing wine boxes, that are so beautiful – we just had no idea how much room they take up!  She practices on all substrates – always saying she “will try”, and has saved even funeral homes, with her ability to print on an urn.  The X33 has proved to be handy when a company needs to prototype, and Mai has printed on caps and batteries and even figured out how to do Air Fresheners!!  She picks the scents, and cuts and packages for our Etsy store. Her big dream now is to get her a stringing machine.

Mai is an amazing person, raising 2 wonderful boys, while balancing her career.  She is an outstanding cook and gardener, always bringing me some curry or ribs, or noodles, when she makes something special.  She never wastes 1 minute of time while here and always finds something to do.   She continually wants to do more, and has made a pact with me, that she cannot retire till I do. Which might be never, but for sure 5 more years!

The comments from the managers are so true and heartfelt:

• “Mai is a dynamo, always looking for work.” ~ Debbie
• “Mai… those wine boxes. We could not keep up bringing them to her and then getting them shipped out. They take up so much space, but when she wants it, you had better bring it to her.” ~ Miguel
• “We had 14 jobs for wine boxes in the month of October.  She never stopped, always figuring out how to make them perfect.” ~ Joe
• “Mai… always is helping.” ~ Claudia
• “Mai is great. I never even saw her in bindery because she was so busy with the wine boxes.” ~ Norbi
• “Mai is FAMILY.  Truly one of the finest workers you will ever find. She is IRREPLACEABLE and that is why she cannot go anywhere. Mai will always try any of my crazy ideas.  The air fresheners, heat transfers, urns.  She loves to learn. and like my father always said, ‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person.’. That IS Mai. She is just GREAT people and we’re so lucky she to have her here for 20 years!” ~ Joan

Thank you, Mai, for constantly going above and beyond, we couldn’t imagine JP Graphics without you!