We also brought in some younger employees, many of whom had a friend, cousin, or family member affected by the layoffs and were looking for work. Instead of just filling seats, I made a deliberate choice: the future of JP Graphics depends on finding people who are like me.

I still remember when I first started in this industry. I had zero clue what printing really was. When I asked the owner what I was supposed to do while I went back to school, he said simply, “Sell printing,” and keep handling the accounting (which I was already doing for a CPA). So that’s what I did—I asked to spend a week in the back learning what everyone actually did, then I hit the phones and started cold-calling. The real lessons came from doing the work every day. Those experiences shaped my entire career and eventually led me to own my own business.

I’d call a prospect, they’d send a spec mentioning black-and-white with halftones or duotones, and I’d say, “Let me get back to you.” Then I’d run to the owner and ask what it all meant. That’s how I learned the business, by caring deeply about the people who worked there.

One of the smartest things that owner ever did was tell the team: if I didn’t have work for them, they’d have to go home. Not on MY watch. I’d jump on the phone and bring in jobs to keep everyone busy. Business was different back then, the tech boom was just starting; digital printing was brand new. I remember reading specs for Indigo presses, then later arguing that our HP Indigo 15K produced better quality than offset because there was no room for human error.

The hardest lesson, though? Not everyone is wired like me. Some people didn’t want to learn; they assumed they already knew everything after X number of years in the industry.

That’s why I decided to give these young hires a strong foundation in printing. At its core, it’s just ink on paper. They came in as blank slates, so it was easy to teach them coated vs. uncoated stocks, machine capabilities (min/max sheet sizes, thinnest to thickest papers, binding options). The key is knowing your machines inside out, understanding exactly what they can do. When they read a docket, they know what to expect. We created Standard Operating Procedures for every machine and built clear processes that must be followed, particularly for regulated print and packaging.

That’s where our December Employee of the Month, Lupe Zamora, comes in. She has truly brightened the light at the end of the tunnel. The future for JP Graphics and print looks promising because of people like her.

Lupe started in November 2024 as my Customer Service Representative with zero background in printing. I promised myself I’d take the time to teach her from the ground up, especially since my focus is on medical and pharma, where reading engineering drawings, understanding specs, and following exact processes are non-negotiable. I also asked her to learn the Xerox and mailing side, so she’d grasp the full business offerings. This has paid off in ways I never expected.

After just six months, Lupe earned Employee of the Month (May 2025), and now she’s our first two-time winner in a single year! She’s smart, catches on fast, and while I was initially nervous about handing off my medical packaging accounts, I think some of them prefer her to me now. She responds quickly and follows up thoroughly.  I’m completely comfortable handing over pricing and layouts to Lupe.

The senior staff says it best:

• “Lupe always double-checks her jobs, writes perfect dockets, and follows up to make sure everything finishes on time, even jumping into bindery herself if needed.” ~ Claudia
• “She checks paper and everything before handing off to production, and she understands the timing differences between offset and digital, plus bindery finishes.” ~ Joe
• “Lupe is spot-on with her dockets and communicates layouts and rush jobs clearly.” ~ Dave
• “She’s always busy but helps wherever needed to get jobs done. She’s here to answer questions, and she makes sure folding samples and details are in the job tickets.” ~ Jonathan
• “She’s me, just quieter. She catches on quick, gets along with everyone, and her client communication and follow-through are way better than mine. Now that I’ve asked her to help sell a little more, I’m amazed at her talent: writing letters, mining accounts. I completely trust her and am letting go more with pricing and decisions. She even helps with Idyll Time Wines for the pop-ups. Once we add more medical accounts, Lupe will be the one leading the way.” ~ Joan

This is what keeps me going, the belief “The best way to predict the future is to create it, by teaching the next person how to run it better than you did.”

Watching Lupe step up reminds me why I keep pushing forward: investing in the right people doesn’t just keep the lights on; it lights up the future for JP Graphics.