Seven score and exactly seven years ago, JP Graphics started our Employee of the Month Program in 2017.

Do you know who was our first Employee of the Month? Norberto Gonzalez.

I’m not sure what reason the managers had for picking Norbi as the EOM back in 2017, but it’s fascinating to see what happens over seven years and how our perspectives have changed.

JP Graphics began on October 1, 1998, and now we’re in our 28th year. It’s not a small feat to have survived the various downturns, including the Dot Com Bust, COVID, and so many others. Going into 2025 with the Tariff Tensions, you wonder how many challenges a company can endure and still be around.

I would have to say owning our amazing facility in Santa Clara is probably the #1 reason we’ve survived. #2 is our employees—the people who have been with me from the beginning, some vowing to stay with me until I’m no longer here. (P.S. I’m never leaving!) I’ve learned what resilience truly is. JP Graphics has adapted, adopted, and I truly admire the company we’ve become. Why? Because we LOVE machines and the people who run them.

After doing a podcast on Her Imprint and being featured during Women’s Heritage Month, I can truly say that the desire to learn is the best trait an employee can have. But more important than learning is teaching what you know, so there’s always someone to do your job when you’re not there. (Maybe not as good, but your company will live on!)

This is the reason Norberto Gonzalez was selected as the EOM for January 2025.

Norbi has worked for JP Graphics since February 2002, commuting every day from Los Banos with his brothers, whom he brought on too. A guy who immigrated to the U.S. with a dream, he got into printing—and has proven that once you’re in, you can’t get out. He worked his way up to manager, and his desire to learn more is why he got there. So, when he was tasked with training the new young recruits (who’ve been winning EOM for the last several months), it proves why Norbi was selected. A bindery craftsman and an employee who cares about every job that goes through his department—you can’t teach that. You have to have a mentor you learned it from, and that’s Norbi. Here’s what the managers say, and we all agree:

• Norbi has been training the future. All the young recruits starting in bindery are seeing a future at presses and more. It’s because they know bindery that they’ll make the best pressmen. ~ Claudia
• He and his entire team make everything run smoothly. ~ Michelle
• Norbi knows his equipment. You ask when a job will be done, he gives you an exact time, and it’s done! When he commits, it gets done. ~ Debbie
• You couldn’t have a better “tag brother.” He gets the paper cut, the job finished. He finishes the jobs. ~ Joe
• Now that we’re doing so much more packaging, I work with him to approve dies. We have no issues from print to finishing. ~ Dave
• Norbi is like a brother from another mother. He’s truly the longest “partner” in the trade I’ve had. His dedication is irreplaceable. So, when I asked him to help me train the next generation—from my son, Chris, to the guys who’ll do his job—I couldn’t be prouder. He’s literally in Mexico while I write this, and I only miss him telling me how we need more sales. His guys are doing everything just like he taught them! ~ Joan

Thank you, Norbi. Thanks to you, JP Graphics 2 could be a thing!