An American Printer CommentaryBy Andy & Julie Plata Co-CEOs, the OutputLinks Communications Group Resigned On May 17, Xerox’s Board Chairman replaced five Board members (plus himself) with new faces. The new Board then appointed John Visentin to replace Jeff Jacobson as CEO. In most cases when a CEO is fired they are eligible for a severance packag...

An American Printer CommentaryBy Andy & Julie Plata Co-CEOs, the OutputLinks Communications Group Many in the print and mail industry may have already met or been involved with Mr. Visentin during his tenure five years ago in a Pitney Bowes spinoff. Pitney Bowes, Novitex, Exela In 2012, Pitney Bowes installed a new management team, and one of thei...

By Sid Chadwick  “It requires wisdom to understand wisdom…..the music is nothing if the audience is deaf…”……………………………..Walter Lippman INTRODUCTION: Over the last several months I’ve observed several “common threads of omission”… from sales, manufacturing and administrative leadership (….or….. lack of leadership): A President…..not requiring…. his S...

By Sid Chadwick “Good Morning, God…..What Can I Do For You, Today….?”…Earl Barber, at a Kairos Weekend Retreat INTRODUCTION: I believe there are “Profound …Movements”….being developed….by caring, committed individuals…..who increasingly….with the test of time…..also appear……very smart….! Recently, on April 28th, 2018, a group of about 1,100 Mountai...

An American Printer CommentaryBy Andy & Julie PlataCo-CEOs, the OutputLinks Communications Group   Remember the January Fujifilm announcement that they would be acquiring Xerox in a $0, stock swap, to merge it with their Fuji Xerox company, in which Xerox held a 25% ownership position? Well, the following are a result of the shareholder and court a...

By Sid Chadwick “Any fool can make things bigger… more complex….and more violent…. It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage --- to move in the opposite direction.”……………….Albert Einstein INTRODUCTION: The drumbeat………goes on……..owners aging-out…..no succession plan… in place…….equity evaporating………... In the last month, we’ve started “Rese...

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By Sid Chadwick “I’m not allowed to pursue…or add….another customer….. until we get past July…”……President, Sales Manager -- of Publication - Commercial Printer INTRODUCTION: That comment was shared with me….. this morning….. by that company’s president. As that company is in search of hiring approximately 15 additional, experienced Pressmen and Bi...

By John Berthelsen, VP-Development, Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation When I have conversations with leaders of graphic service providers, as well as the suppliers to those companies, I hear one consistent theme. They are worried about replacing a workforce that is growing older and retiring. It used to be possible to fill vacancies by “robbi...

By Sid Chadwick  “Don’t throw away the old bucket…. until you know whether the new one holds water…”…………………..Swedish Proverb INTRODUCTION: We recently put a few divergent notes together…. and finally….had to stop pondering. The picture had begun to clear……some would say….”…it had become very clear….”. This particular organization appears to have “h...