Grand River Printing & Imaging

Grand River hosts students from College for Creative Studies

kevin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:52:38 +0000

Belleville, MI — Grand River Printing & Imaging hosted a group of 12 art students from the College of Creative Studies for an overview of web offset printing fundamentals and a tour of Grand River’s facility on Thursday, February 16. The students visited Grand River as part of their ”Make It Work: Advertising Production and Agency Practices” course at the college, which is located in Detroit.

As explained by their instructor Laura Zimmerman, “The goal of this class is to acquaint our students with as many aspects of advertising production as possible so that when they are designing ads they know what can be produced and what can’t and what are cost-effective ways of creating versus costly ones. The class draws on my more than 20 years as an advertising production manager and has been wholeheartedly endorsed by the CCS Advertising Department Advisory Board, which consists of Creative and HR professionals from all of the agencies in town.”

Hosting the tour for Grand River were Kevin R. Donley, VP Sales and Marketing and Craig Moeller, Production Manager. The presentation covered the fundamentals of web offset lithography as well as other important aspects of the current print services market. The students went in two groups through Grand River’s production and customer service departments. Highlights of the tour were watching the web presses run, including delivery of folded signatures and a web splice.

The students had many questions about the operation of the press equipment and the technology used for monitoring the quality of print reproduction. They also asked about paper handling and how the bindery and finishing processes were coordinated.

Grand River takes pride in hosting visits with students from local schools and colleges and is a regular contributor to graphic arts scholarship programs.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

Located in Belleville, Michigan, Grand River Printing & Imaging has been in business for thirty-one years, is a woman-owned business enterprise and is at the forefront of sustainability practices in the graphic arts and printing industries. Grand River is the first company in the state of Michigan to be certified as an FSC Chain of Custody printer.

Serving corporations, educational institutions, advertising agencies and publishers, Grand River produces a wide variety of printed products including annual reports and catalogs, magazines, advertising inserts and direct mail items. Grand River has been recognized three times by Crain’s Detroit Business/IRI as a top workplace in southeastern Michigan and has been selected twice as one of the top ten best employers in the area.

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Grand River wins 2011 NAPL Customer Plus Award

kevin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:12:34 +0000

Grand River Printing & Imaging has been recognized by the National Association for Printing Leadership for exceptional customer service with a 2011 Customer Plus Award. With a Silver NAPL Customer Plus award, Grand River joins a small and elite roster of printing companies around the country with bottom line customer satisfaction scores that are higher than than their competitors.

NAPL established the Customer Plus Awards in recognition of those printing and graphic arts communications companies with superior customer relationships based on their performance in the Quality Competitive Index (QCI is a measurement of bottom-line customer satisfaction, indexed against the satisfaction scores of best competition).

Printing companies become eligible for a Customer Plus Award by completing an NAPL eKG Competitive Edge Profile,™ which surveys their customers on what they most value from them as a company and how they judge them in comparison to their competitors. Results are also benchmarked against industry standards and then scored against a database of responses from more than 20,000 previously surveyed printing customers. Only companies with the highest scores in the industry qualify for an NAPL Customer Plus Award.

Far more than a satisfaction survey, the eKG Competitive Edge Profile reveals how customers perceive a company, how they rate it against its competitors, and how they judge it in those areas they consider most important to them.

Grand River President & CFO Ann Porster, who led the company’s eKG effort, said of the award, “We are very pleased to be among a few exceptional companies in terms of our customer service performance. We are well aware that superior customer service has always been a key to success in our industry. However, in today’s business and economic environment, it is absolutely essential to long-term growth.”

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Craig Moeller joins Grand River team

kevin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:44:55 +0000

Belleville, MI—Craig Moeller has joined the staff of Grand River Printing & Imaging and assumed the responsibilities of Production Manager. With more than 25 years experience in the printing and graphic arts industry, Craig brings his exceptional technical and customer service capabilities to the Grand River team.

Craig Moeller graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communications Technology. He has previously held positions in estimating, customer service, sales, production management and digital services for printing companies in Illinois and Michigan.

Craig is a dedicated member of the printing community and currently serves as Immediate Past-President and Treasurer of the Ann Arbor Litho Club and is a Board member of the Ann Arbor Graphic Arts Memorial Foundation.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Grand River President & CFO Ann Porster joins NAPL Board of Directors

kevin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:44:46 +0000

Belleville, MI — Ann Porster, President and CFO of Grand River Printing & Imaging, has been selected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL). She was added to the Board at the association’s annual meeting held September 11, 2011 in Chicago, IL.

NAPL is a not-for-profit business management association representing companies in the printing and graphic communications industry in North America. NAPL’s comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with the management tools they need to make informed business decisions in an ever-changing market environment.

Serving a two-year term as an NAPL board member, Ann Porster said, “I am pleased to join the board of NAPL, an organization with many decades of exceptional service to our industry. I am looking forward to working with my peers to develop the unique value that NAPL brings to the printing industry. In these challenging times, it is important that owners and managers have access to the best practices and advanced management approaches that have been the hallmark of NAPL over the years.”

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Grand River Printing & Imaging ads SFI and PEFC environmental certifications

administrator — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:52:27 +0000

Belleville, MI — In keeping with its commitment to environmental business practices, Grand River Printing & Imaging has been certified in both SFI and PEFC Chain of Custody requirements. These certifications confirm that printed products from Grand River are manufactured responsibly from forest, pulp and paper sources.

Grand River was granted its SFI and PEFC Chain of Custody certificate on June 1, 2011 after a review by the certification body NSF. Grand River can now demonstrate that the route taken by raw materials from forest to consumer, including all successive stages of processing, manufacturing, and distribution, have been performed in an environmentally responsible manner.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a charitable third-party forest certification program that began in the 1990′s. This organization was established in response to concerns about forest management and illegal logging, primarily in developing countries. SFI is an independent non-profit organization that oversees sustainability certifications world wide, while also encourage responsible forest land management in North America.

The Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is a world wide non-profit, non-government organization devoted to endorse sustainable forest management (SFM) through independent third-party certification. PEFC works with the entire forest supply chain to promote and endorse good practices and to ensure timber and non-timber forest products are made with the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. Now with the help of PEFC, consumers and customers are able to identity products based on the sustainable management system that the PEFC has put in place.

Kevin Donley, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, explained, “With our SFI and PEFC certifications, we are pleased to offer the full range of sustainable paper options available in the printing markets today. As the first printing company in Michigan with FSC certification and as a vocal advocate for environmental stewardship in business, it is important that we develop our ability to serve our clients’ sustainability requirements. With these two additional options, it is now easier for our customers to promote their participation in sustainable business practices and make their environmental initiatives part of their own marketing and communications programs.”

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Grand River bindery department brings in new cutter

administrator — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:08:40 +0000

Detroit, MI — Grand River Printing & Imaging now has a POLAR 115 XT in operation. The POLAR 115 XT is a guillotine cutter with auto trim. This new cutter is also equipped with an industrial scale and lift that will be used to cut and trim a large variety of commercial printed material from the size of business reply cards (BRC) and up. According to plant manager Jim Hartnett, Grand River’s bindery department has already seen tremendous advancements in production such as speed, precision, quality and productivity. This is up to 30 percent better with one operator due solely to the auto trim waste removal system.

In addition, Hartnett said, “Our operators really appreciate the job set-up and recall, which improves our repeatability and in general makes life easier for the operator.”

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

Located in Belleville, Michigan, Grand River Printing & Imaging has been in business for thirty-two years, is a woman-owned business enterprise and is at the forefront of sustainability practices in the Detroit and greater-Michigan business community. Grand River is the first printing company in the state of Michigan to be certified as an FSC Chain of Custody supplier.

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Grand River holds successful Detroit Earth Day 2011 event

administrator — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:45:22 +0000

Andy Acho delivers presentation on practical sustainability

Earth Day 2011 attendees enjoy lunch at the DIA

Belleville, Michigan — Grand River Printing & Imaging held a highly successful educational event at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Thursday, April 21, 2011. The highlight of the Detroit Earth Day 2011 event was the presentation by featured speaker Andy Acho, former worldwide director of environmental outreach and strategy at Ford Motor Company.

The theme of Detroit Earth Day 2011 — Practical Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — was delivered by Andy Acho, who in his role as Worldwide Director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy for Ford Motor Company, a job Bill Ford created, championed the development and implementation of more aggressive proactive environmental stewardship actions that not only protected the environment but saved the company millions of dollars annually.

More than 200 people from the Metro Detroit and southeast Michigan communities attended and had the opportunity to interact with the event sponsors in the DIA Kresge Court prior to the presentation by Andy Acho. The presentation focused on both the meaning sustainability — the satisfaction of today’s needs while also ensuring that those of tomorrow are also protected — as well as the experiences at Ford Motor Company over the past 20 years in implementing environmentally conscious practices at every level of the company.

The event also featured 21 sponsoring companies and organizations who are themselves involved in sustainability initiatives and also support the message of Detroit Earth Day 2011—that being sustainable is both an important societal goal that will make the world a better place for future generations; it is also better way of doing business.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

Grand River is both a practitioner of environmentally responsible business operations as well as a provider of sustainable marketing and communications products and services to clients. Grand River’s GreenMedia™ program for publishers and marketers brings together the most sustainable.

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Detroit Earth Day 2011: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

administrator — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:06:50 +0000

Andy Acho to Speak on How Practical Sustainability Reduces Corporate Costs

Detroit, MI — The Detroit Earth Day 2011: Practical Sustainability event is hosted by Grand River Printing & Imaging at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Thursday, April 21. The environmental education event is just eight days away, with limited seats still available. Registration for attendance to this free event will close at the end of this week.

This year’s theme — Practical Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — will be delivered by Detroit Earth Day featured speaker, Andy Acho, a nationally recognized expert on practical environmental initiatives. In his role as Worldwide Director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy for Ford Motor Company, a job Bill Ford created, Mr. Acho championed the development and implementation of more aggressive proactive environmental stewardship actions that not only protected the environment but saved the company millions of dollars annually.

With environmental sustainability now an issue of strategic importance for both government and private enterprise, the Detroit Earth Day 2011 program is designed to provide corporations and individuals in metro Detroit and the greater Michigan business community with real-world solutions.

Detroit Earth Day 2011 is a free event thanks to Grand River Printing & Imaging and its sponsoring companies. Attendees have the opportunity to interact with local companies that are supporting sustainable practices in daily business operations starting at 8:00am to 9:30am. Andy Acho’s talk will begin at 9:30am followed by a “meet the speaker” opportunity in the Kresge Court as well as tours of the DIA organized by art museum docents, at no charge.

The 23 sponsoring companies and organizations are themselves involved in sustainability initiatives and also support the message of Detroit Earth Day 2011—that being sustainable is both an important societal goal that will make the world a better place for future generations and it is better way of doing business.

Online registration is required to reserve a space. Visit our registration page or call 734-394-3621 to register or to obtain more information.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Detroit Earth Day 2011: Practical Sustainability Gains Corporate Sponsorships

administrator — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:10:12 +0000

Practical Sustainability Reduces Corporate Costs

Belleville, Michigan — The Detroit Earth Day 2011: Practical Sustainability event being hosted by Grand River Printing & Imaging has gained important corporate sponsorship support in advance of the Thursday, April 21 educational program at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

This year’s Detroit Earth Day featured speaker, Andy Acho, is a nationally recognized expert on practical environmental initiatives.. In his role as Worldwide Director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy for Ford Motor Company, a job Bill Ford created, Acho championed the development and implementation of more aggressive proactive environmental stewardship actions that not only protected the environment but saved the company millions of dollars annually.

The sponsoring companies and organizations are themselves involved in sustainability initiatives and also support the message of Detroit Earth Day 2011—that being sustainabile is both an important societal goal that will make the world a better place for fuutre generations and it is better way of doing business.

The following list of companies have signed on as sponsors of Detroit Earth Day 2011: AbitibiBowater, Advertising Production Club of Detroit, BradenSutphin Ink Company, The Envelope Printery, FifthThird Bank, FujiFilm Graphic Systems USA, Kodak, Millcraft Paper Company, Mohawk Fine Paper, North American Color, Print2D, Printing Industries of Michigan, RCS International, Royal Oak Recycling, Sappi, Schultz Bindery, Sun Chemical, Toscano Media, Western Printing Machinery, Woodland Paper, and xpedx.

Online registration is required to reserve a space. Visit our registration page or call 734-394-3621 to register or to obtain more information.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com

Andy Acho, former Worldwide Director of Environmental Strategy at Ford Motor Company, to share real-world solutions at Detroit Earth Day Event

administrator — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:11:11 +0000

Belleville, Michigan — Environmental initiatives expert Andy Acho will be the featured speaker at the fourth annual Detroit Earth Day event to be held on Thursday, April 21 from 8:00am to noon at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The theme of the educational event is: Practical Sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Hosted by Grand River Printing & Imaging, the primary goal of the event is to show that going “green” is not more expensive but actually a more cost effective way of doing business.

Environmental initiatives expert Andy Acho

Featured speaker Andy Acho had the following to say about the Detroit Earth Day 2011 event: “I find it commendable and very refreshing to see Grand River not only strive for environmental stewardship and continuous improvement but also provide an opportunity for business leaders, clients and others to see how they can make the world a better place and help preserve the environment for future generations. Making every day Earth Day can have the dual benefits of being both ecological and economical at the same time.”

Andy Acho is a nationally recognized expert on practical environmental initiatives.. In his role as Worldwide Director of Environmental Outreach and Strategy for Ford Motor Company, a job Bill Ford created, Acho championed the development and implementation of more aggressive proactive environmental stewardship actions that not only protected the environment but saved the company millions of dollars annually.

Online registration is required to reserve a space. Visit www.grpinc.com/detroitearthday2011 or call 734-394-3621 beginning February 14 to register or to obtain more information.

About Grand River Printing & Imaging

For additional information contact:
Kevin R. Donley
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Grand River Printing & Imaging
8455 Haggerty Road
Belleville, MI 48111
800-334-6857
kdonley@grpinc.com