What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?

Print Services

What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?

I am a Printing Trades Specialist and Lead Bindery worker. My main responsibility is to prioritize the printing projects and make sure they are completed by the due dates. I also direct other bindery employees; I can pitch in where needed and delegate the work. Part of my job is to be available to answer questions and help with troubleshooting and problem solving. I work together with all the other areas of the print shop: the press and digital production. It is a collaborative team effort to get everything done on time.

What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?

I probably spent over 15 years down in the California central valley in various print shops. I was blessed to be able to be mentored by a man I had known for many years—he taught me a lot. When he moved jobs, he always took me with him and hired me on in whatever new company he was working for.

Then, at a certain point, my wife and I wanted to get out of the central valley of California because it was hot and very dry, and the crime was starting to get really bad. I was already very vested in the printing industry, but I started to look for other positions. I applied for this position here at the UO but I never thought I would get hired. I was in the process of selling my home and buying another one. We had sold our house and were living with my parents while we completed the process to purchase the next house. The wheels used to turn very slowly here at the UO so several months after I had first applied, the director at the time—Mark Dixon at the time—called me at my parents’ house. I have no idea how he found me! Anyway, he invited me to an interview, so I came up to Oregon and did the interview. The interview went really well, and they called me the next day to offer me the job and ask me when I could start. That was October 2004, so my anniversary is this month!

So, I am here now. I have a small lifetime of years in this printing industry.

Actually, the entire process of me getting this job was a Godsend. I was in the middle of buying a new house in California when I was offered the UO job. I had made a deal with a gentleman to buy his house—there were no banks or real estate agents involved. So I talked to the gentleman I was buying the house from and explained my situation. Would you believe it, he gave me all my money back! This job really was a Godsend. My wife and I prayed about it and it all worked out. We bought a lovely house in Creswell, and we were lucky because we could afford far more home here than we could in California. We were very blessed.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

I have overcome lots of obstacles. The move up from California was a big scary change. I will never forget the advice from my mentor (Chris Franco); he really took care of me and brought me up. When he found out I was applying for a job at the UO, I asked him to please not hold it against me because I was considering leaving. He told me that if I were hired at the UO, I had to take it and if I did not take the job, he would absolutely hold that against me. He knew it was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ shot.

There have been other obstacles. We have been through a lot at the UO. I was hired for offset press in 2004 but that equipment was decommissioned in 2017. We still have two small presses for that work but most of the equipment is no longer in production. At that time, I was the only pressman/printing press operator left and so I was unsure about what would happen to me. I was always willing to do other things and was well versed in everything that goes on in the print shop. It was a challenging time but an opportunity to learn other tasks here. I worked with the digital press and our ink jet mailing equipment.  In fact, they gave me a resiliency award to recognize me for trying to make the best of the situation. I still have that award somewhere. 

So, after trying lots of different things, and with help from my director at the time, my position, organically, went from pressman to Printing Trade Specialist and Lead Bindery Worker. 

Print Services is about to transition to inkjet flatbed printing! I have the privilege of learning technology and being an operator. We are extremely excited about the transition.

How has working at UO enabled your professional goals and interests?

What I have learned here is to listen to my co-workers and management to find out what there’s need are so I can be a better part of the team. I try to be as strong a team player as I can be. I am enormously proud to be part of this team. We are small in numbers, but we accomplish a lot. And of course, we do not get a lot of recognition for all the amazing work we do but that’s ok. I love being part of what we do and being part of the mission of the university. We play a small part in the university’s work, but it is important.

What do you like about your current position?

These years of being in the printing industry, we never stop learning. There are changes in technology, there is problem solving that needs to happen, and there is always an art and a science to printing. There is always something new that comes up. In some ways, the job is the same but, in many ways, it is always different. I like that a lot.

What advice do you have for someone thinking of applying to the UO?

I would tell them—and I have told several people—apply whether you think you are qualified enough. All they can say is “no”. When I applied, it was intimidating; I thought I had no chance. If someone like me can get hired here, anyone can get hired! 

Just apply! The best time to apply for a job is when you have one. This is a wonderful place to work: the environment, the culture, the benefits, and the people. The team I work in is like a family, and we do well together. I cannot talk highly enough of our team.

Share a little about yourself personally:

• Family: My wife is great. She is an amazing lady, and she pushes me to do things I never thought I would. We were foster parents for 10 years; we took care of a lot of kids, and we went through a lot. We adopted two beautiful little girls, and they have been a huge blessing. 
• Community: I serve as a Deacon at our local church in Creswell. I have also served on the Creswell city council for six years: as a councilman for four years and as council president for two years. Between serving on council and at the church, I just love giving back to the community.

If you could only take three items with you to a desert island, what would they be?

I would take the Bible, some fishing gear, and fire-starting equipment

How would you like to be remembered?

As a man who loved God and was always willing to help someone and who helped serve his community.

If you could have the answer to any question, what would it be?

I would say, “What was it that Jesus wrote in the sand?” John 8:8.

(October 2024)