Fresh Ink

I MAY BE RELATIVELY new to wide-format printing, but I’m no stranger to laying ink. After all, by the time I joined Big Picture in January, I’d already built a career as a storyteller of technology and business transformation. My subject was metal cutting, not printing, but to some extent manufacturing is manufacturing. From workforce development to digitalization to making growth scalable, the challenges you encounter are similar to those faced by my previous readership. And the more I’ve “learned the language” of print over the past year, the more effective I’ve become in serving up useful industry insights along with the entertaining read you’ve come to expect.

This core objective hasn’t changed since I stepped into a leadership role shortly before publishing our July/August issue. The longer I’ve worked on this brand, the more I’ve come to appreciate what’s already working. Rather than shake these already strong foundations, I prefer to build upon them.

However, I will bring fresh perspective. I also have a handful of new ideas – including a few that could become big ideas. What the future looks like will also depend on you, particularly the feedback you provide through our Brain Squad VIP survey group. If you haven’t already, please join us at bigpicturemag.com/brainsquad.

As for this issue, you’ll find a fresh perspective on education beginning on this page. Have you ever invited local kids to your shop for an introduction to print? If not, here’s your chance. If so, I’m guessing you’ll find a lot to like about what’s different with this new program.

Written in the lead-up to my first Printing United Expo, this story also provided me with fresh inspiration. Whereas the big show would be filled with talk of business growth and profits, covering a nonprofit drove home the power of our industry in everyday life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.