Impressions Xchange

Pam Athan didn't plan a career in print. She stumbled into a high school elective, met a teacher who changed everything, and never left. Now an account executive at Universal Printing in North Carolina, she's proof that knowing the craft — really knowing it — makes all the difference when you're sitting across from a client.

On the first day of the 2026 Wide-Format Summit, Marco Boer and Dan Marx sat down for a free-flowing discussion of the wide-format segment today, and a view into how it's changing.

PRINTING United Expo is just around the corner. With so much to do at the show, Packaging Impressions spoke with Lisbeth Lyons Black to learn what Women in Print Alliance has in store for attendees.

As PRINTING United Expo 2026 swiftly approaches, Amy Servi-Bonner runs through the state of AI in the industry and where it's headed, plus what attendees should expect from this year's PRINTING AI Pavilion.

Stephanie True graduated from college with a double major in history and sociology and zero plan — until her mom pointed at some screen printing equipment and said, "You'll run this." Thirty-one years later, she has a lot to say about building teams, earning confidence, asking the questions you're afraid to ask, and playing nice in the sandbox.

Training is important but difficult or too expensive to do, and PSPs find it hard to keep good employees. Joe Marin, senior vice president, membership with PRINTING United Alliance, describes how iLEARNING+ can help meet both of those challenges.

Christine Walsh never planned to own a print shop. Twenty years, one acquired digital marketing agency, and an AI clone of herself in development later — she has zero regrets. And a lot to say about failure, grit, and building a team where women run the presses.

Ashley Roberts chats with Steph Buka of PRINTING United Alliance about the Alliance's coalition work, and tariff and USPS updates.

Inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame this year, Catherine Haynes reflects on her career, shares lessons from the industry, and discusses key trends influencing the future of packaging and flexographic printing.

Josh Carruth, EVP, exhibitions at PRINTING United Alliance highlights many of the events and activations taking place at this year's event and presents a compelling case for attending. "Your competitors will be there," he says. "If you want to give them that advantage, that's your choice."

On this episode of the Broadcast, Steve Duccilli, group vice president, PRINTING United Alliance; Denise Gustavson, vice president of editorial and content strategy, PRINTING United Alliance; and Dan Marx, content director, Wide-Format Impressions join host Gabby Houck to discuss the Wide-Format Summit.

Recently, Toni McQuilken sat down with Ray Weiss, to talk about his incredible trip to Asia, where he attended three G7/G7+ summits.

Ashley Roberts chats with Brad Duncan, account director at Continuum, about zone-based pricing, the importance of co-mail consolidation, and more.

This episode of the Broadcast explores a growing knowledge crisis in the printing industry: as experienced press operators and OEM experts retire, they take decades of undocumented, judgment-based knowledge with them — knowledge that AI can't learn from if it was never captured. Amy Servi-Bonner, vice president of PRINTING AI argues that AI isn't a threat to human expertise; it's the only way to preserve it.

Thirty years ago, Beth Marston chose print over banking on instinct — and never looked back. In this episode, she opens up about navigating a male-dominated industry, the mentor who got her laid off (in the best possible way), and why giving people confidence might be the most powerful leadership move there is.

In this episode of the Impressions Xchange podcast, Ashley Roberts chats with Adriane Harrison, vice president of human relations consulting at PRINTING United Alliance, about Mental Health Awareness Month and why mental health matters at work and in life.

She wasn’t given the business — she built it herself. In this episode of Her Imprint, Arpy Simonian shares how she went from working in her father’s company to starting her own label printing business from her home — with no loans and no backup plan. This is a conversation about confidence, resilience, and proving to yourself that you can do it.

Toni McQuilken and Paul Bobnak recently returned from the National Postal Forum and share their candid thoughts and takeaways.

We’ve all heard it — print is dead. Mail is dying. But what if that’s completely wrong? In this episode of Her Imprint, Marie Clarke shares how print and mail continue to power a multi-trillion-dollar industry, connect communities, and play a critical role in how we communicate today. This is a conversation about perception, reality, and why paper still matters.

She didn’t plan to run the business — but she stepped in when it mattered most. In this episode of Her Imprint, Mary Dolan shares how she went from lawyer to business owner, navigating unexpected loss and growing into leadership along the way. This is a conversation about resilience, learning on the job, and leading even when you don’t feel ready.

Businesses in a variety of verticals, whatever that market may be, likely have common expectations – a cluster of branded features that can serve as a guide to help them achieve their branding goals. This thoughtful discussion includes viewpoints representing the wide-format, apparel, and promotional products spaces.

We talked with eight in-plant managers at the 2026 Inkjet Summit to learn why they’re considering production inkjet and how they expect it will cut color costs, boost capacity, and future proof their operations.

In this episode of Printing’s Alive, Warren Werbitt talks with Jamie McLennan about the shift from commodity to strategic selling in the print industry. They unpack pricing pressures, customer expectations, and the importance of positioning print as a premium product. The conversation also explores AI, sustainability, and how to attract the next generation to print.

What if your competition… wasn’t actually your competition? In this episode of Her Imprint, Shawna Hicks Cranston shares how she built a 16-year print and shipping business rooted in community, collaboration, and connection. This is a conversation about relationships, growth, and why helping others succeed is one of the best business strategies there is.

Ashley Roberts welcomes Pete Kowalczuk, of Canon U.S.A., to discuss Canon’s restructuring into a unified Americas production print team. They are joined by and Dina Kessler of Kessler Creative to discuss how demand has shifted toward personalization, variable data, shorter runs, faster turnaround, and omnichannel marketing, driving investments in digital print, compatible finishing, and inserters.

On this episode of The Broadcast, host Gabby Houck sits down with lean expert Brian Van de Water, CEO of SPL Consulting. Throughout the conversation, Van de Water explains how lean translates beyond manufacturing into front-end processes like order processing, estimating, accounting, and sales, and how it helps identify waste such as motion, transportation, and waiting. 

ACTExact, a carbon-negative UV flexo ink made with algae-based pigment, is now in commercial use, signaling a step forward in scalable, sustainable solutions for packaging. In this episode of Parlor Talks, we take a closer look at this ink.

She didn’t just change careers — she bought three businesses at once. In this episode of Her Imprint, Jolie Cypert shares how she went from practicing law to owning four FastSigns locations, building a business rooted in community, culture, and creativity. This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and taking the next step — even when you don’t have all the answers.

At Super Bowl 60, the team at Wasserman Live undertook the massive task of producing, managing, and installing graphics for the event. This episode features Toni McQuilken of NAPCO Media highlighting what it took to get the job done.

An extended cut of 5 Minute Mail, looking at the recent Congressional Hearing, USPS fuel surcharges, and what printers should be watching.

In this special podcast, we take you behind the scenes of the In-Print™ 2026 contest judging. Host Bob Neubauer talks with the judges as they are making decisions to find out what flaws they spotted and what impressive features caught their attention and led to pieces being chosen as winners.

She started in a building with nothing but a concrete slab and a lawn chair. In this episode of Her Imprint, Kristine Tamblingson shares how mentorship, curiosity, and saying yes to opportunity helped her build a career from the ground up in print and packaging. This is a conversation about leadership, growth, and why where you work matters more than the title you hold.

On this episode of the Impressions Xchange podcast, Denise Gustavson joins Ashley Roberts to discuss the Her Imprint podcast series, the Women's History Month annual series, and to chat about some things Gustavson has learned from other women along the way.

What does it take to double a print business — and cut your workforce in half at the same time? In this episode of Her Imprint, Tonya Spiers shares how she transformed Knight Abbey through automation, bold decision-making, and a relentless focus on efficiency and growth. This is a conversation about leadership, risk, and why standing still is not an option in print.

She didn’t plan a career in print — she found it. In this episode of Her Imprint, Taylor Preston shares how a chance moment led her into the sign industry, where she now installs graphics, coordinates projects, and navigates a role few women step into. This is a conversation about confidence, visibility, and carving out your place in an industry that doesn’t always expect you.

She didn’t just start a business — she built it from nothing at 20 years old. In this episode of Her Imprint, Charity Jackson shares how she turned uncertainty into a 30-year career in the sign industry, found her niche in vehicle graphics, and proved that women belong in every part of manufacturing. This is a story of grit, growth, and not waiting for permission.

Adriane Harrison, Denise Gustavson, Gabby Houck, and Toni McQuilken discuss their experiences as women covering an often male-dominated industry, and share how the industry has changed.

She started as a temp receptionist — and built a career she never planned. In this episode of Her Imprint, Amanda Nicassio shares how curiosity, adaptability, and a people-first mindset helped her grow into a leadership role in print. This is a conversation about confidence, connection, and knowing you belong — even when you didn’t expect to be there.

She didn’t plan a career in print — but she grew into a leader because of it. In this episode of Her Imprint, Crystal Savage shares how she stepped into her brother’s business, learned the industry from scratch, and became the operational and strategic force behind its growth. This is a conversation about confidence, evolution, and leading even when you don’t have all the answers.

She didn’t just start a business — she rebuilt one. In this episode of Her Imprint, Linda Fox shares how she purchased a struggling print studio during COVID, navigated major life changes, and turned it into a growing wide format business. It’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and learning to lead with confidence.

Direct mail isn’t dying — it’s evolving. In this episode of Her Imprint, Susan Foley, CEO of Diamond Envelope, shares how her family business produces more than a billion envelopes a year while embracing innovation, AI, and new tactile technologies that keep mail relevant in a digital world. It’s a conversation about leadership, legacy, and why manufacturing still offers powerful career opportunities.

Print is no longer just ink on paper. In this episode of Her Imprint, Lidia Latrowski shares how her creative background in fashion and photography evolved into a leadership role at Duggal Visual Solutions — where print, digital, fabrication, and immersive experiences come together. It’s a conversation about confidence, creativity, and how technology is redefining what print can be.

Ashley Cooney didn’t just step into leadership at Hudson Printing — she earned it. From working in bindery to managing production and eventually becoming COO, Ashley shares how learning every part of the print floor helped her lead with confidence, accountability, and respect. This episode of Her Imprint explores family business, leadership growth, and why teamwork is the backbone of print success.

In this Women’s History Month episode of Parlor Talks, Terri-Lynn Levesque of Royal Containers reflects on her packaging career, AICC leadership experience, mentorship, and the skills and opportunities shaping the next generation of industry leaders.

What does it take to lead a company that designs the graphics you see on RVs across the country? In this episode of Her Imprint, Melissa Vitali shares how she grew from a sales role into President and CEO of Graphix Unlimited, navigating industry challenges, building partnerships with other printers, and finding pride in seeing her company’s work out in the wild. It’s a conversation about leadership, relationships, and giving yourself the grace to grow.

Print is more than products — it’s an experience. In this episode of Her Imprint, Carly Crow shares how her marketing background led her into the print and promotional products industry and how she helped reinvent a legacy business through innovation, technology, and community. From brand integrity to AI-powered workflows, Carly offers a fresh perspective on where print is headed next.

Daphne Bien-Aimé didn’t plan a career in print. After starting as a receptionist, curiosity led her to explore every corner of the industry — from project coordination to operations leadership at Duggal Visual Solutions. In this episode of Her Imprint, Daphne shares why mentorship, collaboration, and curiosity are the keys to building a lasting career in print.

She didn’t plan to run a printing company. But when Tae’lor Jackson returned home, she discovered a passion for the family business her father built — and stepped into leadership to help shape its future. In this episode of Her Imprint, Tae’lor shares lessons in authentic leadership, community responsibility, and why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools in business.

She never planned to own a print company. What started as a part-time college job turned into leadership, legacy, and a deep love for helping clients grow. In this episode of Her Imprint, Chelsie Schmid shares how she stepped into ownership, balanced motherhood and business, and continues to prove that print is anything but dead.

In this Women’s History Month edition of Parlor Talks, Kasie Fairbarn, Adrianne Tipton, and Dani Diehlmann reflect on their journeys in flexible packaging, the mentors who shaped them, progress for women in the industry, and opportunities ahead.