Decades of Dedication: The People Behind the Print

DECADES OF DEDICATION: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PRINT

What keeps someone coming back to the same place, day after day, for five, ten, even twenty years?

At Print NW, the answer isn’t complicated. The reason is woven into our culture. It’s the people.

The people behind Print NW aren’t just clocking in. They’re showing up with skill, pride, and purpose. This is a team built on high standards, fierce loyalty, and a shared drive to get better with every job. That mindset, and the trust built by years of working side by side, is what makes Print NW more than the place we work. It’s the place we belong.

It’s not just a sentiment. It’s a track record. At Print NW, loyalty looks like people learning in the trenches alongside tenured, respected mentors. It’s people growing into leadership roles. It’s building trust, sharpening skills, and showing up with pride, year after year. The people at Print NW are truly shaping the company from the inside out.

THIS is what keeps someone coming back to the same place, day after day, for five, ten, even twenty years.

By the Numbers, Tenure That Tells a Story

In an era when the average employee stays with a company just a few years before moving on to their next gig, Print NW stands apart. As of 2024, across the private-sector workplace, the average tenure is just 3.5 years, and in manufacturing, it’s not much higher. At Print NW, our team’s average is more than double the national rate, with an average of nearly eight years of tenure and a shared history you can feel throughout every department.

And the numbers only get more impressive from there. More than a third of our employees have been here for over a decade. Ten of those team members have surpassed the twenty-year mark. That includes several who were part of the original Print NW crew, back when we were a small but mighty print shop with big dreams in downtown Puyallup, long before we expanded into over 60,000-square-feet across two facilities in Lakewood, WA.

Where Loyalty Meets Legacy

At Print NW, the most respected voices in the room aren’t always the ones with the highest titles. They’re the people who’ve matured with the company by learning the business, earning trust, and showing up with consistency and pride.

Some started as seasonal help in high school. Others began in entry-level roles and worked their way up. Many have moved between departments, expanded their skill sets, and carved out roles that didn’t even exist when they were hired.

But this isn’t just a story about print production. Across every department, our team is full of people who’ve built their expertise from the inside out. One thing Print NW does exceptionally well is recognizing strengths and placing people where they can thrive.

Inside the Journey

We could tell stories like this all day, but these two particular stories capture what Print NW is all about.

Gabe and Gary started in very different parts of the business, but their stories share a familiar beginning. Both came to Print NW as young hires, eager to learn. Their lives unfolded here, developing their skills, shaping the culture, and becoming the kind of people others look to for answers. They are still at Print NW not just because they’re passionate about the work, but because they’ve helped build what Print NW is today.

Gabe started at Print NW in 2001 as an assistant press operator, newly into his twenties. He grew up here, quite literally. He worked long hours, answered to middle-of-the-night calls, and did the heavy lifting. But what sets Gabe apart isn’t just his experience; it’s what he’s done with it. Today, as Pressroom Manager, he leads with the empathy of someone who’s been in his team’s shoes. He’s a coach, a mentor, and a problem solver. He understands the machines, the people, and the pressure. His team knows he’s in it with them, and that kind of trust doesn’t show up overnight. It’s built. Over years. Side by side.

Gary's story is different, but it echoes the same values. He started in 2009, fresh out of college, making plates in the back room. That position allowed him to learn the business from the inside out.

Over the years, Gary took on more responsibility and proved himself at every turn. Today, he leads the entire IT department, and he is the technical backbone of the business. From building custom online storefronts for our clients, managing cybersecurity, and overseeing the internal systems that power the entire operation, Gary is the architect behind the systems that keep Print NW productive, organized, and constantly evolving. He's not just managing systems. He is building platforms that make it easier for our people and our customers.

We aren't sharing Gabe and Gary’s stories to define success. We are sharing to show what’s possible, what can happen when people are trusted to grow, supported through the hard parts, and valued for what they bring to the table. While no two paths look the same, the message is clear. This is a place where people can build a future and use their strengths to make a difference.

Guided by Experience

Gabe and Gary’s story doesn’t end with their current titles. It’s still unfolding. Today, they’re part of Print NW’s Senior Leadership Group, and they’re in very good company.

The Senior Leadership Group is led by President and CEO Jeff Stallings. Before joining Print NW, Jeff had already built a reputation for grit, accountability, and excellence. He didn’t just bring print experience. He brought a deep understanding of what it takes to perform under pressure and keep things moving when it matters most. Jeff is also relentlessly future-focused, pushing us to invest in technology and equipment that keeps us competitive, and more importantly, aligned with what our clients actually need. Under his direction, the Senior Leadership Group has become a cornerstone of Print NW’s stability and growth.

Every member of the Senior Leadership Group has spent close to a decade or more helping shape the company. Most have been here for 15 years or longer. A few have been here since the very beginning. Add it all up, and you’ve got more than 140 years of combined Print NW experience sitting around the leadership table. But it’s not just time that binds this team. It’s trust. These are leaders who’ve developed professionally within these walls, who know the business inside and out, and who bring a deep perspective to every decision.

Why It Matters

This kind of tenure isn’t just rare. It’s a competitive edge.

When your team is made up of people who’ve seen it all, you move faster, avoid costly mistakes, and deliver with confidence. That’s what we bring to every job.

At Print NW, you’re backed by people who not only know what they’re doing, but they are just as invested in your results as you are.

Looking Ahead

Our North Star has always been the people. They are the legacy of our past, the foundation of our present, and the promise of our future.

At Print NW, we’re not just filling roles. We’re coaching, building, and creating a culture where the next generation of leaders can thrive. Every new hire brings new potential, and we’re committed to placing people where they can make the biggest impact for our company and for our customers.

Our tagline is: More than the products we print.

Pretty sure we just proved it.