After Half-Century in Print Trade, GPO Plant Manager Embraces More Change

Buyouts and layoffs don't scare John Crawford, the recently appointed managing director of plant operations at the Government Printing Office.

"If you don't change, you get left behind," Crawford said, climbing the stairs at the GPO's North Capitol Street Northwest headquarters after inspecting a state-of-the-art digital press churning out glossy voter guides for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

Crawford joined the GPO at age 25, taking a pay cut in the move from the private to public sector. He is the third generation of his family to work at the GPO.