A recruiter lured Mark Lemberger, president of Butler, Wisconsin-headquartered Western States Envelope & Label, and he never looked back.
"I have always been interested in the printing and paper converting industry. After spending a few years in the specialty advertising business, I was approached by a recruiter who got me an opportunity to do some market research for Western States Envelope Co. That was all it took. I was hooked and have been with Western States ever since."
Here, Lemberger discusses more about himself, his business and what's next.
Print Professional (PP): Background—Where did you grow up, what school did you attend, your degree?
Mark Lemberger (ML): I grew up in Milwaukee. I am a Marquette University graduate with a degree in business administration, marketing/finance.
PP: Describe your business style.
ML: I would consider my style to be hands-on with a relaxed grip. It's very important to know the details of all aspects of your business and your customers' needs, but I believe in letting my team put their talents to use with a minimum amount of interference.
PP: What is the best business advice you ever received?
ML: Make yourself indispensible to your customers.
PP: What is your greatest business accomplishment and disappointment?
ML: Helping to engineer my organization's ability to outperform the industry and achieve significant growth as well as diversification. The past three decades have been rewarding. The biggest disappointment has come during the past two years due to the printing market downturn. Reconfiguring your organization to be right-sized for a reduced level of volume is painful, but necessary. The upside of the past two years is that we are a better and stronger organization for our customers and employees, alike.
PP: What is the secret to your success?
ML: Listen to your customers. Make it easy for them to do business with you.
PP: What do you think is the most exciting, cutting-edge thing your company is doing right now? Why?
ML: We are constantly reinventing ourselves to be the best solution for our customers' needs. We have become a beta site for much of the envelope and label industries' newest equipment and technology. We have implemented a lean manufacturing initiative at all five of our facilities, and have invested considerably in sales, supervisor and employee training initiatives. We are launching new social media initiatives using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Wikipedia and more, as an exciting new way to promote our company and products. It's fun and effective, and is helping us to create a greater online presence. We may have the rich legacy of a 100-year-old company, but we approach every day as if we are just starting out fresh.
PP: What do you think will be the printing industry's biggest challenge in the next few years?
ML: Shrinking industry volumes combined with too many volume-based business models and a commodity-based mindset on the part of both print providers and buyers. Delivering a printed message to a targeted audience continues to be the most effective economical and preferred way to communicate. We need to do a better job at getting the marketplace to recognize the value of print and mail.
PP: What is the best part of your business day? Please explain.
ML: Every day brings a new opportunity. The best part of my day comes when I recognize it and grab it.
PP: What would people be surprised to learn about you—hobbies, special interests, etc.?
ML: I have discovered that holding a grandchild who falls asleep in your arms can bring greater joy than I could have ever imagined.
- People:
- Mark Lemberger
- Places:
- Butler, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee