Tommy Gillis, senior partner and co-owner of Grand Prairie, Texas-based CFC Print Solutions, LLC, began his printing career as a plate maker at a computer services company in Georgia.
He recalled, "I spent most of my time eating Snickers bars, drinking Mello Yello and studying in the plate room for my night classes at Georgia Southern University. I had no idea what a printing press was much less what an aluminum plate did!"
However, Gillis became much more engrossed in his second job at Printegra, where he spent just more than 22 years traveling, opening plants and helping build a premiere short-run manufacturer. From there, he and four other industry veterans went on to build CFC Print Solutions and the rest is history.
Here, Gillis digs deeper into his background, business philosophy and the future of the industry.
Print Professional (PP): Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up and what school did you attend?
Tommy Gillis (TG): I was born in Athens, Ga. and moved to Peachtree City, Ga. when I was 12. Peachtree City was an up-and-coming planned community in suburban Atlanta–—my parents were determined to find a family community with great schools for my sister and [me]. I graduated high school in 1983 and attended Georgia Southern University and the University of Georgia the following two years before embarking on my printing career.
PP: What is the best advice you ever received?
TG: The best business advice/lessons I have received are from the three business men I most respect: Robert Lenox, past chairman, Printegra: "Surround yourself with good people and trust them to do their jobs." Casey Campbell, past CEO, Printegra: "Manage your customers with the highest degree of integrity." David Stith, CEO, Peregrine Corp.: "Start your business, operate it as only you know how and customers will support you."
PP: What is your greatest business accomplishment and disappointment?
TG: My greatest business accomplishment to date is successfully starting and growing our business CFC Print Solutions in such a tough economic time. We've been blessed with tremendous support from our customers and feel confident that we offer an upgrade in service, technology and "outside-the-box" thinking that lures potential print buyers to CFC. Greatest disappointment: I have no disappointments [or] regrets.
PP: What is the secret to your success?
TG: My success and the success of CFC Print Solutions is directly related to drive and ambition. I have never taken issue with working long hours, establishing and exceeding short-term and long-term goals and most importantly surrounding myself with folks [who] are equal to or greater in talent than myself. I think I am a pretty good cultivator of talent and somewhat lucky, too.
PP: What do you think is the most exciting, cutting-edge thing your company is doing right now? Why?
TG: CFC Print Solutions is on the verge of rolling out a digital economy check line that will change the landscape of VSR (very short run) laser check offerings across the country. Digitally-imaged on preprinted check shells, Econ-Digital will be the premiere check offering on quantities of 1,000 or less and in most cases, ship the same day the order is received at the plant level from our national production facility here in Grand Prairie, Texas. This will be hot.
PP: What do you think will be the printing industry's biggest challenge in the next few years?
TG: Obviously the economy. I am a firm believer that you are either attempting to continuously invest in your company by acquiring technology, people and/or equipment in an effort to grow. And if you're not reinvesting, in essence, the white flag is raised and your days are numbered. The companies that are still investing, still battling for market share and still competing will make it through these tough economic times and ultimately stand alone in the print market. The challenge for [those companies like] us, that want to continue to grow, is finding our niche, being the best at what we do and partnering with buyers that have similar interests and goals.
PP: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
TG: I am intense, but leave it at the door when I arrive home. I am 44 years old and am married to Heidi. I have three awesome daughters: Halle, 16, Holly, 14 and Olivia, 9. I was put on this earth to raise my three daughters and regardless of economy, business or money, my wife and daughters are my real inspiration and my life! PPR
- Companies:
- Printegra
- People:
- Tommy Gillis