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In 1971, Harry Quadracci quit his job, took a second mortgage on his home, and opened a printing press in an abandoned factory in a Pewaukee, WI cornfield. The site proved fertile for more than just agricultural enterprises; Quad/Graphics is now the largest independently owned printer in the U.S. and is one of North America's top four magazine, catalog, and coupon free-standing insert printers. You can see the results in such glossy magazines as Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report and National Geographic Traveler, all of which Quad/Graphics publishes. A Newsweek vice-president has said of Quad/Graphics: "This is the top quality printer in the industry: By that I mean it prints more pages per hour with less paper waste than anyone else in the business. The product is nearly flawless." Currently the company offers services in 15 different media; it provides everything from mailing and distribution services to Quad Dimensional imaging. The company has begun to expand internationally through new plants in Argentina, Brazil, and Poland, and is poised to take advantage of new technologies in a rapidly expanding industry. A method developed by Quad/Graphic's in-house research unit Quad/Tech cuts ink-jet solvent use in half, saving money and reducing environmentally harmful waste. (You can read about it on "Gruff the Cybergoat's web page, courtesy of Quad/Graphics.) In April 1998, the printer's Saratoga Springs, NY plant became the first to offer a full spectrum of digital imaging services. Quad/Graphics converted all its imaging sites to digital by the end of 1998. Quad/Graphics is enjoying a time of unprecedented growth and expansion for the company. Bouyed by a new contract with National Geographic, Quad/Graphics plans to spend $600 million over the next two years to expand facilities Wisconsin facilities in Hartford, Sussex, and West Allis. The expansions will add over 200 jobs in Wisconsin. Quad/Graphics has also added 55 new printing presses, the largest single purchase in the history of the printing industry and has unveiled a B2B web site that allows customers to track orders online. The company also plans expansions at many of its other printing sites as magazine orders keep rolling in. Despite the size of Quad/Graphics, it is still in many ways a family business, with frequent parties (with accoutrements like elephants, tons of sand and helicopter rides) silly traditions, like the serving of sausage and beans at every company summer picnic and company revues. The company also sponsors a rehabilitation program for injured employees that is lauded as one of the best in the country. And the company estimates that about 40 percent of its employees are in some way related to each other.
Applicants must submit an application (which can be obtained through the job hotline), a resume, and any relevant transcripts. Quad/Graphics posts a complete list of job openings on its employment web page, located at www.qg.com/jobops.html. Applicants can also contact "Employee Services" with hiring questions or send e-mail queries to qgraphics@qgraph.com. The hiring process generally consists of two interviews with managers. Sources say that the interviews are "fairly relaxed with questions about experience rather than testing." "I can say from my experience that I had a couple of interviews, neither of which was terribly technical or stressful," says one insider. Another contact says that "Quad tends to give merit to strong character." For those who are looking to move up quickly in the company, there is the "Administrative Trainee Program," which has a "slightly more intensive application program."
Quad/Graphics' corporate culture is "brash," "entrepreneurial," and proud to be "on the cutting edge." Employees emphasize that they "work hard, play hard" and are excited to be in a quickly growing industry, at "a company that puts out a quality product" and "runs its printers 24/7." "We eat change for breakfast," says one; another says, "It's a wonderful work culture -- you take the initiative and Quad gives you the responsibilities and opportunities to grow." "One of the nice things about this company is that you are given as many opportunities as you want to take to learn what you need or want to know," another insider says. "All employees are given initial training no matter how much experience they have elsewhere due to the fact that we utilize some of the more cutting edge equipment available in the print industry today." Employees appreciate a "tantalizing" list of perks, including "classy and fun" holiday parties, fitness centers, and free massages (yes, massages) on Fridays. On-site day care earned Quad/Graphics a nod as "one of the best places to work" from Working Woman magazine. And "for $10 a month, the medical coverage is pretty darn good." Workers also cite as pluses a "a lot of learning opportunities," "a fairly low-stress environment," "a family- and team-based work environment," and "visionary leadership by the CEO." While the pay "does not compare well with many industry leaders," the "invigorating work environment" compensates for the higher salaries offered at Quad/Graphics' "more staid competitors." CEO Larry Quadracci himself told Forbes that the firm often hires "losers" who "look at their shoes when they apply for a job" and give them "the chance to make something of themselves." In addition, Quad has an excellent employee stock plan. So good, in fact, that the company is currently employee owned. "They value employee opinion, and each employee is treated as an entrepreneur. After all we own part of this business!" an employee says. A Quad/Graphics insider adds: "Pay rates a C, but growth and perks rate an A." Sources say that the entry-level pay for production is $7 an hour; for administration is $20,000 a year; for accounting is $22,000 a year; and for engineering is $30,000 a year. In terms of hours, office employees work the regular 5-day, 40-hour week, while production employees work in 12-hour shifts. (but get three to four days off a week). However, the dress code is stringent, for everyone: "a Navy blue uniform is worn by all - from the janitor to the CEO." You can "rent the uniforms, or buy them, if you prefer." Any other quibbles? "No smoking on the property!" Also, "those addicted to the cutting edge should know this is ink on paper, not computers."
Human Resources (800) 682-5627
Quebecor;World Color Press More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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