Digital Print Ink - August 2019

AUGUST 2019

DIGITALPRINTINK.NET 40 YEARS AND COUNTING WORKING FOR YOU A fter decades spent in corporate America, I’m not a big fan of mission statements. When deployed correctly, I believe these statements do have the power Our implementation of this goal has helped us create a work environment where our employees feel empowered to help our customers. They are confident in the work they do,

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DPI’s Mission to Help Every Customer

to bind the company around core goals and beliefs. Unfortunately, too many corporations and small businesses lose sight of their original mission when the daily tasks take over. That’s why DPI adheres to one simple goal every day. When our customers finish their service with us, we want them to say, “Wow, I’m better after having that experience.” That’s it. That’s all we care about. As long as our customers feel like the return on their investment and their time was well spent with us, we have accomplished what we set out to do as a company. We know that our customers pay for our vacations, children’s college tuition, home repairs, and daily living. Without our customers, we wouldn’t be able to afford the lives that we have, and every day, we are thankful to have that opportunity. Every morning at DPI, we meet to discuss our work for the upcoming day to make sure our team is connected and cohesive. At these meetings, we read customer surveys and share our customer responses with our entire team. This is the best way for us to monitor our goal of exceeding expectations and ensuring customers leave us feeling like they were better served by us than they were before. “When our customers finish their service with us, we want them to say, ‘Wow, I’m better after having that experience.’”

and we give them the tools to do a wonderful job. We always take the time to put ourselves in our customers’ shoes to understand why they are struggling to respond to us or why we may be missing the mark on their project. We go those extra miles because we understand that we can make a customer’s situation better if we take the time to see it from their point of view.

Every day, DPI employees collaborate to give customers the best experience they can.

417.881.5309 We love hearing the stories of how we made our customers say, “Wow.” It motivates us to continue to improve. Thank you for your trust in us and for allowing us to work with your business. Without you, we wouldn’t have the lives we love, and for that, we will always be grateful. –Steve Counts 1 When we ask customers to rate our work, this produces more stellar reviews than not. It might sound arrogant, but our employees have grown accustomed to the glowing reviews our customers leave for them. When we do make a mistake, we spend time talking to the customer about how we could have improved their experience, what we should do differently next time, and ways we can improve the situation for them. I am so proud of the employees we have at DPI. I know I have employees that I can count on to get their work done in a timely, quality fashion without having to check up on them or monitor their progress. They make this experience a positive one for the customer by guiding them and communicating with them on a daily basis and throughout every step in the process.

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HELPING HUMANS SLOW DOWN AND LOOK UP The Art of Stargazing

Modern humans are stuck in a routine of expected and constant industriousness. But with all this rushing, people often drag themselves home at night with no energy left to enjoy the most splendid show nature has to offer: the wondrous night sky.

instead. You’ll need to identify several anchor planets or constellations to help you navigate the sky before using a telescope. 3. Utilize Assets Put your phone to good use by downloading apps like Stellarium, Starwalk, and Google Sky Map. Each of these apps offers a unique benefit for aspiring stargazers. For example, Starwalk lets you point your phone at the sky to see stars, constellations, and planets in real time based on your location. 4. Mark Your Calendar In 1972, beloved singer-songwriter John Denver wrote about a meteor shower he witnessed during a camping trip in Colorado. He describes the scene by singing, “I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky.” The “fire” he recounted was actually the Perseids meteor shower, the most recognized shower on Earth. This astrological wonder takes place every year from July 17 to Aug. 24. During this time, viewers should be able to

Most people go through life looking straight ahead, but if they would stop and peer skyward, they’d bear witness to a massive,

unexplored frontier made up of the moon in all its phases, burning stars sailing through the sky, constellations with epic origin stories, and meteor showers bright enough to warrant sunglasses. If you’re looking for

a hobby to help you slow down and appreciate the world around you, stargazing is a great option. Here are some tips to get you started. 1. The Higher, the Better If you’re a city dweller, meander a little way out of town or try to find a tall building to keep the light pollution to a minimum. 2. Extra Set of Eyes While novice stargazers often want to immediately throw their money at a new telescope, astronomy experts recommend starting with binoculars CELEBRATE! Remember those first week weeks of summer and how naive and happy you were? For the most part, June was great! The kids were excited about their months of freedom, and you were perfectly happy to give them a few days of rest and relaxation before signing them up for summer camps and classes. But somewhere around July, their excitement turned into your worst nightmare, as the sleep schedule became nearly nonexistent. Now, you’ve reached the point where if one more person asks you for a snack, you just might scream. Yeah, we get it. So, this one’s for you, parent, who’s so ready for your kids to head off to the classroom. Here are some fun ways to celebrate the return of your routine this back-to-school season. Indulge in Peaceful Binge-Watching That new Netflix series that might not be appropriate for your kids is calling your name. The best part is you won’t have a little one tugging at you and begging for your attention. You can kick your feet up, binge a whole season, and possibly even nap on the couch in complete peace. Well-Deserved Self-Care

see shooting stars associated with the Perseids, but the shower reaches its maximum rate of activity on Aug. 12–13 this year. Grab some friends and

family, and head outdoors to put your newfound stargazing knowledge to work.

Back-to-School Season Is Finally Here!

enjoy the pure silence in your home. No more arguments over iPads or chargers, no more screams, and no more “MOM!” echoing through the home (for the next 8 hours, at least). Cherish It Your kids are only young once, and while it’s gratifying to finally

make them someone else’s responsibility for a few days each week, there’s nothing wrong with missing them a little bit. Break out those baby books, grab the ice cream you’ve stashed away in the freezer, and have a good cry. It’ll be cathartic, and that night, they will probably do something that will remind you why you were so excited to have them back in school in the first place. If you have a great back-to-school photo or tradition, we would love to see it. Send us your photos and stories to [email protected]. Have a safe and happy school year!

You can finally shower without inquiries from the tiny ones living in your home! Enjoy a relaxing show, pop on a face mask, get comfy, and

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Welcome New Clients!

FROM TEMPORARY TO 30 YEARS Our Dedicated Vice President, Laurie McCulley, Keeps DPI on Track

Clearview Nursing Home Dowell Group Pipkin Middle School Yellow Iron Excavating Corwin Dodge Wayne’s Wallcovering Referrals Carol Pyott

Roasted Corn Salsa

More than three decades ago, Laurie McCulley came into DPI as a customer. She was inquiring about getting copies of her resume so she could send applications for graphic design positions. Instead, she was offered a job at DPI. “The gal here at the time called me and wanted to know if I would be interested in a customer service position … temporarily,” Laurie recalls. “And I’m still here.” About four months into her job as a customer service representative and graphic artist, Laurie’s manager left for vacation and never returned. Laurie stepped up to do what needed to be done in that position, and after moving through the ranks at DPI, Laurie now serves as our vice president and production manager.

Corn is plentiful during the summer months, and this easy-to-make salsa is sure to be a hit at your next get-together.

Laurie McCulley

Ingredients

Self-described as a “get-it-done” person, Laurie oversees our production department to ensure DPI runs efficiently and effectively. She manages about five to 10 of our largest accounts, including franchisers and those who ship products across the globe. Today, Laurie even assists some of the same customers she first managed when she began at the company.

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2 medium ears of corn, shucked

1 jalapeño or Fresno chile, seeded and thinly sliced

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1/2 red onion, diced

1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped

“[The best part is] just getting to know the customers pretty well and kind of helping them find a path for quick and easy stress-free printing,” Laurie says.

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1/4 bunch cilantro leaves, sliced

Juice of 1 lime

In the 30 years she’s been with DPI, Laurie has seen the business grow and transform through ownership changes, technology development, and product growth. With the latest addition of signage to DPI’s product lineup, Laurie says seeing the dynamic abilities of print products is her favorite part of the company.

Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

1. Heat a cast-iron skillet to high. Char corn, turning occasionally, for 10–14 minutes until kernels begin to blacken in spots. 2. Using a sharp knife, remove corn kernels from cobs and transfer to a large mixing bowl. 3. With a wooden spoon or potato masher, gently crush corn to release starch and juices. 4. Add jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cilantro. Mix to combine. 5. Top with lime juice and season with salt. 6. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips.

“Printing doesn’t just stand still,” Laurie says. “It’s always changing.”

In addition, Laurie values the attitude of her team, even through recent periods of transition due to retirements. “What I appreciate is their work ethic and knowing that the customer pays their bills, so they strive every day,” Laurie says. “It’s a pretty tight schedule here. We take a lot of rush jobs; we take a lot of jobs that seem impossible to do … My teams have been really focused in there.”

After 30 years, Laurie’s focus on DPI has been nothing but stellar. Thank you for all your hard work and continued dedication, Laurie!

Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine

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inside

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Honoring the Customer

The Art of Stargazing

Meet Vice President Laurie McCulley 3 Ways to Celebrate Your Kids Going Back to School

Roasted Corn Salsa

Staying ‘Cool’ With Your Canine This Summer

W ith all this late-summer sunshine, it’s the perfect time to take your dog out for some fun. And while spending time basking in nature’s beauty can be a great source of fun and exercise for you and your pets, it’s important to keep a careful watch on your dog’s core temperature to prevent heat exhaustion. There are several detectable signs of heat exhaustion that you can watch for, including abnormal lethargy, vomiting, or a brightly colored blue or red tongue. Here are some tips to keep your canine cool this summer. Water in All Its Forms While certain dog breeds thrive in hotter climates, all pups need a little extra care when it comes to staying hydrated during the summer. For starters, always make sure they have ready access to drinkable water. If you are going on an adventure, consider bringing a collapsible water bowl. If you are doing some backyard chilling, consider filling up a small wading pool with water for your pooch to splash or lounge in. Some Invaluable Inventions There are many contraptions to help you keep your canine cool in the summer heat. Booties

Staying ‘Cool’ With Your Canine Enjoy the Weather While Keeping Your Pup Comfortable

to insulate their toes and protect their paw pads from the hot asphalt, cooling vests that reflect sunlight off darker fur, and pressure- activated cooling pads are just a few of the gizmos you can purchase to stave off those scorching temps. The Dog People, a website powered by Rover.com, also recommends making frozen “pupsicles,” a yogurt-based frozen treat that can satisfy doggy cravings while keeping them cool. Time Is of the Essence While fun water toys and helpful cooling inventions are great, the best thing you can do to keep your dog cool is be careful about when you decide to go outside. Taking your pup out in the early morning or later in the evening, when the sun isn’t at its highest point in the sky, will help keep them cooler in the long run. Additionally, keep in mind that some breeds deal with the heat better than others. If you’re unsure, do a little research to determine your dog’s susceptibility to heat exhaustion. Just because the heat is sizzling doesn’t mean your dog should be! Keep these tips in mind before taking your canine out in the summer sun. They will thank you for it!

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