Monroe Litho is a Proud Sponsor
The John Peter Zenger Medal Award Recipient
AMERICAN PRINTER NAMES MONROE LITHO AS A WINNER OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Blog: The State of Green Printing
Monroe Litho and Kodak Link Arms
Blog: The Green Machine
MONROE LITHO RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF AMERICA’S FINEST WITH CERTIFICATION FROM SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRINTING PARTNERSHIP
MONROE LITHO GETS GREENER WITH NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
MONROE LITHO RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF AMERICA’S SAFEST COMPANIES
Calendar pads size 8 1/2 x 11 with 50 sheets to a pad supporting the Frank and Bette Paul 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center in Pittsford,NY are available in packages of two for $10.00 per package. This school provides no cost training to children with dislexia. Monroe Litho is proud to have been a sponsor in this initiative. Please call 585-264-1160 to purchase pads.
New Capabilities Provide Customers With All-In-One Printing Solution
Monroe Litho, a leading environmentally-sustainable printer, announced today that it has added a new suite of services to its portfolio. In addition to the printing, fulfillment and distribution work it has traditionally offered, the Company will now provide customers with a huge array of binding and finishing solutions including in-house die cutting, wire binding and high-speed collation. As a result, Monroe Litho can now offer customers a turn-key printing solution eliminating the need for additional help from third-party operators.
“With the addition of these new capabilities, Monroe Litho has become a one-stop shop for printing and binding,” explains Chris Pape, CEO of Monroe Litho. “When a customer needs to have a job printed and bound, we can do all of it for them under one roof. We added these new services as a result of our customers asking us to broaden the scope of work we can do for them. We are delighted to now be able to accommodate virtually every aspect of their printing needs.”
The Company developed its new offerings thru the acquisition of equipment from Rochester Binding and Finishing. Under the terms of the agreement, Monroe Litho purchased the majority of the assets of the Company. These resources were incorporated into Monroe Litho’s existing operations including several employees.
“It was a smart acquisition for both of us,” said Rudy Warren, owner and CEO of Rochester Binding and Finishing. “With the way the industry is advancing, customers want to have one source for their printing needs. Gone are the days when customers would have multiple vendors work on one project. These days it is all about simplicity. Combining the two companies enabled Monroe Litho to become a next-generation printer capable of providing customers with a broad portfolio of advanced printing solutions.”
In addition to its service line expansion, Monroe Litho has also received two new awards. American Printer, a leading industry magazine, recently presented Monroe Litho with the silver medal in the Environmental Excellence Awards. This award recognizes the commercial printers leading the industry in environmentally conscious manufacturing. An independent panel of judges reviewed participants’ production composition, manufacturing process and facility, and personnel to determine the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Certificate of Merit winners.
Steve Whittaker, Monroe Litho’s Vice President of Quality Management/Sustainability Initiatives, recently received the John Peter Zenger Medal. Awarded annually, it is given to an individual employed in the graphic communications industry who has demonstrated, in a clear and convincing way, exemplary character in the form of: selfless courage, charity, activism or service. Nominees must be employed in some capacity, in the graphic communications industry. The nominee’s work place must fall into the service footprint of the Printing Industries Alliance, but need not be a member.
Whittaker won the award based upon his exemplary service inside and outside of the printing industry. While in the military, as a U.S. Army Specialist 5th Class, Whittaker served with distinction in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, NY State Conspicuous Service Cross with one silver device and New York State Conspicuous Service Star. He also earned nine service ribbons and is the seventh generation in his family to serve in the U.S. military.
Originally assigned to serve in an artillery unit, he volunteered to work as an offset pressman after learning of the need to replace a soldier returning to the States. His work, which consisted of printing intelligence orders and other “top secret” documents on a printing press sited on the back of a mobile truck, required him to fly for up to four hours via helicopter through active zones in full combat gear, often drawing enemy fire. He is currently involved in an effort to raise money to buy baseball gloves for U.S. servicemen serving in Afghanistan.
After returning from Vietnam, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Printing Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been an adjunct professor in RIT’s School of Print Media from 1991 to present day. Whittaker has been with Monroe Litho for the past 26 years in a number of roles.
Whittaker organized Monroe Litho’s Committee for Sustainability and conducts all of the training in safety and sustainability for all employees. His efforts have resulted in the firm’s recognition as one of the safest companies in America by Occupational Hazards Magazine, as well as in establishing it at the forefront of the printing industry’s environmental movement.
In Fall 2008, Monroe Litho was awarded certification by the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership). It is one of only ten printers in the United States and the only one in New YorkState to hold the prestigious honor. In addition, the Company received certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) in November 2008 and Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) in 2004. Monroe Litho is the first printer in New YorkState and the only one in the Northeast to hold all three certifications.
About Monroe Litho
Since 1945, Monroe Litho has provided high-quality printing, production, and fulfillment to companies in the Rochester area and throughout the country. The Company is one the first commercial printers in the U.S. to go with 100 percent wind-generated power – 100 percent of its electricity comes from clean, renewable, wind-generated sources.
Stephen R. Whittaker, a fourth generation printer, has been with Monroe Litho, Inc. (Rochester, NY) for the past 26 years in a number of roles. He currently serves as its Vice President of Quality Management/Sustainability Initiatives wherein he organized Monroe’s Committee for Sustainability and conducts all of the training in safety and sustainability for all employees. His efforts have allowed the firm to succeed in being recognized as one of the safest and greenest companies in America.
As a U.S. Army Specialist 5th Class, Stephen serves with distinction in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, NY State Conspicuous Service Cross with one silver device and New York State Conspicuous Service Star. He also earned nine service ribbons and is the seventh generation in his family to serve in the U.S. military.
Originally assigned to serve in an artillery unit, he volunteered to work as an offset pressman after learning of the need to replace a soldier returning to the States. His work, which consisted of printing intelligence orders and other “top secret” documents on a printing press sited on the back of a mobile truck, required him to fly for up to four hours via helicopter through active zones in full combat gear, often drawing enemy fire. He is currently involved in a effort to raise money to buy baseball gloves for U.S. servicemen serving in Afghanistan.
After returning from Vietnam, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Printing Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has been an adjunct professor in RIT’s School of Print Media from 1991 to present day.
As a community activist, he has served on the Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation and several of its committees from 1991 to present, has held high rank in a number of Masonic fraternities, including service as a member for 42 years of the Free and Accepted Masons of New York, is a Compatriot, Sons of the American Revolution and is an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors, Frank and Betty Paul 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children with Dyslexia, Which teaches affected children to read at no fee.
The John Peter Zenger Medal is awarded to an individual employed in the graphic communications industry who has demonstrated, in a clear and convincing way, exemplary character in the form of: selfless courage, charity, activism or service.
The John Peter Zenger Medal is named for John Peter Zenger (1697-1746), a New York City printer whose arrest, imprisonment, trial and acquittal in 1735 set the foundation for freedom of the press in colonial America. The medal is inscribed with the Latin words “Non nummis, virtute paratur”, in English “Not by money, but by virtue gained.” These words were inscribed on a gold box given from a thankful group of New York leaders to Andrew Hamilton, Zenger’s pro-bono defense attorney.
Nominees must be employed in some capacity, including general production and support staff, in the graphic communications industry. The nominee’s work place must fall into the service footprint of the Printing Industries Alliance, but need not be a member.
The nominee must have demonstrated, in a clear and convincing way, personal character in one or more attributes associated with the medal:
Courage: For individual exceptional acts of courage, valor or heroism.
Charity: For exceptional financial, volunteer and/or in-kind work directly benefiting charitable organizations.
Activism: For exceptional conviction to and action advancing a political commercial or environmental cause resulting in a change in the public course surrounding that cause.
Service: For service to the citizens of a community or the nation in the form of distinguished military or community service.
AMERICAN PRINTER NAMES MONROE LITHO AS A WINNER OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Penton Media's AMERICAN PRINTER ([R]) magazine, a leading source for senior executives seeking business trends and technical innovations shaping the commercial printing industry, today announced the winners of its second annual Environmental Excellence Awards program.
The Environmental Excellence Awards recognize commercial printers who are leading the industry in environmentally conscious manufacturing.
“We are pleased by the enthusiastic response from the industry,” said Scott Bieda, group publisher.
“We received many innovative entries across all categories of the competition.”
An independent panel of judges reviewed participants’ production composition, manufacturing process and facility, and personnel to determine the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Certificate of Merit winners. Participants also were invited to vie for “Best Environmentally Produced Product” honors.
The winners of AMERICAN PRINTER’S 2009 Environmental Excellence Awards Include:
26 to 99 Employees
Gold: Impress Communications (Chatsworth, CA)
Silver: Monroe Litho (Rochester, NY)
Bronze: Digital Hub (Chicago, IL)
Certificate of Merit: The Advertising Printing Co. (St. Louis, MO)
The awards will be presented at a special ceremony to be held at 4:00 p.m. September 11, 2009, during the Print 09 show at McCormick Place in Chicago. Honorees will be highlighted the duration of the show in the GREENspace Pavilion and in a special section in the September 2009 issue of AMERICAN PRINTER.
"Our goal is to heighten the awareness of environmentally sound practices in the commercial printing industry," said Bieda. “We're proud to salute the efforts of these progressive companies.”
About the Environmental Excellence Awards
Teaming with Premier sponsor Kodak, AMERICAN PRINTER, in conjunction with the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), has created the “Environmental Excellence Awards” to recognize commercial printers who are leading the industry in environmentally conscious manufacturing. Gold level sponsors include Agfa, HP, manroland and Presstek.
For more information on the Environmental Excellence Awards, please contact Nsenga Thompson, associate editor/marketing manager, at 1-(312) 840-8415 or e-mail APeditor@americanprinter.com.
Landmark Environmental Certification Recognizes Monroe Litho as one of the Industry’s Most Green Printers
Monroe Litho, a leading national printer, announced today that is has been awarded certification by the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP Partnership). This makes Monroe Litho one of only five printers in the United States and the only one in New York State to hold the prestigious honor.
Over the past four years, Monroe Litho has become nationally recognized as one of the printing industry’s most environmentally-friendly members. In addition to the acknowledgement from the SGP Partnership, the Company received certification from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) in November 2008 and Forest Stewardship Certification (FSC) in 2004. Monroe Litho is the first printer in New York State and the only one in the Northeast to hold all three certifications.
“Over the past five years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to make our Company as green as possible. Everyday we are looking for new ways to keep the business environmentally friendly. It is reflected in everything from the light bulbs that we use to the way in which we run our printing operations,” explained Chris Pape, CEO of Monroe Litho. “Our Company is committed to helping our customers produce their work in the most sustainable way possible and truly make a difference one project at a time. We are delighted to receive the SGP’s recognition of this work.”
Founded in June 2007, the SGP Partnership is an independent recognition organization that provides printers with an opportunity to demonstrate their sustainability efforts and receive acknowledgement for their actions. It was formed as a result of work and collaboration by several key printing trade associations. These organizations include: the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, the Flexographic Technical Association and the Specialty Graphic and Imaging Association. The National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers and the Envelope Manufacturers Association also joined the partnership in May 2008.
Printers, such as Monroe Litho, that meet the criteria, and have it verified by a third party audit, are listed on a registry for print buyers and customers to use when searching for sustainable green printers. To become an SGP Printer, a company must complete three steps. It begins with the completion of an online self-assessment application accompanied by supporting documentation that demonstrates compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements as well as meeting the established criteria. The other steps are meeting the pre-audit documentation requirements and passing the on-site audit.
”The SGP verification process is not just a checklist that must be completed for the applicant to be recognized—it is a commitment to continuous improvement,” said Timothy Freeman, President, Printing Industry Alliance. “Utilizing and embracing the approaches identified in the SGP Partnership has allowed printers such as Monroe Litho to find many ways to reduce their environmental footprint, cut their operating costs, and cement their relationship with their customers. We are delighted to welcome them to the organization.”
About the SGP Partnership
The mission of the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership is to encourage and promote participation in the worldwide movement to reduce environmental impact and increase social responsibility of the print and graphic communications industry through sustainable green printing practices. The SGP Partnership recognizes the following sustainable business practices as guiding principles to ensure continued viability and growth:
--Employ, wherever and whenever possible, materials derived from renewable resources or with low environmental impact, maximizing recycling and recovery efforts with efficient utilization of renewable energy.
--Encourage the adoption of changes within the supply chain by strongly recommending the use of raw materials that do not threaten or harm future generations.
--Educate the customer and ultimate consumer regarding the benefits of a restorative economy.
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SFI Classification Awarded As Company Takes Environmental Initiatives to New Heights
Monroe Litho, a leading national printer, announced today that is has been awarded the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certification. This is the second environmental certification the Company has received in the past four years; they were also awarded FSC certification in 2004. The company is one of only five printers in New York State to hold both FSC and SFI certification.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard over the past several years to redefine the way we run our business,” explained Chris Pape, CEO of Monroe Litho. “We’ve reworked virtually every area of our operations to insure that our printing processes are an environmentally friendly as possible. This certification is a testimony of this hard work.”
The SFI’s premise is that responsible environmental behavior and sound business decisions can co-exist. It is one of the world’s leading forest certification programs. SFI certified companies practice sustainable forestry on all the lands they manage. They influence millions of additional acres through the training of loggers, foresters and family forest landowners in best management practices and landowner outreach programs. This commitment to sustainable forestry recognizes that all forest landowners play a critical role in ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of forests.
To be awarded SFI certification, an applicant must undergo a thorough and rigorous review of its operations by an accredited audit firm. Certification ensures companies are using the best sustainable forest management practices in their daily operations. And, as a result protecting air, water, soil and wildlife as well as ensuring that no wood comes from endangered forests.
An important part of SFI certification comes with a company’s Chain of Custody (CoC): the process of tracking and recording the possession and transfer of wood and fiber from the forests of origin through the different stages of production—primary manufacturing, secondary manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing to the end user. Companies interested in demonstrating that their products are made from responsibly managed forests and not from areas illegally harvested, tropical wilderness areas or biodiversity hotspots require the SFI CoC Certification.
The SFI certification program is a fully independent organization that is governed by a multi-stakeholder board. Members of the board include representatives from environmental and conservation organizations, public officials, professional and academic groups, forest products industry, independent logging professional and forest landowners.
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Monroe Litho, a leading national printer, announced today that is has been recognized as one of “America’s Safest Companies” by Occupational Hazards Magazine. The Company’s dedication and commitment to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its employees led to its nomination and selection. Monroe Litho is one of only 18 companies in the U.S to receive this prestigious award, as well as the only recipient in New York State.
“When I joined Monroe Litho in 2002, I pledged to make it the safest printing plant in the United States. Over the past six years, I have worked with our employees to develop a series of policies and practices to ensure that we have the safest possible environment,” said Chris Pape, CEO of Monroe Litho. “It is incredibly rewarding to be recognized for this effort. Truly, it is to the credit of our employees that we’ve been awarded such an honor. Without their commitment and dedication, it simply wouldn’t be possible.”
Award recipients were chosen based upon recommendations by industry professionals, recognition by industry associations, participation in programs such as OSHA’s Safety Health Award Recognition Program (SHARP), state and local awards, and Occupational Hazards’ research into occupational health and safety philosophy and programs of each of the nominated companies.
At Monroe Litho, employees are continuously encouraged to help maintain their safe work environment. The Company offers an “Employee Safety Suggestion” program that enables employees to submit ideas for new safety programs. It also operates an employee recognition program called “Gotcha Good” that rewards employees for taking extra steps to maintain the Company’s protected environment.
“Safety plays an extremely important role in the way that we operate our business,” said Pape. “There is an excellent dialogue among our employees about the need to be safe and they are constantly reminding each other about the essentials. If employees are not working safely and are hurt, they can’t be at work to fulfill our customers’ needs. And, that’s not good for anyone.”
Since 2002, Occupational Hazards has recognized over 100 companies as America’s Safest Companies. The winners have ranged from tiny operations utilizing innovative solutions to huge corporations that are benchmarked for safety by dozens of other companies.
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