Printing Industries of America (PIA) has announced the recipients of the 2014 Best Workplace in the Americas Awards. A total of 28 graphic arts companies, both members through Printing Industries of America Affiliate Organizations and non-members, were selected by a committee of distinguished HR experts from within the industry. The program is designed to recognize graphic arts companies for outstanding human relations efforts which contribute to a successful workplace.

“Since 2000, the Best Workplace program has recognized industry leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada from small, medium, and large firms in the graphic arts industry for their outstanding human relations practices. While this year we felt that every company that entered the competition had HR programs worthy of great pride, the Best Workplace program recognizes outstanding accomplishment,” says Jim Kyger, assistant vice president of human relations for PIA. “The Best Workplace program stands out as one of the most stringent HR awards programs available in any industry because it analyzes key HR metrics and program documents that firms submit with their entry. Too many programs today just rely on an employee survey as the basis for their judging.” 

Entries are judged on the following criteria: management practices, work environment, training and development, recognition and rewards, workplace health and safety, health and wellness, financial security, and work-life balance.

A total of 15 companies received the coveted designation Best of the Best, while 13 earned Best Workplace honors.


Best of the Best Category

Small Companies (up to 100 employees):
Tailored Label Products, Menomonee Falls, WI
Vox Printing, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK

Medium-size Companies (101–250 employees):
Disc Graphics, Inc., Hauppauge, NY
Midland Information Resources, Davenport, IA
MOSAIC, Cheverly, MD
Suttle-Straus, Inc., Waunakee, WI
Thoro Packaging, Corona, CA

Large Companies/Multi-plants (251+ employees):
American Packaging Corporation, Rochester, NY
Hammer Packaging, Rochester, NY
The John Roberts Company, Minneapolis, MN
Ripon Printers, Ripon, WI
SmartPractice, Phoenix, AZ
Smyth Companies, LLC, St. Paul, MN
Times Printing Co. Inc., Random Lake, WI
Weldon, Williams and Lick, Inc., Fort Smith, AR

Best Workplace Category

Small Companies (up to 100 employees):
Elk Grove Graphics, Elk Grove Village, IL
Syracuse Label & Surround Printing, Liverpool, NY
Western Graphics, Inc., St. Paul, MN

Medium-size Companies (101–250 employees):
Boutwell, Owens & Co., Inc., Fitchburg, MA
GPA Acquisition Company, McCook, IL
Hopkins Printing, Columbus, OH
The Ovid Bell Press, Inc., Fulton, MO
Robbie Flexibles, Lenexa, KS
Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, WI

Large Companies and multi-plants (251+)
Courier Corporation, N. Chelmsford, MA
Flower City Printing, Inc., Rochester, NY
Inland Label, La Crosse, WI
Midstates, Inc., Aberdeen, SD