Printing Industries of America (PIA) has announced the recipients of the 2013 Best Workplace in the Americas Awards. A total of 27 graphic arts companies, both members of Printing Industries of America and non-members, were selected by a committee of HR experts from within the printing industry. This year the label converting industry is well-represented among the winners, and includes Tailored Label Products, Smyth Companies, Disc Graphics, Hammer Packaging, and Syracuse Label and Surround Printing. 

The awards program is designed to recognize printing and graphic arts companies for outstanding human relations efforts which contribute to a successful workplace.
“Since 2000, the Best Workplace program has recognized industry leaders from small, medium and large firms in the graphic arts industry for their outstanding human relations practices. While every company that entered this year’s competition has HR programs they should be proud of, the Best Workplace program recognizes outstanding accomplishment,” says Jim Kyger, assistant VP of HR for Printing Industries, adding, “The Best Workplace program stands out as one of the most stringent HR awards programs available today in any industry.”

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 14 companies received the coveted designation Best of the Best, while 13 earned Best Workplace honors.

John Hickey, CEO of Smyth, which took home a Best of the Best honor in the large company/multi-site divison, comments, “The Smyth community is proud to hear we have been recognized again for Best Workplaces in America by the PIA. Employee involvement is the key to customer satisfaction. We maintain a culture centered around continuous improvement, which helps employees reach their potential and then that of the company as well.”

Tailored Label Products (TLP) won Best of the Best in the small company division. CEO Mike Erwin says, “It continues to amaze all of us at TLP, that our passion for helping each other, our high level of career planning and development and our vision for what makes up a great workplace results in year on year recognition. We have put an exceptional amount of energy into recognition and rewards for our team – benefits and services that are well above the norm – and a strong focus on investing in our business that drives unequalled retention.”


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
Robbie Flexibles, Lenexa, KS
Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, WI
Suttle-Straus, Inc., Waunakee, WI

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
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
Communicorp, Inc., Columbus, GA
GPA Acquisition Company, McCook, IL
Hopkins Printing, Columbus, OH
MOSAIC, Cheverly, MD

Large Companies/Multi-plants (251+)
Courier Corporation, N. Chelmsford, MA
Flower City Printing, Inc., Rochester, NY
Midstates, Inc., Aberdeen, SD
Times Printing Co. Inc., Random Lake, WI
Valassis Communications, Wichita, KS