Western Graphics : Company Information : Company Culture

Company Culture

We love what we do.

The passion we have for our work enables us to take ownership of our clients' projects. We constantly strive to deliver the highest-quality products possible.

There is no greater satisfaction than delivering a finished product that helps a client reach their goals and objectives. To learn more about our approach to customer service, follow the provided links for more information.

Mission & Brand Promise Statements

Mission:

Our mission is to help businesses strategically print & distribute the right message to the right contact at the right time to achieve a higher return on their investment.

We refer to this mission as Print with Purpose^sm

Brand Promise:

Our brand promise to our clients’ is to become their preferred print partner by being simpler, faster & easier to do business with, and to do that every day better than any other printer.

We refer to our brand promise as Peace of Mind Printing^sm.

Company History & Awards

Western Graphics, Inc., formerly known as Western Design and Printing, Inc., was founded by a State Legislator in 1960. He wanted to send letters and information to his constituents, so he opened a small print shop. Paul and Lilian Brazman purchased the shop after the Legislator was defeated in an election in 1966. In March of 1977, two partners, Robert Keran and James Muellner purchased Western. In 1987, James Muellner sold his 50% interest in the company to Bob Keran. The company relocated in 1996, completing its fifth move in nineteen years. In 2002, Tim Keran purchased the company from his father.

Recent Awards

Western Graphics recently won a total of 16 Awards (one Best of Class and fifteen Certificate of Merit Awards) in the recent 2006 Star of Excellence Print Competition hosted by Printing Industry of Minnesota (PIM). In 2005 Western Graphics won 12 Awards (one Best of Category, six Best of Class and five Certificate of Merit Awards). The competition promotes excellence in print communications and recognizes companies and individuals that produce the best in print media.

Western Graphics received the Silver Award for management excellence in the National Association for Printing Leadership's (NAPL) 2006 Management Plus Awards Program. Western is a nine time winner in the competition.

For the second straight year Western Graphics has been awarded the designation Best Workplace in the Americas 2006 for their exemplary human resources practices. Begun to specifically honor printing companies that provide a superior work environment, a panel of highly respected U.S. and Canadian HR professionals with decades of experience in the graphic arts industry reviewed the submissions. Applicants were judged on eight criteria: Management Practices; Work Environment; Training and Development Opportunities; Financial Security; Work-Life Balance; Recognition and Rewards; Health and Wellness Programs; and Workplace Health and Safety.

Western was recently ranked as the 2nd largest print-on-demand company for a single location in Quick Printing Magazine's Top 100 North American On-Demand Printshops for 2006 and 13th overall in the country by total print-on-demand sales.

Recent Awards

Printing Industry of Minnesota
2006 Star of Excellence Awards, 16 Awards (one Best of Class & 15 Certificate of Merit Awards) in the statewide print competition.
Best Workplace in the Americas by Printing Industries of America
August 2006.
Management Plus Silver Award
2006, National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL)
Top 100 North American On-Demand Printshops
Quick Printing Magazine, Annual Review 2006. Ranked 2nd in the country for a single location and 13th overall by total print-on-demand sales.

Affiliations and Association Memberships:
-Printing Industry of Minnesota (PIM)
-National Association For Printing Leadership (NAPL)
-Printing Industries of America (PIA)
-Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF)
-Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (MNCC)

We continue to evolve as a diversely skilled, fast-moving team of professionals ready to learn and meet whatever challenges our clients may face. We launched this cutting-edge Web site to make it easier for our clients to request estimates, place orders, check proofs, or transfer files online. We hope you find it as helpful as we do.