What do you love most about your job?
The people that work here as well as the overall atmosphere at DavCo. Everyone will pitch in when a job is under a time crunch, including management. The work ethic of the employees at DavCo is second to none. My position as a preflight specialist involves checking supplied files from outside designers/customers for technical issues. There are times when I may notice spelling and/or grammar errors also. When I was a teenager, my dad would ask me to look over his work (he was a self-employed commercial artist) and if I found an error, he was pleased. I think that created my love for proofreading.
Tell us about a work-related success story that you’re proud of.
I think one of the most challenging jobs I worked on recently was a large catalog project for one of our top customers. It was perfect bound job. The customer had two pages with a critical run across of a map of the United States, plus large text running across the top of both pages. The problem was that they didn’t account for the hinge score, so parts of the map were being cut off. This problem was caught before the binding process was started. Unfortunately, I did not think of it when I was working on the job. The pages had to be adjusted to account for the .25″ hinge score. The pages were reprinted, and the entire catalog looked nice when completed. The entire team at DavCo and Bindery Associates got them done in time for the customer’s event and the customer was very pleased.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my horse and am working on building a strong connection with him. Our rescued American Bulldog can be a lot of fun also, watching his crazy antics. I love feeding the wild birds and seeing them bathe in the birdbath in our back yard. My husband owns a Harley motorcycle, and we like to go on rides together when we can, and if the weather cooperates.
Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.
My father passed away in 2021 and had many of his watercolor paintings stored in their house, with the majority unframed. My brother and I are trying to find various ways to get them out into the public where they can be viewed. I contacted the Lancaster County Art Association via email, since I knew he was member, and the board members approved hanging some of his artwork at a show in 2025. The woman who responded to my email said she remembered my father coming to shows and that he was a lot of fun.
What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?
My Dad worked for Acorn Press in the ’60s and early ’70s, then he decided to become self-employed. He used his influence to get me a job at Acorn Press in the bindery after I graduated from high school in 1982. I have been in the printing industry ever since, except for a few years in Florida, when I couldn’t find a job in printing. I was in the bindery department for three years, then moved into prepress, making blueline proofs, color keys, DuPont Cromalin color proofs (CMYK pigmented toner powders and four films, one for each color, mounted to a base sheet), Fuji color proofs (one film for each color of CMYK, mounted to a base sheet), shooting mechanical boards on a vertical camera, scanning halftones on a flatbed scanner, etc. I moved into the desktop publishing department after two years, which was just starting to take hold at the time. I created print pieces and would process supplied files. Acorn Press had been using the Scitex prepress software system for years, but the Macintosh desktop systems quickly replaced it. I have worked various printing companies over the years in different positions – college textbook page layout, imposition and film output to signatures to send to outside printers, customer service, account management, etc. Some companies were better than others, but DavCo Advertising is a good company and the focus on Christian values is what makes it different from so many others.
Do you follow any sports teams?
Philadelphia Eagles will always be my football team. I used to follow the Phillies and Flyers but have lost interest over the years.
What are some of your favorite local spots to visit?
Middle Creek Wildlife Center, Green Hills Preserve (a 200 acre preserve near our home), White Swan Restaurant, Creekside Stables, where my horse is boarded.
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
I would love to speak a second language but not sure I will ever take the time to learn. Maybe after I retire? Learning to play a musical instrument would be a goal of mine also.
Tell us about a personal success story that you’re proud of.
Buying a house on my own is something I didn’t think I would ever be able to do, so I am proud of that accomplishment.
How has your role evolved since you joined DavCo?
I don’t think my role of checking supplied files from outside designers, customers, etc. has changed very much since I started here in 2008. InDesign is still the top program for professional designers, but now Canva is starting to gain traction. I believe that more and more Canva files will be arriving from customers who want to design their own jobs.
What’s the best trip you’ve ever been on and why?
I would have to say the Outer Banks, NC, specifically Hatteras Island. It’s very relaxing and has so much to see and enjoy. Being able to take your dog on the beach is a huge plus also!
What’s your favorite memory from working at DavCo?
I love some of the pranks that have been played over the years. Carl once said he was going to take time off from working at DavCo so he could tour with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Another one was when Carl was walking around with a bottle of Windex, drinking out of it (it was actually blue Gatorade). I am sure there are many others, but these stick in my mind the most. With the increased workload and quicker turnaround times, it feels like there isn’t much time for joking around anymore. I think that is unfortunate.
Fresh French fry days are great too, plus our annual Taco Potluck Lunch! Anything with food is always fun.
What would you like to learn or improve in the future?
One of my goals is to work with my horse so that we can become a team. I also want to improve my riding skills, which are very, very rusty. Once I retire, I would like to start a garden and grow my own fresh fruits and vegetables.
What is one thing you can’t live without?
Jesus.
If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?
Egypt and the pyramids.
What does your typical day at DavCo look like?
My primary job is to review supplied files from customers / outside designers for errors. The term used for this process is called “preflighting,” which refers to the process of reviewing digital artwork files to verify they have the elements and formatting necessary to produce high-quality printed output. Printers borrowed the term “preflight” from the procedure pilots use before taking off. Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Microsoft Word, Adobe Publisher are some of the applications that can be used to create print designs. Some customers supply print-ready PDFs only. The file is opened and checked for various errors such as font issues, RGB and PANTONE colors, image resolutions, bleeds, trim size, folding method and more. If there aren’t any errors (which is unusual), a PDF file is emailed to the customer for final approval, along with the specifications for the job – quantity, paper stock, colors to be used for printing, folding method, mailing information, etc. If the proof is approved, the final high resolution PDF file is dropped into our APOGEE workflow, where it can be sent to our digital presses, or to our platemaker, to generate plates for a sheetfed press.
Tell us about your family / kids / pets.
My husband, Jim, works for BRT as a tanker driver. Neither of us ever had children. We have one dog, Wrangler, an American Bulldog, which was adopted from the Humane Society of Lebanon County in December 2018. My four-year old Paint gelding, Kody, is our other pet, if he counts as a pet? I bought him in January 2023. He brings me a lot of joy, even when he is being snarky. I am hoping as he gets older, he will grow out of putting just about everything in his mouth like a toddler does.