PRINTING United Alliance is grateful to serve its members who make such significant impacts on the printing industry. Through our Member Spotlights, we continue to recognize our members, and help our community get to know their peers better, both professionally and personally. The following is a Q&A with Alliance member Tom Riley, Owner and CEO of Pressroom Solutions LLC based in Springfield, Illinois.
Can you please provide a brief history/background on your company?
About five years ago I transitioned from a Sr. VP of Sales role to breaking away by building and leading my own company. Our mission is simple, we’re very diligent and consistent at developing relationships. To build customer loyalty, you must consistently provide good customer service. Primarily, we match buyers and sellers of preowned printing, packaging, and converting equipment. That said, we also have teams to handle the installation, removal, and relocation of those machines, as well as ongoing mechanical and electrical support.
How and when did you enter the printing industry?
My father taught high school graphic arts so I had a lot of exposure to the industry at an early age. Growing up in Chicagoland, the area is a mecca for printers and direct mailers. When I got the opportunity to visit some of these shops, it really got my heart pumping. I continued with printing related courses in high school and college, so once I graduated I had a clear vision of where I wanted to go.
Are there markets or industries outside of your traditional offerings you are looking to add or have added? If so, what?
Right now, our sights are set on the packaging industry as it’s the next similar area related to traditional printing. Since there are a lot of commonalities, it would be a natural extension of our offerings.
What would you say have been your company’s biggest accomplishments and challenges?
Being a trusted provider to some of the largest players in our industry to maintain, move, and service their equipment is what we hang our hats on at the end of the day. Trying to grow organically versus being forced to grow on speculation is sometimes a challenging endeavor.
What are some future goals for your operation?
Our goal is to have built a reputation and legacy of being the “go to” company that customers trust when it comes to anything print related, not only in hard times, but in healthy times as well.
Why did you decide to join the Alliance? What resources do you plan to or have already utilized through your membership?
To be perfectly honest, we joined the Alliance as a requirement to exhibit at PRINTING United Expo, but it has proved to be a valuable resource for our company. We enjoy staying up to date with the various publications and e-newsletters, and we’ve certainly leveraged the directories, as well as the library. Going forward, we’re carving out time to jump into the iLEARNING+ courses.
What activities/hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy being with my kids, coaching them in their sports and seeing their passion and growth.
For more information on Pressroom Solutions LLC, visit their website at https://www.pressroomsolutionsllc.com/pages/about-us.