Connected Summer 2014

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

SUMMER 2014

2014 ENTRIES

02

Showcase Roundup The Best of the Best Take a Night to Celebrate

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06 Feature: Time to Update Your Privacy Policy You Do Have One, Don’t You?

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2014

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THE CONTENTS:

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IMPRESS JUDGES 08

10

12

14

Expert Column: Business Outlook

Expert Column: Strategic Selling

Expert Column: Human Resources

New Members

Turning Privacy and Security Issues Into Marketing Advantage

Stand Out with Your Customers and Prospects!

Employee Handbooks: Are They Needed?

VMA welcomes a group of creative members and firms to the fold

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1ST VICE CHAIRMAN

John Crammer, Best Label Company

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN Jack Emerian, ValPrint

BOARD MEMBERS: Pat Belding Belding Associates

Nicki Riedel Black & White Design

Chris Cullen Consultant

Coleen Schoenheide Lahlouh

Ian Flynn Direct Response Imaging

Chris Shadix BelAire Displays

Arnold Greenfield Ex Officio

Cindy Sonnenberg K/P Corporation

Trilby Parker Rosetta/Publicis Groupe

Stephen Sprinkel Sprinkel Media Network

STAFF ROSTER: PRESIDENT

Dan Nelson

DIRECTOR MEMBER SERVICES Jim Frey

DIRECTOR MEMBER PROGRAMS Laura Vargas

DIRECTOR EDUCATION Barbara Silverman

DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS

May Suen

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS

Diane Gong, Gabrielle Disario

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Frank Parks, Parks Printing

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2014

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CHAIRMAN

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BOARD ROSTER:

The 17th Annual VMA Showcase Awards was celebrated on June 5, 2014 at the Waterfront Hotel located in historic Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. The Showcase Award is recognized as one of the most prestigious symbols of printing and design excellence and celebrates the best in the Northern California and Northern Nevada’s communications, printing and design industry. Winners receive Gold, Silver or Bronze recognition. Gold entries are further judged to receive the Best of Category, Grand Awards, and highest honor of them all, the Best of Show.

Contact us to get a copy of the Awards Booklet printed by our sponsor Canon / Océ on their Océ PRISMAsync and Canon imagePRESS C7011VPS. www. oceproductionprinting.com

MEMBERSHIP SALES Shannon Wolford

FINANCIAL MANAGER

Emily Gotladera

ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST Maria Salita

VICE PRESIDENT INSURANCE SERVICES David Katz

INSURANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES

Renee Prescott, Crystal Carlson, Lena Nelson, Sue Benavente

DIRECTOR SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS Greg Golin

All Gold Award winners who entered in the print category were forwarded on to the Printing Industries of America (PIA) Premier Print Awards for the nationwide competition to compete for the coveted Benny! For more information visit www.vmashowcase.com.

VIEW THE WINNERS, PHOTOS, AND FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN ENTER NEXT YEAR AT VMASHOWCASE.COM

DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Gerry Bonetto

HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALISTS Richard Lord, Doug Moore

EDITOR

Noel Jeffrey

ON THE COVER: Sponsors Elizabeth Gleason and Rusty Davis, Canon/ Océ present the Best of Show - Design Award to Patti Mangan, Imagine That Design Studio.

Frank Parks, Parks Printing

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Sponsors: Canon / Océ Neenah Paper Ray Morgan Company Spicers Paper Marathon Solutions, Inc. Konica Minolta Carlson Advisors

Sponsors Elizabeth Gleason and Rusty Davis from Canon / Océ present the highest award of the evening, the Best of Show for Design Award to Patti Mangan, Owner and Creative Design Director of Imagine That Studio.

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Best of Show Winner - Print Dumont Print & Mail Origami

AWARDS RECEIVED

BY COMPANY Company Name

Gold

Access Pass & Design

2G

APi-marketing

1G

Aslan Graphics

1G

Bacchus Press

3G

Barlow Printing

1G

Best Label Co.

1G

Bug Press

Kaitlin Rockway, Judith McKim and Jeff Towner, Watermark Press, took home 5 gold and 1 silver award in addition to winning the Best of Category for Digital Printing, Best of Category for Company Self Promotion, Grand Award for Foil Stamp and Grand Award for Best Example of Cross Media.

Collotype Labels Napa Valley

8G

Collotype Labels Sonoma

4G

Cornerstone Research

1G

4S

3B

1S

2B 1B

3S

1S

Creative Labels

6S

DeCarolis Design & Marketing

4S

Dumont Printing

2G

Fischer Group

2G

Imagine That Design Studio

1G

1B

2B

1B 2S 2S

Michael Osborne Design, Inc.

2G

6S

Minuteman Press of Berkeley

1S

OfďŹ ce of State Publishing

2S

PaciďŹ c Standard Print

2S

PRINT, Inkorporated

1G

Professional Print & Mail

1G

Quadco Printing

1G

RG Creations Inc.

2G

Scodix Inc.

1G

Solstice Press

2G

Switchblade Creative Studios

3B

2S 1B 2S

1B

2S 1S

ValPrint

1G

Watermark Press

5G

1S

Zooka Creative

3G

9S

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

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Bronze

1S

Inkworks Press

Collotype Labels Sonoma took home 4 gold awards, and won the Grand Award for Cartons & Containers. Collotype Labels Napa Valley took home 8 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze and won for Best of Category for Labels & Wraps: Rolled Products and Best of Category for Flexo Printing.

Silver

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UPCOMING VMA EVENTS Places to be. Things to do. People to see.

VISIT VMA.BZ FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER

Creative Leader Salon: How to Be A Better Leader

Wed., July 23 • 2-6pm • South Beach Harbor Community Room • SF Exchange ideas with Peleg Top (pelegtop.com), professional mentor and coach who offers guidance to entrepreneurs on business growth and creative solutions to overcome hurdles to be successful. VMA Member: $125 / Non-Member: $175

Lunch & Learn: Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Prevention Training with Certification

Thurs., Aug. 7 • 11:30am-2:00pm • Maggiano’s Restaurant• SJ As a company owner, it’s vital to establish an effective defense to a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit. Join us for this fun, informative and necessary training held over lunch with VMA’s HR Consultant, Katia Acosta-Smith. VMA Member: FREE / Non-Member: $30

Designing a Responsive Website with Brian Wood 9/9-12 Multiple Dates & Locations • Visit VMA.bz for Details

Create a responsive website quickly and easily with techniques presented by Brian Wood during this one-hour workshop. Use Adobe Edge Reflow CC, Edge Code CC, Photoshop CC, Inspect CC, and Typekit. VMA Member: FREE / Non-Member: $25-$35

Exploratorium Private Art Tour and Reception Thurs., Sept. 18 • Starts at 6:00pm • Exploratorium

Join VMA’s private tour examining how art and science work hand-in-hand to foster curiosity and high-level thinking and inspire your creative juices and help us understand how what we do as designers and marketers impacts others. The tour will be followed by a reception where we can relax with our peers and discuss our “explorations.” VMA Member:$35 / Non-Member: $45

VMA Golf Tournament

Mon., Oct. 6 11:00am-7:00pm Crystal Springs Golf Course Burlingame Please find additional details at VMA.bz

VMA Baseball: SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers

Sun., Sept. 14 11:00am Tailgate • 1:05pm Game AT&T Ballpark Member $55 / Non-Member $65

Integrated Media SF

Wed., Nov. 5 • All Day • Jewish Contemporary Museum • SF Integrated Media SF breaks beyond the boundaries in innovative marketing and business strategies through print, web, interactive, mobile, gaming, technology, publishing and marketing. A can’t miss event for business strategists, idea generators, implementers, entrepreneurs, visionaries, leaders and marketing and design professionals. Please visit iMediaSF.com for details.

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VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

Connected_Summer2014_V8.indd 4 CLIENT

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AD FORM PHONE

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MEMBER NEWS

CHANGES, ACTIVITIES

Laney students get the lowdown on platemaking (left) and pose at Watermark’s front door.

Watermark Tour a Success Laney Graphics students were provided with a comprehensive tour of Watermark Press, San Francisco, recently thanks to a bus provided by VMA. “This transit from the East Bay to San Francisco afforded us an opportunity that we could not have participated in otherwise…Our curriculum was truly enriched by this experience…Thank you very much.” Carol Squicci, Instructor.

AR Services Available In a real leap into the future that is becoming the now, Think has added Augmented Reality production as a new marketing service for customers. In Connected’s Spring Edition, we welcomed Think Inc., Sacramento, as a new member but printed the wrong phone number. It should be (916)-594-0108.

Casey Adds Digital Press Casey Printing, King City, has added a new Xerox Color 1000 to its pressroom. The Color 1000 Press uses advanced xerographic imaging technology to produce beautiful full-color images on a variety of substrates and sheet sizes. It also features a fifth print unit that applies “clear ink” to amplify full-color jobs, allowing for images and text to be highlighted for visual impact, or digital watermarks applied for artistic effect or security.

The Color 1000 is capable of outputting finished prints at a blazing fast 100 pages per minute, while incorporating built-in quality control sensors to ensure color quality, consistency and image accuracy. Casey has also recently updated their Prinergy and Insite PrePress systems.

The Right Book Intro Charles Cunningham, principal at Prepress, Inc./ePressBooks, San Francisco, organized a unique event/ exhibition in June at the Richmond Art Center for Berkeley Professors Joe Slusky and Chip Sullivan to promote their new book Impulse to Draw. Called a Drawing Jam Session, the event was free but space was limited to those who signed up to get a ticket. Over 100 people attended.

A selection of works created at this Drawing Jam Session were put on display in the exhibition: Slusky and Sullivan: Sculpture, Drawings, and Related Antics, held later in the month at the Richmond Art Center. www.impulsetodraw.com

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

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Time to

UPDATE Your Privacy Policy You Do Have One, Don’t You?

BY NOEL JEFFREY

W

ith perhaps only a rare exception, VMA members in California that have websites need to post privacy policies.* The legalese appears on the next page. It’s easy to understand how any printer who collects information about customers online needs a privacy policy. Most printers offer file uploading and/or web-to-print services. To do that, at a minimum they have to collect contact information, sometimes credit card data.

Creatives collect data as well if they take visitor information before allowing downloads of newsletters, white papers or case histories, for example. In addition, as of January 1 this year, all California companies’ privacy policies must also include a statement on how the site handles “Do Not Track Requests.”

How Do I Create a Privacy Policy?

Your webmaster or service is the first likely source for a privacy policy that is accurate for your site. You 6

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can also generate one for yourself. A Google search using “create privacy policy for website” turns up more than 10 pages of hits with a number of vendors offering to generate at least one privacy policy at no cost. There is also a clearly written “Sample Privacy Policy” posted on the Better Business Bureau in Northeast California site.

Do Not Track

According to the Electronic Freedom Foundation, Do Not Track is a mechanism for protecting online privacy that specifically addresses the challenge of pervasive online web tracking, especially as employed by behavioral advertisers using increasingly sophisticated tracking technologies. Do Not Track is unique in that it combines both technology (a signal transmitted from a user) as well as a policy framework for how companies that receive the signal should respond.

People set Do Not Track requests up in their various

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web browsers. If you’re using Google Chrome, here’s what the browser tells you when you check the “Do Not Track” command.

“Enabling Do Not Track means that a request will be included with a person or company’s browsing traffic. Any effect depends on whether a website responds to the request, and how the request is interpreted. For example, some websites may respond to this request by showing you ads that aren’t based on other websites you’ve visited. Many websites will still collect and use your browsing data—for example to improve security, to provide content, services, ads and recommendations on their websites, and to generate reporting statistics.”

Once you determine what your website does or does not do, add that information to your existing privacy policy or include it if you are generating one for the first time.

• If your site does not respond to DNT signals, indicate this fact in the privacy policy; • If you respond to DNT in some way, the privacy policy should disclose how you respond to this signal; • Finally, your policy should disclose whether other parties may collect personally identifiable information about an individual consumer’s online activities over time and across different websites when a consumer uses your website or service.

Pros and Cons

Tracking website browsing behavior remains a controversial topic. Advertisers who do this often insist it provides visitors to their sites and to linked sites a more relevant experience. The Electronic Freedom Foundation takes a less sanguine view and supports ongoing efforts to regulate tracking.

Google’s privacy policy states, “We use the information we collect from all of our services to provide, maintain, protect and improve them, to develop new ones, and to protect Google and our users. We also use this information to offer you tailored content—like giving you more relevant search results and ads.”

Some prominent online social media companies, like Twitter and now Pinterest have announced that they will honor Do Not Track requests. Twitter is doing this by enabling the Do Not Track feature in the Firefox browser that enables people to opt-out of cookies that collect personal information and any third-party cookies, including those used for advertising. The Do Not Track functionality will only work if a website agrees to acknowledge it.

Pinterest, which allows users to share photographs and other media on custom “pinboards,” joined the short list of companies that also give people that option.

Pinterest is doing this by enabling the Do Not Track feature in certain Web browsers that allows people to avoid cookies that collect personal information as well as any third-party cookies, including those used for advertising.

An article in the New York Times online by Natasha Singer, notes, “Of course, browsers like Firefox from Mozilla, Safari from Apple and even an earlier version of Internet Explorer already offered this choice for people who expressed a preference.

But Microsoft is going further—by making privacy a more public issue. The new Internet Explorer 10 comes with the don’t-track-me option automatically enabled, a fact that the software makes clear. During installation, a notice will appear giving users the choice to keep that preselected don’t-track-me preference as is, or switch it off on a customization menu. It’s a radical move for a technology company, especially one like Microsoft, with an ad business of its own.”

“No one says today, when a consumer first loads a product, ‘Hey, by the way, there are some privacy choices you may want to consider,’ ” says Alex Fowler, the global privacy and policy leader at Mozilla. He believes that this may be the first time that privacy features so prominently in the first-run experience of a consumer software product.”

Right now, however, people who raise the do-not-track flag are making a mostly symbolic choice, having their browsers send out a preference signal. Websites that receive the signal can honor it—or simply disregard it.

In California, you just have to let people know what your website is doing.

Further Information

Better Business Bureau in Northeast California http://necal.bbb.org/sample-privacy/ Electronic Freedom Foundation https://www.eff.org Firefox http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/dnt/

New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/technology/in-microsofts-new-browserthe-privacy-light-is-already-on.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

California Law *To quote from Chapter 390 of Assembly Bill 370, an act to amend Section 22575 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to consumers Existing law requires an operator of a commercial Internet Web site or online service that collects personally identifiable information through the Internet about consumers residing in California who use or visit its commercial Web site or online service to conspicuously post its privacy policy on its Web site or online service and to comply with that policy.

Existing law, among other things, requires that the privacy policy identify the categories of personally identifiable information that the operator collects about individual consumers who use or visit its Web site or online service and 3rd parties with whom the operator shares the information.

This bill (370) also requires an operator to disclose how it responds to “do not track” signals or other mechanisms that provide consumers a choice regarding the collection of personally identifiable information about an individual consumer’s online activities over time and across different Web sites or online services. The bill would require the operator to disclose whether other parties may collect personally identifiable information when a consumer uses the operator’s Web site or service.

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BUSINESS

OUTLOOK STORY | GERRY MICHAEL

Turning Privacy and Security Issues Into Marketing Advantage GERRY MICHAEL Gerry Michael is the West Coast’s Managing Principal of Carlson Advisors, LLP, a CPA and consulting firm focused on serving printers and graphic arts firms for over 35 years.

In addition to VMA, the firm is a member of PIA Southern California, PIA San Diego, Pacific Printing Industries, the Printing Industries of the Midwest, and NAPL. Gerry has worked with printers large and small for over 30 years, and is a frequent speaker at industry events and workshops, and a prolific contributor to various industry publications. He can be reached at gamichael@carlsonadvisors.com.

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The growth of social media and other web-based and email marketing campaigns have been major influences on the Graphic Communications (“GC”) industry in recent years, and this trend will continue. Many firms are combining both traditional graphic production services with these new technologies in what has come to be known as “cross-media campaigns.” Many of our clients have developed extensive capabilities to provide total “campaign development” for their traditional print customers, as well as bringing these technologies to firms that have never used them in the past.

But date security and privacy issues are concerns.

Frequently cross-media campaigns mean that graphics firms gain access to their customers’ databases, which may include sensitive data. In others, GC firms have actually taken over certain e-commerce functions for their customers. This can be an great source of new business for firms engaged in this, and can allow firms to inject themselves quite literally into the day-to-day operations of their customers’ businesses, making it much more difficult for those customers to move their business based solely on things such as price. Most VMA members are well aware of this trend, and many of the industry’s leaders in cross-media marketing are located in the region covered by VMA. We see this is a tremendous opportunity for GC firms, but like all opportunities there are challenges as well. One of the most important of these is the increasing level of customer concern over data security, and more

generally privacy issues…what some people are calling the “Target Stores syndrome.” Since many firms that are leading this trend in new value adding services are also obtaining access to the customer databases of their customers, the ability to protect this data, and preserve the privacy of these records, is becoming increasingly important. And the market is reacting to this concern.

Many clients have reported to us that their major customers are asking for assurances that the security and privacy of these digital records is adequate, and that these assurances have been reviewed by some dis-interested third party. Some customers even require certification of this. Because of this, there is renewed and growing interest in a service that is provided by many CPA firms, addressing these concerns. This is a “Service Organization Controls,” controls, or a “SOC-2” report.

These reports are intended to meet the needs of a broad range of users that need to understand internal control at a “service organization” (such as a GC firm that provides digital services to its’ customers) as it relates to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.

They are performed by CPA firms and are intended for use by “…stakeholders (e.g., customers, regulators, business partners, suppliers, directors) of the service organization that have a thorough understanding of the service organization…” Simply put, SOC 2 assures clients that an organization uses systems to protect their data. It audits security, availability, process integrity, privacy and confidentiality. And it includes a certification that this is the case from the CPA firm engaged to do the work.

For GC firms that are engaged in these emerging technologies, the SOC-2 report provides a valuable tool when marketing services that use customer data. Far more than being “PCI compliant,” a SOC-2 report offers a higher level of assurance to a graphics firm’s customers that appropriate safeguards are in place. This can immediately provide that level of differentiation so often critical when marketing to large organizations.

If you are considering making these emerging technologies important parts of your business, or are already doing so, it makes sense for you to discuss the SOC-2 process with your CPA firm, or with a firm that provides such services (not all accounting firms do), before your customers ask for it. SOC-2 reports take time to complete, and are usually preceded by a preliminary review of the current state of compliance in these areas. So it makes sense not to wait until a major client of your firm, during a renewal of an annual contract, tells you this is now a “requirement” to continue to handle their digital information.

For more information on this or related services, contact Gerry Michael, CPA (206-3110-1119), or Terry Flathers, CPA (206-683-1518), of Carlson Advisors, LLP, a VMA member.

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ClieNt

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CoNtaCt

magazine CheCk eaCh box as a guide: Authorized Signature:

❑ Name correct?

❑ Address correct?

❑ Phone # correct?

ad Form

AD

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Phone Fax

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Date: authoRized sigNatuRe

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ad approval: magazine Ad approved as is

ad

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magazine

WHITE PAPER IN.

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magazine

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© 2009 SWITCH Studio, All Rights Reserved

• Look over your project and check for errors; spelling, address, telephone #’s, copy or content. Southwest Graphics is not responsible for typos or incorrect information.

• look over your project and check for errors; spelling, address, telephone number’s, copy or content.

Process magazine is not responsible for typos or incorrect information.

• Sign this page and fax it back to Southwest Graphics.

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COLOR THAT ❑ STANDS OUT. email baCk to: process@switchstudio.com with ❑timeAd • any changes from this point forward may cost you in andapproved materials.

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It is so easy to use, • look over your project and check for errors; spelling, address, telephone number’s, copy or content.

Processeven magazine is responsible forcan typos or incorrect information. anotnovice create magazine • sign this page and email it back to Process magazine. a cross-media marketing • any changes from this point forward may cost you in time and materials.

• Processprogram magazine cannot process your job until receipt of sign-off. within minutes.

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3. Go Where the Prospects Are.

How about a trade show where your prospects might be?

You may be the only one from your particular industry in attendance so you can gain access to these prospects …or at least pick up lots of leads! One of my clients attended a huge trade show where there were 1,500 exhibitors!

4. Make a Special Delivery.

Many clients don’t have time for lunch these days…. so how about bringing in lunch that will result in a low key way to have an effective meeting? You will discover that folks will come out of their offices to enjoy the food you bring. One of my clients has a favorite gourmet sandwich shop that he told a client all about in advance of his scheduled group presentation. He ordered their sandwiches and then picked them up prior to the meeting. It was a big hit for them and the sales rep!

5. Dress like a pro.

LESLIE GROENE Leslie Groene is one of the coaching superstars in the world of corporate sales as well as a business development trainer, executive consultant and author.

Her background is in the paper and printing industries as a sales rep and sales manager. She helps her clients focus on revenue generation and profit growth. She authored the business strategy book “Picture Yourself & the Life You Want” and is a nationallyrenowned motivational speaker.

To purchase her book or to contact her please go to www.

GroeneConsulting.com.

Here is the link to her e-newsletter, http://www. groeneconsulting.com/ Newsletter/2014.03/

STRATEGIC SELLING STORY | LESLIE GROENE

Stand Out with Your Customers and Prospects!

Come up with unique ways to stand out with clients and different ways to reach out to prospects.

1. Strive for excellence and beyond.

How can you add further value to your products and particularly your service? Adding consistent and unexpected extra value to your services will become part of your brand.

2. Show you give a damn about presentation.

Make sure that every aspect of how you present yourself, from your business cards, to your website, to your social media profile, shows care and effort. Show that you care about your brand, your service and the people you deal with. This manifests itself in the smallest details, more than anything else.

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This can be elaborated on in two ways. First, dressing like someone who is a professional in your industry in a way that you are comfortable, will make you begin to actually feel the part and improve and strengthen your own brand in the process.

Second, perhaps you want to present your brand in the way you dress and present yourself. Got a favorite color that you might want to wear consistently?

6. Define your core strength, and work it.

Ask yourself, what do I do that I am most proud of, and revolve what you do and the way you sell yourself around that.

7. Send a handwritten note.

Sending a handwritten note after your first sales call or presentation will dramatically increase your chances of getting a return call. Why? Because a handwritten note increases your likeability, helps make the prospect feel good about you and encourages them to take your calls.

It never ceases to amaze me at the number of emails I receive from clients and prospects thanking me for my handwritten notes. Obviously, they have an effect on people that yet another voice or email doesn’t.

8. Call early or late in the day.

One of the ways I follow up with senior-level decision makers is to call either quite early in the morning (say around 7:30am) or late in the day (after 5pm), without leaving a message if I don’t get a person. I’ve found that, by calling at these times, the decision makers are often alone in the office without a gatekeeper and therefore more likely to pick up calls themselves.

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HUMAN RESOURCES STORY | BY RICHARD C. LORD

Employee Handbooks: Are They Needed?

RICHARD C. LORD Richard Lord, VMA’s new HR consultant, is the founder and principal consultant for Solutions Human Resource Group, Fresno.

Richard has extensive knowledge in the administration of human resources and employee benefits gained through four decades of hands-on experience. Over the course of his career he has planned and led the development of all major focus areas within Human Resources. This includes work in employee benefits, compensation, wage and hour administration, employee relations and recruitment. In addition, VMA members also have access to human resource assistance through Doug Moore and PIA’s Jim Kyger

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Having just hired your first or second employee, a handbook for your employees doesn’t seem to be crucial. While there are many legal requirements to be met when engaging employees, having a handbook with clearly articulated policies isn’t among them. However, as you continue to grow, the need to develop and communicate clear and consistent employee policies and guidelines, easily understood by all, is increasingly essential.

Those of us with small businesses (me included) have an aversion to intrusive rules and regulations that bind and stifle our ability to act. We would prefer to manage our businesses as we see fit, avoiding the bureaucratic trappings associated with big business. Unfortunately, attempts to rely on unwritten employment policies and practices frequently leads to disagreements, lawsuits and loss of employee morale. Should there be a dispute, how do we establish what our employment policies are? How were they communicated and are they understood by our employees? More importantly, how do we document our unwritten policies to a third party, such as an unemployment insurance judge or investigators from the Departments of Labor Standards Enforcement or Fair Employment and Housing?

Handbooks are an important reference source for employees. In one, comprehensive document, they can find information regarding policies and practices including your commitment to maintain a workplace free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.

They will learn about your attendance standards, hours of work, timekeeping standards and absence reporting requirements. Information on employee benefits, including qualifying conditions, is another important area to cover. Safety standards, safety training, reporting of injuries and a commitment to maintain a workplace free from violence should be included.

Other topics to be covered include guidelines related to email, computer and Internet use, privacy and search issues, phone use including cell phones, confidentiality of sensitive information and conflict of interest.

Employee handbooks are an economical and effective method of communicating clear and consistent information to employees. A properly drafted handbook will avoid making commitments that you can’t keep while preserving your management rights, including your ability to maintain an employment-at-will policy. They provide valuable assistance when orientating new employees to your company. In addition to providing information on policies, it’s an opportunity to educate them about your businesses. What differentiates you from your competitors? Your handbook should include a history of your firm, information on the products or services you provide, as well as information on your corporate culture and business philosophy.

While you aren’t required to have a handbook, once provided, state law does specify the inclusion of information on equal employment, employee harassment and a commitment to maintenance of a violence free workplace among others. Handbooks are “living” documents. If they are to protect you, they must remain current and accurate. Therefore they must be reviewed at least annually and updated as needed.

VMA has developed a new sample handbook for small employers written in conversational English and available to you as a member in the HR library.

This is a model template and is not intended to be implemented without further review and customization to meet your specific needs. If you have further questions or would like assistance with this, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

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Imagination drives us to change.

Imagination. It's what excites us. Inspires us. It drives us to change things from the way they are to the way we want them to be. Just unlock the collective imagination of your company and the sky is the limit. Services-led, technology-enabled and people-driven, Ricoh will show you how to leverage the powerful information and knowledge that exists throughout your organization and create the future you want.

Visit ricoh-usa.com or call 1-800-63-RICOH. Managed Document Services

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Production Print

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IT Services

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Workflow Solutions

© 2012 Ricoh Americas Corporation. Ricoh® and the Ricoh logo are registered trademarks of Ricoh Company, Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

VMA Education.

The Choice is Yours.

Stay ahead of the game by learning new skills.

We’re here for you. Because of you. Visual Media Alliance is a trade association helping the careers and businesses of our members to be successful. We offer over 100 public classes, delivered to you in-person, online and through customized training solutions.

DESIGN

PRINT

MARKETING

OFFICE

PROGRAMMING

View Website For Education Listings (800) 659-3363 • education.vma.bz Workshops • Seminars • Webinars • One-on-One • Customized Training Solutions

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NEW MEMBERS Acutrack, Inc.

Acutrack provides an integrated platform called “Acutrack 2.0� that enables clients to transform ideas and content into tangible media and print products then manages inventory, warehousing, distribution and fulfillment, worldwide.

We deliver the highest quality printing services from marketing collateral to complex retail packages as well as large-scale CD/ DVD/Blu-Ray replication, small-scale CD/ DVD/Blu-Ray duplication services, on any platform.

Raj Barman (925) 579-5000 raj@acutrack.com www.acutrack.com

PureMatter

Our process helps our clients find the very best energy in their marketing that attracts the right customers, and then keeps them there over time. We leverage technology, structure and methodology to run our business, smart thinking to drive our strategy with curiosity and humor to manifest creativity. It keeps us efficient, focused and disciplined and keeps clients coming back for more. And we have picked up numerous local, regional and national awards along the way.

CourtneySmith (408) 297-7800 courtney@purematter.com www.purematter.com

Metaio

With over 10 years of experience, Metaio offers the perfect Augmented Reality 14

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solutions for companies in various fields or industries. The built-in availability to connect AR with industry-standard measurement systems or mobile devices increases the quality, efficiency and accuracy through all phases of industrial processes and accelerates the Product Lifecycle Management.

Trak Lord (415) 814-3376 trak.lord@metaio.com www.metaio.com

Elephant Ideas & Design

Good design evokes a sensory reaction.

Sometimes charming, sometimes poignant; it engages the viewer, captivates the heart; it teases the senses and at times, it agitates the mind; sometimes it shocks, even repels. The message is different, but always compelling.

Good design touches the heart. Good design motivates. Good design is a call to action.

Philip Ting (415) 445-4560 phillip@elephantllc.com ww.elephantllc.com

Kresky Signs Inc.

For more than 60 years, Kresky Signs has specialized in screen printing and sign fabrication. During this time, we have supplied graphics for fleet vehicles, as well as decals and aluminum signage to a nationwide base of customers. Kresky Signs was established in 1951 as a separate division of the Kresky Manufacturing Company. The Kresky Signs division was incorporated as a separate entity in 1971 and remains operating in Petaluma today.

Cecelia Brown (707) 762-4554 Cecelia@kresky.com www.kresky.com

Shoot the Moon LLC

Shoot the Moon is a product invention company founded in 1991 by David Small and Paul Rago. David and Paul were both toy company executives when they decided to start their own invention company.

Under their guidance Shoot the Moon has developed and licensed well over 100 product lines into the marketplace accounting for roughly $2.5 Billion in retail sales. Shoot the Moon employs some of the finest electrical engineers, product designers and mechanical/ animation experts in the industry.

Maria Colorado (925) 249-6500 maria.colorado@stmproducts.com www.stmproducts.com

Studio Saal Corporation

StudioSaal Corporation was founded by Dan Saal and provides graphic design and communication services to individuals and organizations who want their messages heard and experienced. Services Include; Visual Problem Solving, Creative Direction, Publication Design, Exhibition Design, Environmental Design, Brand Identity Design, Print Collateral Design, Web Design and UX/UI Design.

Dan Saal (415)939-3289 subs@studiosaal.com www.studiosaal.com

CohereOne

John Lenser is the president and founder of CohereOne. For 15 years, John headed LENSER, the largest multichannel consulting agency serving the catalog industry until it was sold in 2011. CohereOne offers areas of expertise in a wide range of services

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FIND-AN-EMPLOYEE facing catalogers—from merchandising and strategic planning to circulation planning and fulfillment.

John Lenser (415) 578-2340 jlenser@cohereone.com www.cohereone.com

AJ ARTS AJ Arts

In order for a book to convey meaning, it requires an interaction. Someone needs to read it, or scribble in it, add photos to it, or page through its images. Using found objects in new ways, juxtaposing fine silk book cloth with the altered pages of old books, or incorporating copper etching, I hand-craft completely functional books that are subtle stories in themselves. They are completed long after they leave my care with the photos, stories, poems, thoughts, drawings and scraps that are added by someone else.

Alison Foster (408) 655-1193 ajarts@earthlink.net www.alisonjfoster.com

PROGRAM Marketing Specialist

Extensive experience in print production; project management for ad agencies and client companies including CPG, retail, tech and B2B. Major attention to detail w/ability to handle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines. Solid understanding of creative development, design and production processes. Hands-on experience in BW and 4C print production.

BAY AREA – MATANANE 4077

Richardson Clark is based in Marin County’s San Anselmo, just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and offers design, branding and creative consulting to many familiar brands and businesses.

Gretchen Clark (415) 595-3915 Gretchen@richardsonclark.com www.richardsonclark.com

California Mailing Svc

California Mailing Services provides a wide range of services to accommodate your company or individual needs. We strive for accuracy, quality and quick turnaround time on all mail projects. With the ever changing Postal regulations, California Mailing is here to help you with your direct mail campaigns and insure that you receive all postage discounts available.

Sandie Martinez (408) 435-0990 sandie@calmailing.com www.calmailing.com

Electronic Prepress

Creative, highly motivated print designer with extensive experience in fast-paced, efficient design and prepress environments seeking new design challenges. I am a team player eager to join a creative team composed of like-minded people. Experience includes corporate identity development, multiple forms of print media including direct mail pieces, brochures, data sheets, etc.

EAST BAY – MIRANDA 4066

Marketing Specialist

Account, project management and sales within creative, corporate marketing in graphic communications. I deliver creative, revenue producing marketing and sales strategies.

SAN FRANCISCO – PRIVANATH 4080

Photographer

Richardson Clark Design

PRINT

CREATIVE

Awesomely creative and easy-to-work with conceptual photographer living and working in San Francisco. See my work! www.thewolfgram.com

Flexo/Packaging-Specialty Press Operator Specialize folding: Reverse Tuck End (RTE), Straight Tuck End (STE), Tuck Top Snap Lock Bottom (TTSLB), Tuck Top Auto Bottom (TTAB), Sleeve, Tray Style Boxes, Four Corner Beers Tray with Lid, Six Corner Beers Tray, Double Glue Side Wall, Pillow Box, Straight Tuck End (STE), Counter Top Easel, Edge Locked Sleeve, pharmaceutical smaller carton and a custom folding carton.

ALL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – DEGUZMAN 4081

SAN FRANCISCO – GUITERREZ 4070

Marketing-Advertising Sales Associate

Organized Territory Sales Manager with 6+ years sales and account management experience.

Managed accounting close, accounts payable and financial reporting for multiple clients. Effectively executed new marketing outlines based on market research data collected to reflect consumer interest on both tactical and strategic levels. Surpassed all sales goals by 25% for campaign region.

Increased sales by 10% each campaign, over a two year period.

EAST BAY – DREYER 4065

Web Media-Web Developer (front-end/ interface)

Responsive and Engaging web design to Increase sales and sign-ups. Expressive graphic design to convey your message online and for print, productive e-commerce to grow your business.

PRINT MANAGEMENT Sales / Account Representative

Print and Promotional Products Specialist providing excellent customer service and sales support for customers purchasing custom printed collateral and promotional products. Proficient with: sourcing products, preparing accurate quotes, creating artwork per customer corporate standards and completing projects on time and within budget.

EAST BAY – BAARS 4072

VMA CAN HELP YOU FINDA-JOB AND FIND-AN-EMPLOYEE VISIT VMA.BZ FOR MORE INFO

ALL NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – CONLEY 4069

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665 3rd Street, Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94107

DO YOU THINK BIG? THINK

THE TRADE SHOP WITH BIG PRESSES DOING BIG JOBS FOR BIG SAVINGS! Large Format Printing • 28” to 54” Presses • Large Format Digital Printing • Prepress/Proofing • Corrugated Products • Packaging Design CAD Design • Bindery • POP • Die Cutting • Gluing • Laminating • Sheeting • Windowing • Special Coatings • Fulfillment • Promotional Products CMYK • Tracy CA • cmykprintandpromotions.com • (209) 229-7230 • nick@cmykpnt.com

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