Connected Winter 2016 by Visual Media Alliance

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

WINTER 2016

THE CONTENTS

PHOTOGRAPHER, GINO BARRAZA

Member News

Feature: Marketing Print is Everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business

Expert Column: Strategic Selling

Expert Column: Human Resources

Make Professional Use of LinkedIn

Pay and Train when You Should: Avoid Fines

Open Houses and lots more

This is the year to get involved

13 VMA Quotes from Social Media

02 04 15 14 14

VMA On Onthe theGo Go VMA Events Find-An-Employee New Members Find-An-Employee

BOARD ROSTER: CHAIRMAN

John Crammer, Best Label Company

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIRMAN

Frank Parks, The Parks Group

BOARD MEMBERS: Gil Caravantes Commerce Printing Services John Crammer (Chairmen) Best Label Chris Cullen Moquin Press Ian Flynn (1st Vice Chairmen) Direct Repsonse Imaging Dava Guthmiller Noise 13 Jeff Jarvis Spicers Frank Parks (Immediate Past) The Parks Group Chris Shadix Dome Print and Marketing Solutions San Francisco Division Cindy Sonnenberg K/P Corporation Stephen Sprinkel Sprinkel Media Network

VMAON

THEGO Visual Media Alliance members and guests had a fall full of business events to help them keep current and network with printers and creatives. Paper companies seemed especially outgoing with demonstrations and paper fairs. A Human Resources Update luncheon brought members up to date on finding their way through the regulatory jungle. VMA’s annual Health Benefits Fair gave members a chance to talk to insurance company vendors. HOW Design and AI Creative gave designers a creative boost.

Sep 17

Sep. 20

STAFF ROSTER: PRESIDENT

Dan Nelson

DIRECTOR MEMBER SERVICES Jim Frey

DIRECTOR MEMBER PROGRAMS

VMA Human Resources Update - Lunch and Learn

Veritiv Event

Laura Vargas

DIRECTOR EDUCATION Barbara Silverman

DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS Todd Donahue

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR

Mike Moore (left), Crystal Howard, Carolyn Brewer and Rob Hoefs

Gabrielle Disario

MEMBERSHIP SALES

On September 17 Veritiv hosted InnoVate, a day-long event that showcased a number of wide format vendors displaying their equipment.

Shannon Wolford

FINANCIAL MANAGER Emily Gotladera

ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST Maria Salita

VICE PRESIDENT INSURANCE SERVICES David Katz

INSURANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS

Renee Prescott, Crystal Carlson, Lena Nelson, Sue Benavente, Jessica Clark, Diedra Lovan

DIRECTOR SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS Greg Golin

DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Gerry Bonetto

Daniel Cheng (left), Crane Business Solutions, Cheryl Chong, PIA Southern California and Gerry Bonetto, Printing Industries California.

HOW Design Conference

Sept 17 Human Resources and Sales Tax Update Lunch and Learn meeting.

HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALIST Cheryl Chong

EDITOR

Noel Jeffrey

ON THE COVER: In addition to addressing the audience on networking on Nov. 9, Irina Blok spent time actually networking with individuals from the audience and posing for pictures.

Brittany Schade, Asst. Prof. of Interactive Design at Western Washington University, sharing meaningful insights during her session ‘User Experience Methods for Designing with Empathy’ at HOW Interactive Design Conference, San Francisco, 9-20-2015.

VMA PIBT Health Benefits Fair

Laura DesEnfants, D’NA, discussing different Sappi paper styles at Sappi’s STANDARD #6 event at the American Binding Museum in San Francisco on October 6.

Mohawk Event

Held October 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foster City had a great turnout that heard from a number of health carriers reviewing 2016 benefits.

Oct. 1

Oct. 5

Iggesund Paperboard Event

The Ligature and Mohawk Paper presented Engrave SF at the San Francisco Center for the Book on November 5. Featured speaker Dora Drimalas, Hybrid Design, talked about her collaboration with Mohawk on their growing Maker movement.

Oct. 6

Nov. 4

Dave Guthmiller (left), Noise 13, and Dora Drimalas, Hybrid Design.

Nov. 5

A Creative Exchange - Networking Event

From left, Judith McKim, Watermark Press, Lauren Elliott, Wicked Good Print Production, Carey Wykoff, Watermark Press and Paige Brinkley, Iggesund Paperboard.

To acknowlege their expansion to the West Coast of the United States, Iggesund held an event at the San Francisco Film Center. Celebrating and comparing Swedish food and paper with approximately 100 attendees.

Nov. 9

Irina Blok, creator of the Google Android Logo and an experienced “impression maker” shared her secrets of networking success.

Infographics Event On November 4th in San Jose and 5th in San Francisco, lunch and presentation on Inforgraphics with speaker Sally Cox. Barbara Siilverman, Sally Cox and Laura Vargas

Irina Blok (right) with attendee

LUNCH & LEARN – California Sales & Use Tax for Printers Thursday, March 3, 11:30 – 1:30 pm

UPCOMING VMA EVENTS 22nd Annual CrabFest

Saturday, January 9, 5:30 – 11:00 pm Colombo Club, 5321 Claremont Avenue, Oakland Enjoy a night out filling up on delectable, healthy crab. Socialize with old friends, make new friends and contacts and dance the night away to live music provided by the Bay Area’s own “Ticket to Ride”! Includes food and wine. VMA Member $55/Non-Member $65/Table of 10 $495

Sales tax audits in the printing industry are inevitable. The problem is not the audit, but the typical result – a large assessment of tax, interest, and penalties. Join us and master the ins and outs of sales tax now so you won’t incur three years of tax liability later. Francesco’s Restaurant, 8520 Pardee Dr., Oakland Presented by: Gerry Bonetto Cost: $35.00 member; $50 non member

Constructive Cocktail Sales Tax Update for Creatives & Advertising Agencies Thursday, March 3, 4:00 – 6:30 pm To be determined, San Francisco

Printing 101 – A Beginners Workshop

You know that the tax rules for advertising agencies and creatives are difficult and confusing. Join us and learn how to determine which transactions are taxable, identify exemptions you may not be aware of and leave with the assurance that your company is audit-ready. Presented by: Gerry Bonetto Cost: $35.00 member; $50 non member

A fun, information packed, one-day workshop, providing a detailed presentation of the strengths and weaknesses of different printing methods and how savvy printers and buyers optimize the strengths while avoiding the pitfalls inherent in a given process. Instructor: Nancy Noble Cost: $165 members; $185 non members

March 9 – Maggiano’s San Jose March 10 – Paragon, San Francisco

Wednesday, February 3 South Beach Harbor Community Room, San Francisco

Luncheon - Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Thursday, February 24th Location: Hilton Garden Inn San Mateo

Even though the state only requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide the training, Sexual Harassment/Discrimination training is strongly recommended for ALL California employers. This class is ideal for small companies or for members who missed their 2015 mandatory training. Instructor: Cheryl Chong Cost: $35.00 member; $50 non members

LUNCH & LEARN – Building Interactive PDFs

Learn to create interactive PDFs – for more interesting slide presentations, digital brochures & catalogs, client comps and more! Presented by: Sally Cox Cost: Complimentary for members; $55 non members

VMA Design Conference – re:think

Thursday, June 9, 2016 Midway SF, 900 Marin Street, San Francisco Held in conjunction with AIGA’s Design Week this conference will tap into both sides of your creative brain! More details to come mid-January

VMA Insurance. Peace of Mind. We protect your business, so you can focus on growing your business. VMA Insurance understands your business. We make sure your most important assets – your facilities & equipment, your employees and your reputation – are fully covered. Our experts are specialists in your industry and will provide you with the right coverage for the right cost.

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

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Contact David Katz Today! (800) 659-3363 • insurance.vma.bz VMA Insurance Services has been ensuring business success since 1986.

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

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MEMBER NEWS

CHANGES, ACTIVITIES

Great Free Download

All About Color In December, Color Management Group, Morgan Hill, was a platinum sponsor of PIA’s COLOR2015 conference in Arizona. Many members of the Group spoke on various panels and sessions. Color 2015 (previously known as the Color Management Conference) offered more than 40 in-depth sessions, featuring four tracks, including Brand & Design, Print & Production, Standards & Business, and Product Demonstrations. Whether you’re in product development, design, print production, or video, you’re part of a color management ecosystem. Don’t miss it in 2016.

Spicers Open House Wide format printing represents a profit center potential for many printing companies and interest is high. On September 15 Spicers Paper held a Wide Format & Luxury Packaging Expo at their Union City facility. Over 125 attended the two standing room only seminars and visited with a number of wide format equipment vendors and other suppliers.

Oakmead Printing, Sunnyvale, is a full-service printing company specializing in high definition digital offset color printing. They have serviced the greater San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area in Northern California for over 25 years, Oakmead has been certified as an Eco-Friendly Bay Area Green Business. Santa Clara County and the City of Sunnyvale have verified that Oakmead Printing Inc. conserves energy & water, minimizes waste, prevents pollution and shrinks its carbon footprints. To build their contact list, the company offers a free, downloadable manual called “Printing Goof Ups and How to Avoid Them.” It’s a lighthearted look at things that can go wrong. http://www. oakmead.com/index.html

All-Around Winners Tim Poole, CEO of Dome Printing in Sacramento, participated in the Capital Cup golf tournament this fall and helped raise $18,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association. Congratulations to the River City Capitals, for winning the Cup and thanks to all 24 golfers, who helped raise over $443,000 for nonprofits in our region. They were able to present the Alzheimer’s Association the check at the final tournament banquet. Michelle Johnston, Regional Director of the Alzheimer’s Association was there to receive the check, and it was a very special moment for everyone involved. The Capital Cup helped to raise awareness of more than 20 of our region’s most impactful non-profit organizations. http://www.domecampaignservices.com/ AmericanWebLetter-site/Images/Poole.JPG

PTI Marketing Technologies Rebrands PTI Marketing Technologies, Solana Beach, a leading provider of cloud based Marketing Asset Management and Variable Data Publishing solutions, has rebranded to MarcomCentral. (The company started life as Printable Technologies.) MarcomCentral, the flagship product from the company, has been renamed to MarcomCentral Enterprise Edition and MarcomCentral Web-to-Print and the popular FusionPro VDP product name will remain the same. “Changing our name to MarcomCentral just makes sense since this is how we’re known globally,” said Coleman Kane, President & CEO, MarcomCentral. “With our acquisition by Ricoh last year, we’re operating in more channels and as we grow, the MarcomCentral brand name best reflects our evolving service offering.”

Ken Whitaker (left) and Jeff Jarvis, both with Spicers Paper.

The rebrand includes a new logo, website, digital and print assets, as well as enhanced social channels. VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

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MEMBER NEWS Workflow Management Added Emerald Packaging, a privately held flexible packaging company based in Union City, has invested in the EFI Packaging Productivity Suite, including business intelligence and inventory-tracking components to optimize day-to-day operations and provide greater accuracy in pricing. With EFI Radius ERP software at its core, the Packaging Suite offers an advanced end-to-end integrated and automated workflow management solution, utilizing smart software to optimize the business from the client’s desk throughout planning, production and delivery. The 53-year-old company produces flexible packaging for the food processing industry including salad packaging and vegetable bags. Its assets include lamination equipment, multiple printing presses and bag lines, a pouching line, slitters, interlocking machines for zipper insertion and special machinery that is capable of laser scoring and perforation on thin plastic materials. http:// www.emeraldpackaging.com/

Attractive Website Feature Speedway Printing, San Francisco, offers a wide range of print and finishing solutions at three storefront locations in the Financial District and SOMA. They also have a website where it’s inspiring to spend time. Try the What’s New? Archive Library, Ideas Matter. Here are Some Good Ones. There are articles like “30 Inspiring Quotes That Will Make You Grateful for Your Life” published in time for Thanksgiving, “Wearable Tech to Decode Sign Language” and more. http://speedwayprinting.com/resources/whats-new/

NEWS YOU NEED Cal Poly Graphic Communication Receives $2.3 Million to Preserve Printing Industry History Well-known printing industry expert Raymond J. Prince has donated $2.3 million to Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department to preserve the history and knowledge of the printing and imaging industry. The gift—the largest ever to the department—will fund four areas. The first is a named endowed scholarship honoring Cal Poly Professor Emeritus Gary Field, a highly regarded imaging scientist, professor, writer and speaker on issues of color management and related topics. The second is a named endowed scholarship honoring Professor Brian Lawler for his lifelong work advocating for the importance of print as a creative and influential communication medium surviving more than six centuries. 6

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The third area is a cash donation to supplement funds already raised to support what has become the world’s largest library on graphic arts technology and management. The library, already named the Raymond J. Prince Graphic Arts Collection, is housed in Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department and includes more than 30,000 volumes. The fourth is a bequest that will perpetuate the ongoing growth and development of the library’s collection and graphic communication education at Cal Poly. In announcing the donation, Prince acknowledged the role the university has played in preparing the graphic communication industry’s future leaders and in providing services to the industry through research and training. Prince noted

that Cal Poly is the go-to place for graphic arts technical and management information that dates back hundreds of years.

Brian Lawler (L) and Gary Field (R) flank donor Ray Prince.

Marketing Print is

Everyone’s Business Hopefully, we’re past “print is dead” but promotion needs to keep feeding print’s vitality

BY NOEL JEFFREY

eginning a new year is always a good time to renew a worthwhile effort or take part in a new one. Supporting one or more of the campaigns that advocate print as a media that works to support customers’ goals is just that kind of effort. The number and variety of campaigns are growing.

their local children’s hospital. Gift givers were guided by a list of items suggested by the hospitals and printed on the #sharepackage boxes. The campaign, distributed 25,000 #sharepackage boxes at nine Macy’s holiday events across the country, including at UC Davis Children’s Hospital in California.

Paper Industry Takes the Lead

Individual Paper Initiatives

Last summer VMA reported on The Paper and Packaging Board’s Paper Check-off campaign. (www. paperandpackaging.org) The Paper and Packaging Board establishes and guides promotions designed to slow the decline in paper use and expand demand for paper-based packaging products. Almost 60 U.S. manufacturers and importers of these products collectively fund the board’s efforts, including the Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds campaign. http://www.howlifeunfolds.com/ How Life Unfolds is based on the premise that paper and packaging products are an integral part of our lives. They give us an outlet for our creativity. They help us solve problems and learn about the world around us. They connect us in personal, meaningful ways. And they help us make important contributions to a more sustainable future. There was a special effort during the last Christmas season. Recognizing that there is nothing quite like the thrill of opening a gift, the Paper and Packaging – How Life Unfolds campaign, in partnership with Macy’s, offered shoppers the chance to send joy and excitement to children spending the holidays in local hospitals. The #sharepackage program encouraged holiday shoppers to give back by filling a prepaid, pre-addressed box for

Individual paper companies regularly produce their own campaigns to introduce new lines and promote print at the same time. For example, in December, Neenah Paper’s new Everybody’s Business promotion combined the power of direct mail, touch and sustainable messaging to create an interactive and educational promotion. The perfect bound book, and its creatively designed direct mail inserts, are all produced on a variety of Neenah EVIRONMENT Papers. According to a Neenah exec, the USPS recently reported that 93% of online responses are driven by direct mail—it’s clear that this remains an extremely effective marketing medium. And we have research telling us that touch and texture lead to high levels of brand connection and recall. Then we see that 65% of paper consumed in the US last year was recovered for recycling. What this means is that you can create a beautiful, memorable message that drive results while staying true to the environment. Neenah’s Everybody’s Business promotion houses four uniquely designed direct mail inserts. The 8 x 10.5 book and its inserts are all produced with a variety of printing processes on a combination of colors and textures from the Neenah ENVIRONMENT Papers’ collection, including six colors that were introduced into the line last year as well as the company’s proprietary RAW finish.

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The Defensive Line

Two Sides, the global initiative to promote the sustainability of print and paper, has reported a 70% success rate in persuading global organizations to remove misleading green claims from their communications as part of its worldwide antigreenwash campaign. 377 of the world’s leading corporations, including banks, utilities, telecoms and insurance companies have been researched and checked by Two Sides, exposing 240 of those companies to be using misleading greenwash statements in their marketing and communications activities. To date, 168 of those offending companies have removed their misleading greenwash statements as a direct result of ongoing lobbying by the Two Sides initiative. However, Two Sides notes that major global corporations are still using inaccurate and misleading environmental claims to encourage consumers to “go paperless” and switch from paperbased to digital communication. This is despite legislation being introduced by the advertising standards authorities in many countries to protect the consumer from being misled. In the U.S., for example, the message to save trees still floats around even though the latest statistics from the U.S. Forest Service show that net forest land area has increased by 3% in the past 60 years. And wood volume on timberland (number of trees) has increased 58% during the same time period.

Getting Involved is Straightforward

Printing Industries of Americas affiliate organizations like VMA have come together to spread the word about print. The advocates behind two campaigns, Choose Print (PIASC) and Print Grows Trees (PGAMA), have supplied individuals with advertisements, postcards, facts, articles and more, delving deep into the importance of print. Additionally, industry organizations have made positive contributions toward dispelling the myths of print and providing the facts to the public. Visit here, http://value.printing.org/page/12012, to see what each of these campaigns have to offer.Choose Print is an educational campaign designed to promote the effectiveness of print and to reinforce the fact that print on paper is a recyclable and renewable and thus a sustainable environmental choice. First launched in January 2011 by the Printing Industries Association of Southern California, the Choose Print campaign has used a variety of online and offline tools to get the

message out. At the hub is its website, which acts as a clearinghouse to bring together recent research and links to credible websites that tell the story about the marketing power and environmental record of print. It is rich in statistics and offers a wealth of downloads to help companies put together campaigns of their own. Print Grows Trees is an educational campaign that uses facts to show that print on paper actually helps to grow trees and keep our forests from being sold for development. By connecting the dots between print and the private landowners who own almost 60 percent of U.S. woodlands, Print Grows Trees challenges the widely held belief that by using less paper, trees will be saved. PGAMA, VMA promotes print as an important component in a Printing & Graphics multi-media world through its Storyboard website Association MidAtlantic, and magazine as well as its annual Visual Media is the association Guide. Storyboard, featured in the Q4 2015 issue serving the graphic of Connected (www.vmastoryboard.com), is a new communications industry approach to covering the creative world across all in Northern Virginia, media. In recent years the walls that have separated Maryland, Greater the print and digital worlds have crumbled, with Washington, D.C. and more and more communications professionals Southern Pennsylvania. compelled to take a broader, more holistic approach to “getting the message out.” The print focused are experimenting with augmented reality, apps Time to Get and special online content, and the Web-savvy are Aboard rediscovering the attention-getting qualities of print. Everyone knows that Both have a great deal to learn from each other. everyone in a printing plant from the receptionist Visual Media Guide and the online version, Visual on is part of the sales Media Access (vmaccess.org) are Northern team that contributes to California’s premier resource directory of visual the company’s image. So, media resources. The Visual Media Guide is a 300 too, printing companies page printed annual that lists members of Visual need to participate in Media Alliance and provides contact information, maintaining the image company description and each member’s capabilities of print itself. With all and equipment. Each member receives a free listing the resources out there, it in the guide. Opportunities to advertise are also couldn’t be easier. offered. The guide is distributed to a list of 6,500, including creative and marketing professionals at 500 large companies in the region. Opportunities to advertise are also offered, at PromoteMyFirm.vma.bz

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ClieNt

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magazine CheCk eaCh box as a guide: Authorized Signature:

❑ Name correct?

❑ Address correct?

ad Form

NEW!

Client

❑ Phone # correct?

CoNtaCt

Phone

PhoNe

Fax

Die Cutting/ Date: Carton Folding and Gluing CheCk eaCh asif a guide: Offer box correct, any? ❑ Ad copy correct? ❑ authoRized sigNatuRe

❑ Name correct? ❑ address correct? ❑

Fax date magazine

Phone # correct?

❑ ad copy correct? ❑ offer correct, if a

ad approval: magazine as is ❑ Ad approved

magazine

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magazine

Fax Back To: (480) 966-4133magazine

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Ad approved On Line Bindery, Inc. with

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Start right-sizing your packaging and keep your numbers low. All major shipping companies have begun to base shipping costs on weight and dimension. That means that empty space costs you more money. With Packsize® On Demand Packaging®, you get a perfectly sized box, for every product, every time. Don’t swing and miss on your packaging solution—Get Packsized.

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Online education from the Integrated Print Center!

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STRATEGIC SELLING

STORY | LESLIE GROENE

Making the Most of LinkedIn for Networking & Social Selling

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 contact her please go to www.GroeneConsulting.com. Here is the link to her e-newsletter, http://www. groeneconsulting.com/ Newsletter/2014.12/

Have you looked at your LinkedIn profile lately? Did you know that your LI home page is like your own personal business journal? I asked my colleague Lynne Gullo, who coaches people on how to set up their LI profile, to provide a few tips as a refresher on how important LinkedIn is to all business professionals. It’s important for both you as an individual and everyone in sales and marketing who represents your company to have a complete profile.

Basic profile tips: 1.

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

Profile Picture: Business-like, smiling, current and in focus. No pets, kids, obvious selfies, stray hands on shoulders and above all, don’t use the default blank head! You don’t need a professional photographer, but make sure you are presenting yourself in a positive light. Your Title: LinkedIn will default to your job title, but don’t make this rookie mistake. This is

| CONNECTED | WINTER SUMMER2016 2015

a searchable field and you want people to find you. Add three specialties to your title. This is especially important if you have the same title as others in your company. For example, don’t just list your title as Account Executive at Blank Company. I will have no idea what you do! Try Account Executive at Blank Company specializing in whatever vertical industry or company type you’re looking for. Summary: This is your elevator speech. How would you enthusiastically describe what you do for a living to your friends? This is another searchable field. Make sure you include key skills and expertise even though you are repeating them in other parts of your profile. You can even list your key specialties with bullet points. Your profile represents YOU as a brand, so don’t just copy your company mission statement here. Your contact information: Make sure your information is current so your connections know how to contact you. Include your company website.

Before and after a business meeting: 1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

Look up the company page and find out any current news. Look at the upper right corner of the company page to see “How You’re Connected” to their employees. Review the profiles of the people you will be meeting with to see what you have in common. Ask to connect with anyone you get a business card from. Follow that company.

Your Home Page: 1.

Periodically provide an interesting update about YOU. Tell a success story, brag a little, but don’t make this a sales pitch. Share an interesting article you’ve read to your LinkedIn page. 2. Read your Home page daily and like, comment or share. Just a few minutes a day will give you a wealth of information about your connections and industry. 3. Congratulate your connections on their anniversaries and job changes. LinkedIn is the ultimate Business Directory. LI offers an unequaled and FREE way to promote yourself, your brand and your company. Take a few minutes to make sure you are making the most of this valuable social business platform.

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HUMAN RESOURCES STORY | BY CHERYL CHONG

Pay and Train When You Should; Avoid Fines Holidays

CHERYL CHONG Since Doug Moore has retired, Cheryl Chong has joined VMA as our Human Resources Director and your #1 source for assistance responsible for counseling on HR matters like family leave, discrimination, sexual harassment and wage and hour compliance. She has a Bachelors and Masters degree from Chapman University in Orange, CA, along with 20+ years of HR experience in the trenches. Think of her as an extension of your HR department, courtesy of VMA. Please feel free to reach out for answers or introduce your organization by calling 800-659-3363 or cheryl@vma.bz.

Hours worked on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays by non-exempt employees are treated like hours worked on any other day of the week. California law does not require that an employer provide its employees with paid holidays, that it close its business on any holiday, or that employees be given the day off for any particular holiday. If an employer closes its business on holidays and gives its employees time off from work pursuant to their policy or practice, these hours can be without pay. An employer is required to reasonably accommodate an employee who requests time off for religious reasons. This time off as an accommodation does not have to be paid. There is nothing in the law that mandates an employer pay an employee special premium pay for work performed on a holiday, Saturday or Sunday, other than the overtime premium required for work performed in excess of eight hours in a workday, forty hours in a workweek or for hours worked on the seventh day worked in the employer’s workweek.

Must I Comply With AB 1825? Since 2005, California companies with 50 or more employees must provide two hours of interactive sexual harassment prevention training to supervisors within six months of hire or promotion, and every two years thereafter. The 50 employee or more threshold 12

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

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includes full-time, part-time and temporary workers who are working anywhere in the world. You must include all employees and contractors, including those that reside or work outside of California. Under the regulations for AB 1825, “having 50 or more employees” means employing or engaging 50 or more employees or contractors for each working day in any 20 consecutive weeks in the current calendar year or preceding calendar year. Harassment claims can cause very serious damage or in the worst scenario, put your organization out of business. Such claims hurt productivity and morale, can make it harder to engage and retain qualified employees, and can damage your organization’s reputation through negative media coverage. Additionally, dealing with a harassment claim will cost you a minimum of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees, and even larger amounts in settlements, judgments, and punitive damage awards, among other things.

What is Wage Theft; CA Minimum Wage? Wage theft is the illegal practice of not paying workers, withholding of wages or denial of benefits for all of their work including; violating minimum wage laws, not paying overtime, forcing workers to work off the clock or making them punch out early and having them continue to work, employee misclassification, illegal deductions in pay, withholding properly earned pay and much more. It is a major problem statewide. Specifically, in Los Angeles alone, low-wage workers lose $26.2 million in wage theft violations every week– making it the wage theft capital of the country. A review of wage claim data from 2008-2011 and found the majority of companies ruled against by the labor commission and courts never paid back any wages. 83 percent of workers who hold a court-ordered claim to receive their unpaid wages never see a dime. In the current system, it is easy for unscrupulous employers to avoid the consequences of their actions. In fact, employers often close up shop or open up their business under another name to avoid paying their workers. Effective January 1, 2016, the minimum wage in California goes up to $10 per hour. Although there are some exceptions, almost all employees in California must be paid the minimum wage. There are some employees who are exempt from the minimum wage law, such as outside salespersons, individuals who are the parent, spouse, or child of the employer, and apprentices regularly indentured under the State Division of Apprenticeship Standards. Additionally, some California cities or municipalities have their own minimum wage requirements so be sure to check regularly to ensure that you are on the most current and correct wage rate that applies to your company in order to avoid liability issues and fines.

VMA STAYS SOCIAL

In the past quarter, VMA’s President, Dan Nelson, kept the Association’s online presence relevant, serious and funny. If you missed these Facebook postings or Tweets, use the urls and read all about it!

The Zombies Of Marketing: Five Channels That Just Won’t Die

From books, to movies, to TV, zombies continue to live up to their reputation as being impossible to kill. Turns out, marketing has a few undead of its own, in the… BUFF.LY/1M2DFO8

USPS Rates Go Up Again

USPS is increasing postal rates on Jan. 17. Priority Mail fees will rise about 9.8 percent, despite USPS touting its allegiance to e-commerce marketers who BUFF.LY/1QSFL3S|BY HEATHER FLETCHER

Why you should never provide free design in an RFP response - InVision Blog

is by far my favorite eve… BUFF.LY/1GZ2DL8|BY MOTIVATE DESIGN

We all occasionally get asked to provide “initial designs” as part of a proposal for a website design project. I can understand how that seems like a useful BUFF.LY/1MKX7YH

Stop Multitasking. You’ll Get More Work Done.

How to be good at stress

These health sector entrepreneurs say you’ll become more productive by implementing steps like deconstructing your email. BUFF.LY/1LJXZTH|BY DEBORAH MITCHELL

The Parallels Between Storytelling and UX — Medium

What does it mean to be “good” at stress? Does it mean that you don’t get stressed out? That you stay calm under pressure and bounce back from adversity? Not exactly. Stress researcher Kelly McGoni... BUFF.LY/1L9DFSQ

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Future of Storytelling for my second time. FoST

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.

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

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

| CONNECTED | WINTER 2016

FIND-ANEMPLOYEE

NEW MEMBERS PROGRAM PRODUCTION Production Artist

Project 6 Design

Since 2001, Project6 Design, Inc., an awardwinning Emeryville based corporation, has been helping companies build the tools essential to business. Our focus is on brand identity, information architecture, usability and high-end design for medium to large companies. We specialize in creating brochures that promote sales. Logos that express a unique identity. Websites that add value to your bottom line. We’ve developed a special approach to our work that combines design and website usability expertise with a solid understanding of your marketing objectives. It allows us to be creative, yet disciplined. Focused, yet utterly out of the box. It’s all part of creating designs that don’t just look good, but work hard for your business. Jennifer Griego 510-540-8005 jen@project6.com www.project6.com

International Paper

International Paper is a global leader in packaging and paper with manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. International Paper’s vision is to be one of the best and most respected companies in the world. A company of substance in everything we do, from the products we make, to investing in communities, to protecting our environment. Cindy Pace 901-419-7837 cindy.pace@ipaper.com www.internationalpaper.com

VISUAL MEDIA ALLIANCE

| CONNECTED | WINTER SUMMER2016 2015

Eat My Words

Eat My Words, San Francisco, is a premier brand name consulting agency who works with funded companies to cook up unforgettable brand names and taglines that make powerful emotional connections and generate revenue. Founded in 2005 by brand name expert Alexandra Watkins, a former award-winning advertising copywriter and author. Alexandra Watkins 415-552-7741 alexandra@eatmywords.com www.eatmywords.com

Dedicated, reliable and responsible graphic designer, typographer, prepress and digital press operator seeking employment within an active group of team players within a marketing or printing organization. I am a quick learner, pay attention to detail, strong desire to learn new skills, enjoy researching, developing and designing for a variety of mediums. BAY AREA – SMITH 4105

Production Layout/Image Manipulation I am a confident and creative production worker who is self-motivated, self-sufficient and comes to you with a strong background in both print and digital media. I am looking to join a creative team of designers, and to work for a company that only hires the best. PENINSULA – ALFARO 4127

Graphic Designer

Graphic Design, Production, Typography, Prepress, Digital Press Operator EAST BAY – SMITH 4121

CREATIVE MANAGEMENT

Prado Studio

With over 15 years of experience, Prado Studio, Dana Point and Santa Monica, is an award winning multi-disciplinary graphic design studio delivering unique, creative and innovative solutions to design communication challenges. We are a small boutique studio with big agency capabilities. Prado Studio has a wide-range of experience in all aspects of creative development and our broad scope of services include brand and logo identity, packaging, print, spatial design, website design and advertising/ marketing collateral development. Classically trained at the distinguished Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, our creative team follows a meticulous design process proven to yield extraordinary results. In fact, we are the creative force behind some popular and recognizable brands such as SpaceX and Tesla Motors. Marilyn Prado-Test 310-883-8057 marilyn@pradostudio.com www.pradostudio.com

Production Planner (traffic)

I am currently seeking a position as a project/ traffic manager. In my last position I was responsible for managing the advertising production, traffic, creative departments and commercial print jobs. SAN FRANCISCO – EDSON 4126

EMPLOYEE WANTED Position Open

VMA member, located in Burlingame, is looking for Kodak digital NexPress Operator 2100S3000. If you are experienced and interested in this position please contact Jessica Clark at Jessica@vma.bz or 415-489-7612 to get all the job requirements.

Free. Powerful. Efficient. MEDIA VENDORS ARE JUST A KEYSTROKE AWAY. Now, PrintAccess, the largest directory of print and media resources on the web, is available on all your devices; from smart phones to tablets to laptops. Try it out today at PRINTACCESS.COM. NOW FEATURING: • 4500 print and media businesses, offering 620 services • Find it fast without ads or clutter • No search engine hidden agenda • Location based search

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