In this Her Imprint episode, Nicole digs into what leadership actually looks like in a transactional mail operation — managing personalities that don’t mesh, deciding to be “Nicole 1.0” instead of a fiercer version of the manager who came before her, and building a culture from scratch after a change in ownership. Nicole also discusses why she still starts every single morning with coffee in hand, walking the floor, and saying good morning to every person by name.
In this Her Imprint episode, Devyn Cretz, operations manager at Orange County Direct Mail talks about what competitive athletics taught her that business school didn't, why direct mail is actually more relevant in a world of spam and phishing, and what she's still figuring out as a young woman navigating a deeply experienced industry
Jessica Tillery's path to founding All Quality Graphics, a PRINTING United Alliance member, wasn't linear — it was a wildly unexpected detour that turned into a calling. In this Her Imprint episode, Jessica gets candid about what the print industry looked like for women when she started (spoiler: not great), how that's shifted dramatically in the last decade, and the role mentorship — from ROQ's Ryan Moore to local high school interns — has played in her growth. Her advice for women entering the industry? Stop waiting until you feel qualified. Raise your hand. Show up. And get out of your own way.
Pam Athan's path into print started with an elective class in high school and a teacher who ran an actual print business out of his classroom. Today, Pam is the account executive for print and marketing at Universal Printing — a 40-year-old family-owned shop in Durham. In this episode of the Her Imprint podcast, Pam talks about the real meaning of showing up for clients, how knowing print production makes her a better salesperson, why she wishes she'd found her confidence sooner, and what she tells the younger women she's mentoring now.
Christine Walsh didn't walk into print with a plan. She walked in with an economics degree, a master's in information systems, a two-week window to decide, and zero printing experience. In this Her Imprint episode, Christine pulls back the curtain on the early days: earning credibility from her team, navigating industry peers who said she'd be out of business within a year, and carving out space to be present for her kids while still building a legacy worth something.
Carla Johanns is the kind of leader who sells a million dollars in ten months during a brutal market — and still wonders if it was enough. As CEO of Simpson Print, a 63-year-old diversified print manufacturing company based in Ontario, Johanns has built something that's hard to categorize. In this episode of Her Imprint, Carla opens up about coming back to the family business after a devastating loss, confronting quiet but persistent gender bias head-on, and why she's deliberately stepping back from day-to-day leadership — not as a retreat, but as a strategy.
Arpy Simonian, a Women in Print Alliance member, didn’t follow a traditional path into print — she grew up in the industry, working in her father’s business for 20 years, but was never fully given the opportunity to lead. When she decided to leave, she faced a difficult reality: no financial backing, no clear roadmap, and no safety net. In this episode of Her Imprint, Arpy shares how she started her business from home, took on side jobs to fund her first press, and built Arpine Labels & Print entirely on her own.
Marie Clarke didn’t start her career in print — but today, she’s one of its strongest advocates. As CEO of the Envelope Manufacturing Association, she works on Capitol Hill to educate policymakers, support industry growth, and challenge the narrative that print and mail are outdated. In this episode of Her Imprint, Marie shares how she helps connect the dots between print, mail, and the broader economy — an industry that supports millions of jobs and touches nearly every community in the country.
Beth Marston, vice president of sales at Navitor, one of North America's largest trade print manufacturers, traces a 30-year path that started with a desperate need for a job and grew into a masterclass in relationships, resilience, and reinvention. In this episode of the Her Imprint podcast, Beth gets real about the mentors who shaped her — including one who quietly recommended her departure from a company, a decision that ultimately unlocked a better trajectory — and the leadership style she's built from those experiences.
Mary Dolan didn’t plan to build a career in print. With a background in law and a growing family, she stepped into a business opportunity, thinking she would support from behind the scenes. But when her business partner unexpectedly passed away, Mary was faced with a decision — step away or step up. In this episode of the Her Imprint podcast, as CEO of Pro-Am Team Sports, she shares how she chose to lead while navigating uncertainty and learning the industry from the ground up.
