Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, who founded what’s now known as NPI Corp in 1973 (and is still remembered respectfully as “Mrs. Conley” to long-term employees of the company) and her mother, who served as CEO before her, Brooke Hamilton is well aware of the legacy she is proud to carry on as a woman-owned business in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Her commitment to lead the growth of her company’s varied and customizable capabilities in digital printing, optically cut graphics, and laser engraving/marking is evident– as is her belief in advancing the printing and graphic communications industry overall.

Those values were on display in October as Hamilton opened the doors of her printing plant to U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (OK). Senator Mullin, who Brooke had previously met while visiting Capitol Hill as part of a PRINTING United Alliance Board of Directors delegation, toured NPI Corp and got a crash course in the operations of a local print manufacturer.

As part of his tour, Mullin was also made aware of the various career pathways available to less-represented demographics on the print shop floor, including women and beneficiaries of NPI Corp’s second chance hiring program. This program gives females with past criminal records a fair and equal opportunity at employment after having served their debts to society.

The real-life results of technical training and apprenticeship programs for all employees, including women and veterans, was important for Senator Mullin to witness at NPI Corp as he sits on the influential Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. He has taken a keen interest in advocating for the reexamination of the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s decision to cut NAICS codes related to the printing industry; these codes are critical to funding decisions of career technical education programs at the secondary and collegiate levels.

Thanks to Hamilton, Senator Mullin was able to see first-hand that the printing industry is very much alive and well, and that its long-term viability relies in part on promoting the modern, vibrant industry as one with the potential to provide thousands of jobs to a diverse workforce.

Fittingly, the NPI Corp facility tour ended in Hamilton’s office, which is still decorated with her grandmother’s original office furniture– connecting the past, present and future of both the company and the industry. Thank you, Brooke Hamilton, for volunteering your time and opening your doors to help advocate for policies that benefit all companies in the printing industry!