Through An Associates Eyes

Dalyn Winter entered the CGX Leadership Development Program in September 2009. Dalyn graduated from the University of Florida in May 2009 with a degree in Advertising. She is currently an Associate working with Graphcom, a Consolidated Graphics company in Atlanta, GA.

I’m currently a second-year Associate in Consolidated Graphics’ Leadership Development Program and hold the position of Graphcom’s intercompany sales representative. In this capacity, I work directly with both our sister companies and internal personnel. I’m responsible for writing up quote requests for current and potential clients, which are then forwarded to our estimators for pricing. Once finalized, I then submit the estimate back to the sister company.

From the outside this might seem to be a simple process, but each quote is different and often requires multiple revisions and updates -- which has helped me understand the importance of details. No matter how small they appear, these details can make a great impact on the final project. Some of the challenges I face in this role include quick deadlines or a layout change, which has taught me to anticipate -- or even expect -- a possible obstacle to overcome. My number one priority is to ensure each job is not only on schedule, but also accurate. This can only be done through preparation and attention to detail – something I have learned in my experience as an Associate.

Like many LDP Associates, my responsibilities vary as I continue to rotate throughout the company, learning each process of the business. Some of the additional duties I perform at Graphcom range from organizing incoming and outgoing inventory in the warehouse to presenting CrossMedia opportunities, and a variety of tasks that fall in between. Being exposed to the entire business allows me to further understand how each area fits together as one, resulting in a great product.

As an Associate, I’ve learned that flexibility and time management are essential to thrive in the printing industry. The commercial printing process operates with “real time” deadlines and therefore it’s crucial to be effective at multitasking, often moving from one job to the next without missing a beat.

Additionally, this past fall I became Graphcom’s LDP Recruitment and Onboarding Coordinator, where I work closely with CGX’s LDP team while also reaching out to future Associate candidates. In this role I attend campus career fairs and serve as Graphcom’s point of contact for all potential LDP Associates and CGX’s LDP team. It is my responsibility to reach out to potential candidates within 48 hours of receiving their resume, organize on-site interviews for all LDP candidates and communicate interview status updates. Recruiting is only the first step in this process. Once a candidate accepts the offer, the next course of action is to complete the onboarding process and ensure all is in order prior to the new Associate’s first day of work. As someone who was recently in the same position as current college students, it’s rewarding to work with them and expose them to the great opportunities available at CGX.

My career at CGX is providing me with an experience in a wide variety of duties, and each responsibility brings with it its own challenges and learned experiences. I’ve been given the chance to learn first-hand from Graphcom and CGX team members, which has been invaluable. I welcome the opportunity to learn even more about the print industry and all that CGX has to offer its customers!