Since its establishment as a copy center in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) Printing Services has grown into a full-service, in-plant operation.

This February, as part of In-Plant Awareness Month, Printing Services celebrated membership in the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) and hosted an open house for the campus community to showcase new services.

Transformation and innovative capabilities

Cutting-edge printing technology has allowed OCCC Printing Services, commonly known as the Print Shop, to expand capabilities and better support campus needs. Investments in high-quality machines, such as the Mimaki UCJV 300-160 UV printer for wide-format projects and the Mutoh XpertJet 661UF inkjet flatbed printer for awards and promotional items, significantly have improved production quality and turnaround times.

With these advancements, the Print Shop has grown beyond routine document reproduction — such as printing papers and tests — to providing creative, customized solutions.

The Print Shop now produces and manages architectural installations, including eye-catching wall and floor designs.

Justin Van Nest, OCCC’s communications and printing operations manager, oversees daily operations. “We’re always seeking creative ways to serve the campus, and expanding our services is just one example of how we’re helping to improve the student experience,” he said.

Award-winning team

Along with Van Nest, the team includes Senior Print Technician David Schemenauer, Print Technicians Silver Wakefield and Sara Bakke, and three student workers.

“We have a great team in the Print Shop, and we care about our work deeply,” Schemenauer said.

Over the past five years, the Print Shop submitted a variety of projects to the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP+) and received multiple awards. Last April, the team won three awards at the ACUP+ Impressions competition:

• Impression Award for Accelerated Service.
• Production Award for Graphic Design (Gold).
• Production Award for Wide-Format Banners, Canvas & Fabrics (Gold).

The team’s range of skills and experience have played a crucial role in its success, said Van Nest.

“I enjoy researching new processes and creating one-of-a-kind pieces, especially stickers,” said Bakke.

Celebrating In-Plant Awareness Month

In-Plant Awareness Month, an initiative by IPMA that recognizes in-house printing and mailing professionals, highlights Printing Services as a key part of campus operations.

To mark the occasion, OCCC Printing Services hosted an open house to showcase its capabilities and effect on campus. The event was made possible with support from Printing Finishing Systems and Clampitt Paper, which sponsored the celebration.

With a continued focus on creativity and efficiency, OCCC Printing Services continues to set a high standard for campus communications.

“I love knowing that what I do truly matters,” Wakefield said.