A Lot to be Thankful For

By Toni McQuilken and Ashley Roberts

Toni McQuilken, senior editor, PRINTING United Alliance

Sure, it’s cliché, and I won’t deny it. With Thanksgiving upon us, this is the time of year we all stop to reflect on the past year and all we have to be thankful for. I’m no different, so here is my super predictable list of things I’m grateful for this year.

All of you. First on my list is all the people who make up the printing industry. You are all fabulous! The networking, the laughter, the stories, the sharing — I enjoy every time I get to sit down and just connect, whether that’s in-person at events like PRINTING United Expo, or virtually in places like webinars or even LinkedIn. This industry is crammed with some truly amazing people, and I am thankful to call you all my colleagues.
My colleagues. Speaking of colleagues, I am incredibly thankful for the team I work directly with. From our editorial director Denise Gustavson, to Printing Impressions’ editor Ashley Roberts, to the rest of the staff that make up the PRINTING United Alliance editorial team, I am blessed to work with an outstanding team, no exceptions. If I could have put my own super hero team together, these are the people I would choose to save the world with.
Change. It might seem odd, but I am grateful for all the change this year has brought. It isn’t always for the better, true, but without change we stay static, and I feel like this year has allowed me to grow in ways I couldn’t necessarily have predicted. I subscribe to the idea that as long as you keep active and keep learning, you’ll never be old, and I feel like this year has allowed me to stretch myself in new ways. Hopefully I can take these changes and transform them into positives across the board as I head into 2026.
Toni's new kittens Nova and Nyx.
Kittens. Okay, losing my cat of 10 years to cancer was rough. As anyone who has lost a pet knows, they are the heart of you, and losing one means breaking a bit. I didn’t think I was ready yet, but the Cat Delivery System had other ideas, and I have two new kittens in my life now. They have reminded me about joy and laughter — it’s hard to feel sad or anxious when two kittens are chasing a wand toy doing acrobatics, before running over for pets and a good cuddle, after all. It’s a good reminder that life continues to move forward, and that’s not a bad thing.
Print. I am as much of a technology lover as anyone, but I continue to be thankful for print as a whole, and all it brings into our lives. From direct mail, to vehicle wraps, to wallcoverings, to the packaging we handle daily, print enriches our lives. And I am thankful to be even a small part of this industry, helping connect all the various dots together so we can continue to see print thrive. It will never die, but it will continue to evolve, and I am privileged to stand witness to the process.

Ashley Roberts, content director, Printing Impressions

When my colleague Toni McQuilken shared that she was pulling together a list of the things she was thankful for in advance of Thanksgiving, I knew I also wanted to take some time to reflect and share what I'm thankful for. This industry, my profession as a journalist covering the industry, and my personal life are incredibly fruitful. Here are just a few of the things I'm grateful for this year.

You. My Colleagues. It feels like cheating to copy these items from Toni, but I couldn't agree more. The people in this industry are resilient, innovative, and encouraging. They make me thankful that I get to show up every day and be part of a community that champions and celebrates one another. The same goes for my colleagues, who jump in at a moment's notice to assist one another, who offer advice when it's needed most, and who work harder than any group of people I've ever met.
Industry Events. One of the true highlights of my career is to travel to events to see all of you. I'm not exaggerating when I say the Inkjet Summit is something I look forward to from the moment the event ends until it comes around again. It is a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones in a more intimate setting than some of the larger industry events. PRINTING United Expo is another highlight of my year. It is exhilarating to hit the show floor. I feed off of the energy and every year, I swear the event goes faster and faster. The event keeps me energized long after my plane hits the tarmac back in PHL.
Travel. Travel is also something I'm grateful for in my personal life as well. I am lucky to be able to travel the world with the people I love, experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, and, of course, eating the most delicious food. I'm trying to learn Italian (I'm grateful to have traveled to my favorite country six times already), Amo l'Italia. Next year though, we plan to do more domestic trips so we can bring our dogs with us.
Dogs. Speaking of dogs, and since Toni mentioned cats, I will add dogs to my list. I am a dog person through and through (although I love all animals!), but last year on Dec. 18, we adopted a little scruffy guy from a horrific neglect situation. We named him Piccolo (it means "small" in, you guessed it, Italian) and in the year he has been with us, I've had the privilege to watch him blossom. We have learned that he loves to howl (he even makes our other dog Phaedra howl, although she never did previously), he lives for treats, and since he's missing his top teeth, his tongue never quite stays in his mouth. Rescuing animals is a privilege and an honor and I can't wait to see how much more he grows in comfort in the years to come.
Print. Yes, I'm borrowing another from Toni, but it's only fitting to honor the industry that we all know and love. The amount of excitement I experience when talking with printers about the innovative projects they're working on is unmatched and I feel so much joy when I receive a gorgeous piece of direct mail or when I pick up samples at an event. This is the industry that keeps on giving.

Ashley's dog Piccolo.

Ashley's dog Phaedra Rose.

These were our top five things we're thankful for this year and we would love to hear from all of you — what are you thankful for this year? There have been a lot of ups and downs, but taking the time to reflect has certainly made us smile and we hope it does the same for each of you!