2025 Fast-Track Firm: Fort Orange Press

By Toni McQuilken

The “Fast-Track” company profiles provide insight on why some companies on the Printing Impressions annual list of the largest printing companies in the U.S. and Canada have performed so well. We spoke with them to find out how they view their companies and the printing industry in general moving forward.

The businesses recognized as this year’s fast-track firms attribute their successes to a variety of factors, including new technology, innovative strategies, and strategic investments.

Read below why Printing Impressions recognized Fort Orange Press as a Fast-Track Firm.

Fort Orange Press | Albany, New York

Most Recent Fiscal Year Sales: $20.1 million
Previous Fiscal Year Sales: $15 million
Percentage Change: 34%

Credit: Tetra Images, Getty Images

Founded in 1905, Fort Orange Press isn’t a new kid on the block by any stretch of the imagination. Based in Albany, New York, the company continues to see strong growth as it sticks to what it knows best: election printing. With a client base that spans the entire country and supporting more than 2,000 different municipalities and jurisdictions, it is a perfect example of how success can be found by becoming the expert in one thing — and doing it exceptionally well.

Robert Witko, Fort Orange Press’ president and CEO, notes that the company's growth comes in surges, corresponding to the election cycles. So while it saw a 34% increase last year in revenue, that number ebbs and flows, with even years seeing significantly more growth than odd years due to the way elections are scheduled.

As to why the company is the printer of choice for so many boards of election — big and small, across the nation — Witko attributes it to the fact that the company is committed to being reliable in both the products it produces and the partnerships it has formed.

“Elections are unforgiving; there is no room for error, and no second chance,” he says. “Our ability to deliver under strict timelines with zero tolerance for mistakes is what has earned — and kept — the trust of our clients.”

Looking forward, Witko is watching a few trends that could impact elections, and, in turn, Fort Orange Press.

“We are closely watching trends in election reform, postal logistics, and the increasing demand for personalized, trackable communications — not just in elections, but in sectors like healthcare and government services,” he says.

“We’re also monitoring the shift toward automated workflows, data security, and production flexibility,” he continues. “Voters and institutions expect transparency, speed, and control. That’s pushing us to invest in technologies and training that support rapid turnarounds, modular formats, and tighter integration between digital files and physical output.”

That investment includes upgrades to its data-driven composition software, mail automation, and print finishing technologies in the next 12 months, all with the goal if improving both accuracy and the company's ability to scale up for the busy season while maintaining strict
quality standards.

“We are also evaluating upgrades to our inserting and tracking systems, with an eye toward closed-loop verification and production accountability — especially for regulated mail and election documents,” Witko says. “We are also evaluating new cut-sheet and digital web printing equipment, which would upgrade our existing print devices in the next 12 to 18 months.”

But, above all, Witko notes Fort Orange Press is also investing in its people, which he credits as one of the biggest elements of the company’s long-term success.

“As we grow, we’re also investing in people and leadership development. Sustaining high performance during election cycles means building teams who can adapt, execute, and lead under pressure,” he says.

Witko is most proud that his clients charge him and his team with some of the most time-sensitive and compliance-driven documents they produce. The fact that customers continue to entrust the company with their work more than 100 years since its founding says a lot about the culture and team it has developed.

“We succeed because we operate with integrity, deliver on promises, and take pride in doing things right the first time,” Witko concludes. “That mindset is baked into our people, our processes, and our purpose. Given the nature of the work we produce, I often reflect on the phrase my father taught me early on in my career: ‘We are not just in the print business, but rather in the business of trust.’”