James O’Rourke Named Division President at Classic Graphics

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—July 15, 2013—Classic Graphics, with locations in Charlotte, NC, and Raleigh, NC, has appointed James O’Rourke of Chattanooga, TN, as the company’s new Triangle Division president, effective August 1, 2013. O’Rourke previously served as general manager of the Digital/Screen Division of the National Print Group in Chattanooga. The National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) provided advisory services in organizing and executing the nationwide search that led to the appointment.

“We are confident that Jim has the background and skills needed to help us take Classic Triangle to a higher level of success," said Classic Graphics President David Pitts. "He is a perfect fit for Classic’s organizational culture and he will provide a high level of leadership and professionalism to our team."

Bill Gardner, president of Classic Graphics Corporate, stated, “We worked with NAPL to identify and qualify high-level, talented people. Jim O’Rourke has more than 25 years in the graphics industry, with proven experience in accelerating growth. We feel that Jim will be a great match for our culture and will bring a broad business and industry perspective to Classic. The Triangle Division in Raleigh is poised to become a great source of growth for Classic and Jim is just the person to lead this effort.”

Both Pitts and Gardner decided to retain the services of NAPL to lead the executive search process. “That was a really good decision,” said Pitts. “This was a big step for us and a very important strategic hire. NAPL was able to organize the entire process from outreach to screening to final interviews. They guided us through the offer and helped us conclude matters with the candidate of our choice and within the desired time frame,” said Pitts.

“Having NAPL handle this search for us saved Dave and me a tremendous amount of time, which allowed us to focus on our business. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome” added Gardner.

With a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch College, Milwaukee, WI, O’Rourke has a strong computer technology background and a concentration of course work in engineering. Prior to his position at National Print Group, he was a sales and marketing consultant to Colite International in Columbia, SC; president and CEO of FB Johnston Graphics in Chapin, SC; and sales/marketing director and general manager of Brady in Milwaukee, WI.

About Classic Graphics
Classic’s mission is to be an integral part of every client’s marketing success. An ESOP company with locations in Charlotte and Raleigh, NC, Classic has grown to become one of the most successful companies in the graphic communications industry, with 250 employees and more than $72 million in annual sales.

About the NAPL Business Advisory Team
The NAPL Business Advisory Team provides a wide variety of business advisory services in critical areas of graphic communications management. From mergers and acquisitions to sales, operations, and finance, NAPL brings industry-specific knowledge directly to each company’s individual needs. The expertise and offerings of NAPL’s Business Advisory Team are captured in over 100 business services, each specifically designed to fit a company’s size, issues, and needs.

About NAPL
NAPL is a not-for-profit business management association representing companies in the $80+ billion commercial printing and graphic communications industry in North America. NAPL’s comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with the management tools they need to make informed business decisions in an ever-changing market environment. For more information, visit www.napl.org or call (800) 642-6275.

Source: NAPL.