Longtime Printing Industry Manufacturing Executive Dan Burks Passes at Age 80
Dan Burks
Daniel (Dan) Burks, veteran of the print industry, passed away on July 8, 2023, at age 80, from esophageal cancer. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jean, his son Charlie, daughter-in-law Morgan, and granddaughter (with another grandchild on the way). Dan was born in San Antonio, Texas, September 19, 1942, the son of Richard Winslow and Mary Kathleen (Townsend) Burks.
Dan worked in high-level manufacturing-management positions in the print industry for over 30 years. Early in his career, he held management positions at Diversified Printing Corporation and Brown Printing Company. He ascended to executive-level roles in manufacturing and general management with tenures at North American Directory Corporation, Arcata Graphics, American Signature, Quebecor Printing/Quebecor World, and Lane Press.
Those who worked with Dan at any of the above esteemed printing companies are familiar with his style: determined and uncompromising, yet collaborative and empowering. He achieved this delicate and rare balance by setting crystal-clear objectives and knowing how to structure and motivate large teams to reach them.
Dan’s mantras were “improved productivity” balanced with “reduction in unit cost.” In each position he held, Dan tightly measured the gains he could pull out of production weighed against the efficiencies he could realize in costs. He was dogged in his determination to set and achieve benchmarks. Repeatedly throughout his career, Dan selected and installed cutting-edge production equipment, improved quality controls, carefully managed material usage, ensured proper safety practices (his No. 1 priority), and implemented exception and resolution processes. Dan knew that a manufacturing business is only as good as its workforce, so he took a participative approach to management, empowering his teams, providing quality training, creating accountability structures, and acknowledging successes.
Dan was never one to seek the limelight and instead was the first to recognize and commend others. “Dan was a true leader,” said Philip Drumheller, president of Lane Press. “He was extremely knowledgeable and determined. But more importantly, he was always looking for opportunities to bring out the best in those around him. We are so fortunate to have found Dan. Our company is in a better place and our employees and I are better people for having had the opportunity to work with him.”
Dan’s wife Jean echoed that sentiment, saying, “I think if you were to ask Dan what his greatest career achievement was, he would say mentoring others. And that could be colleagues who worked under him, although he considered everyone equal, or our son and his friends, who always talked to him and asked for advice. He was a good listener, and he encouraged people to trust their own capabilities.”
Warren Lesco, a career human resources and environmental, health, and safety professional, had two stints working with Dan in the same Lincoln, Nebraska plant —first for American Signature, then Quebecor World. “In what I like to call my second tour of duty with Dan, I had recommended him for the job of VP/General Manager,” recalls Lesco. “It was a union shop at the time, and we needed his leadership. I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it to this day: People were attracted to him. They very quickly came to respect him. Dan knew what he was doing — in a short period of time, he made that plant profitable—and he gave every employee and union rep mutual respect. When anyone in the plant talked to him, he listened like that person was the only one in the room.”
Those who knew Dan also know that he was a passionate, life-long learner. A conversation with him would often include a sidebar about what he was learning on a vastly broad range of topics, from nautical history to the arc of climate change to the inner workings of government intelligence. He read and listened to everything he could get his hands on about a subject.
As an engineer through and through, Dan also had a passion for building, which he shared with Charlie, who is now a contractor. Together, they built a cabin in New York’s Adirondack mountains that became a treasured refuge for Dan and Jean during their retirement years. In those mountains, Dan, Jean, and Charlie each earned the honor of being dubbed a “46er” for climbing all 46 peaks with an elevation of 4,000 feet or higher. At age 70, Dan and Charlie through-hiked the Long Trail in Vermont, a rugged trail that runs the length of the state (nearly 300 miles) with resupply support from Jean. Dan treasured time spent with his family doing the things he loved.
Dan and Charlie Burks
Dan graduated from Purdue University with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and from Cornell University with a Masters of Business Administration. He proudly served as a United States Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret and First Lieutenant with a tour of duty in Vietnam, during which he was awarded a Bronze Star Medal. Dan’s military service meant a great deal to him. His ashes will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., as was his wish.
The Burks family wishes to thank all of the many individuals with whom Dan worked throughout his career. He was proud of his professional achievements and even more proud of the lasting friendships he created along the way.
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.
