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BY DENNIS E. MASON A search for a modern printing company is not likely to begin in Columbia, SC. But it should end there, with Crowson Stone Printing. Founded in 1923 as Crowson Printing, Crowson Stone became the state's first offset printer in the 1950s. Still a family operation, it is led by John K. deLoach III, the third generation on the Stone side of the business. The 50 Crowson Stone employees generate annual sales of nearly $6 million. deLoach experienced other sides of business before taking the reigns of the family print shop, including earning a degree in business and finance. He then

When sheetfed printer Spectrum Press expanded into web printing, business management tools helped ease the company's growing pains. BY DENNIS E. MASON Printers looking for a growth formula could do worse than take a page from the book of Roseland, NJ-based Spectrum Press, located just west of New York City. When President and CEO Matthew J. "Matt" Scott started Spectrum Press, he adopted a credo that he says accounts for the company's phenomenal growth: "Never say no to a customer!" According to Matt, "Price is important, but Spectrum Press is not a price leader. We offer higher quality and service than most other printers, but we win

BY DENNIS E. MASON In baseball, most players are specialists, spending their days in both the minor and major leagues at the same position. Some players become specialists in the extreme—relief pitchers who are particularly effective against left-handed batters, for example. But even in this age of specialization, the utility infielder is a particularly valued player. The ability to play any position when called upon has even entered our daily lexicon, with the term "covering all bases" indicating versatility and broad capability. Printing, too, is often a game of specialties. Most printers focus on a single process, such as offset; some base their business upon a