AUCKLAND, Monday: Tainui Press Design & Print graphic designer and digital printer Vanessa Hooton has been named the Print Industry Apprentice of the Year 2019.
Hearing her name read out during the online Pride In Print Awards evening alongside family, friends and her work colleagues was a “surreal” experience, she says.
“All of us were in the back room watching it and I was shaking – it was insane, there were multiple tears and yelling.
“First and foremost, I thank Dale and Sheryl Ertel for giving me the opportunity. I was a 16-year-old coming out of school and they saw some potential in me and hired me, and I’ve never looked back since then. It was a huge chance they took and I’m really grateful for that.
“I’m also really thankful for my high school college gateway teacher, I didn’t know what I wanted to do and she pushed me in that direction, and Competenz manager Grant Alsop, he was always very supportive and happy to answer any of my questions.
“Also, the staff that I’ve worked with over the years – you bounce ideas off each other and grow with each other.”
Hooton, who was also named PrintNZ Digital Apprentice of the Year, says she has found the entire apprenticeship experience rewarding.
“I gave my family a bit of a tour of the factory and caught myself babbling away about processes and stuff and it’s when you do that you stop and think ‘wow, I’ve actually learned so much more than I realise’. That is such a cool thing and a cool thing to be a part of.”
Hooton says she enjoys working within the small Matamata-based business.
“My favourite aspect probably being seeing the whole process come to life and having a happy customer. We had one the other day – she shook my hand and she was absolutely stoked with what we gave her.”
Looking forward to continuing to advance within the firm and further broadening her horizons, Hooton says she is keen to soon commence the Diploma in Print Management.
His firm’s fourth Apprentice of the Year finalist and second winner, Dale Ertel describes Hooton as an “absolute delight”.
“She is a wonderful kid,” Ertel says.
“We were in the tearoom and we all roared at the same time. It was a real treat to have her family with us – when you see parents with their eyes glistening with pride, that really is pretty cool.”
Hooton, who was also named PrintNZ Digital Apprentice of the Year, says she learned ‘so much more than I realise’. ‘That is such a cool thing and a cool thing to be a part of.”
A former sheetfed apprentice himself, Ertel says he strives to follow the example of his own first trainer who sought to “train you to be better than I am”.
“It is easy to teach kids if they are willing to learn. Maybe I can spot potential or I see a passion maybe that we can work with and bring the best out of them.
“I get as much of a thrill out of seeing these people change, grow and all sorts of things. It is great to see them mature.”
Following the announcement of Hooton’s win, Ertel says he also promptly rang his firm’s first Apprentice of the Year winner of almost two decades ago, Jackie O’Reilly (nee Tye).
“I said to her that she set a standard that the others have tried to match.”
Maintaining a strong passion for the industry and training, Ertel says he has “total admiration” for the role PrintNZ plays in acknowledging those in training – “they do it tremendously”.
Other Apprentice of the Year finalists were:
- Parth Bhatt of McHargs (Binding and Finishing) – Print Finishers’ Association Binding and Finishing Apprentice of the Year
- Ryan Scott-Fellows of Hally Labels (Reelfed Printing) – BJ Ball Packaging Apprentice of the Year
- Nurudin Pelenda of Ovato (Sheetfed Printing) – Heidelberg Sheetfed Apprentice of the Year
- Bonny Seymour of the Gisborne Herald (Reelfed Printing) – Trust4Skills Reelfed Apprentice of the Year
Competenz Diploma of Print Management Student of the Year
Beacon Print production manager Taryn Gannaway was named the Competenz Diploma of Print Management Student of the Year.
Gannaway says it was “quite special” to later replay the online awards feed and share in the commendations paid with her with family.
“I was very surprised,” she says.
“But this diploma has helped me have a greater understanding of how the company works – especially over the whole lockdown period and realising the impact that has on the business and understanding the decisions made.”
Having commenced work with Beacon Print when just 14 years of age, Gannaway says she has gained an appreciation of various roles within the business and has enjoyed seeing the industry evolve.
“I still really enjoy my job. At the moment we are installing a new Goss press on site – we will have one of the newest presses in New Zealand. I think being there for that and seeing what changes that will have on our company is very exciting.”
Also a former SWUG Apprentice of the Year winner and Print Industry Apprentice of the Year finalist, Gannaway says she is grateful for the support of Competenz’ Alsop, Beacon Print GM Brian Cornes and Beacon Media Group ceo Aaron Buist.
Buist says he was thrilled to see Gannaway’s efforts rewarded, particularly as she juggled becoming a first-time mother during her studies.
“We are absolutely rapt and, without sounding too presumptuous, we are not surprised just given how diligent and passionate Taryn is about print and about what she does for us here at Beacon Print,” says Buist.
“I get as much of a thrill out of seeing these people change, grow and all sorts of things. It is great to see them mature.”
“She has always been really committed to her studies and most recently to the diploma, and to doing a great job there. So it is really good to see that recognised.”
Buist also pays tribute to Gannaway’s professional growth.
“Taryn started with us as a hand collator, back before we had automation in the print business here, through to within the last year or so being appointed to the position of production manager – she is literally working alongside our general manager running that business day to day.
“Again, that’s just a testament to how well she has done and her approach to what we do at Beacon Print and her part in that.”
With the business currently engaging two web offset apprentices, Buist says Beacon Print remains fully committed to ongoing training and to the industry overall.
“We are very excited about print – we see a great future in print. It is just great to have awesome people who are committed to come along on this journey with us.”
Other Competenz Diploma of Print Management Student of the Year finalists were:
- Brent Martens of Gallagher Group
- Cherie Williams of Ovato
- Colin Lean of Logan Print
- Gregor Inger of Brebner Print
- Hamish Chapman of Webstar
- Matt Walsh of Philstic
- Stacey McCormack of Brebner Print
BJ Ball Papers Trainer of the Year
Blue Star Collard operations manager Allen Masterson has been named BJ Ball Papers Trainer of the Year.
A former press operator who evolved into management during his 27 years with the company to date, Mr Masterson says he has enjoyed being involved in training throughout.
“I think it is a huge compliment,” Mr Masterson says of the award, in what was also his first time as a finalist.
“Not only to myself but to the group and the other staff that contribute to the training. It all comes from the top, the group has quite an impetus to training and further developing our staff.
“Pretty much most of the divisions have apprentices in various fields. We are quite strong on training and development.”
Reflecting on his personal contribution, Mr Masterson says he strives to share the full breadth of his knowledge.
“20-odd years ago, when I was still running a press, the training side of it was more specific to operating the equipment itself. But now, having been in the management side of it for so long, I’m able to give to the apprentices on a wide variety of other stuff and paint the picture a little better.
“Whether it’s health and safety or really how the different pieces all connect together. That is probably the side of it I really enjoy.”
“I still really enjoy my job. At the moment we are installing a new Goss press – we will have one of the newest presses in NZ.”
Other BJ Ball Papers Trainer of the Year finalists were:
- Jared Maxwell-Smith of EIL
- Dale Ertel of Tainui Press
PrintNZ Training Company of the Year
Graphic Packaging International New Zealand plant manager Wayne Romminger says he was “surprised and very pleased” to have his firm named PrintNZ Training Company of the Year.
“We were in pretty good company as a finalist,” Mr Romminger.
“It was the first time we even considered entering it. We are about two years into a pretty big apprentice programme – we have 100 staff and eight apprentices.
“Companies normally have one or two at a time. It is a pretty significant investment.
“It was a deliberate strategy a couple of years ago to [address] an ageing workforce and loss of essential skills.”
Romminger says Graphic Packaging International New Zealand has a proud training history.
“Of our apprentices at the moment, two are in printing, three are in diecutting, two are in glueing and one is an engineering graduate – so it’s right across the board.
“The apprentices have had plenty of support – supervisors and the people who put the extra effort in to train them. There are probably half a dozen people who as part of their job role, KPIs and responsibilities are now making sure these people turn into outstanding operators.
“They are going to be the operators of the future and we’ll be looking forward to putting one forward next year for the Apprentice of the Year I would say.”
Other PrintNZ Training Company of the Year finalists were:
- Adhesifs
- Blue Star Group New Zealand
- Hally Labels
- Labelmakers
- Oji Fibre Solutions Paper Bag
- Ovato
- Permark Industries EIL Division
- Rapid Labels
- Tainui Press Design & Print
- For further information: Ruth Cobb (ruth.cobb@printnz.co.nz or phone 027 248 9404).
- www.printnz.co.nz
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