AUCKLAND, Today: PrintNZ has announced the Top 10 contenders for the 2024 BJ Ball Print Apprentice of the Year, recognising standout talent from across Aotearoa’s print industry.
The Top 10 entails:
- Eligh Arthur (Gravure Packaging), Lower Hutt
- Simon Berghan (Spectrum Print), Christchurch
- Flynn Clinch (Opal Packaging NZ – Cartons), Christchurch
- Joshua Faccioni (Graphic Packaging International New Zealand), Auckland
- Toese Fauatea (Opal Packaging NZ – Cartons), Auckland
- Tayla Jones (Logan Print), Gisborne
- Lisa Maich (Print House), Hamilton
- Jessia Moore (Imagine If Creative Studios), Morrinsville
- Faamao (Paul) Muller (Wedderburn Scales), Auckland
- Bradley Smith (Transcontinental NZ), Christchurch
Eligh Arthur
Gravure Packaging managing director Andrew Young describes Mr Arthur as having demonstrated “excellent growth and potential”.
“Eligh’s dedication, positive attitude and willingness to learn make him a valuable member of our team,” says Mr Young.
“With continued development, Eligh is firmly in the spotlight for future leadership roles within the company.
“On a personal level I am absolutely thrilled for Eligh, not only has he grown professionally, but he has also grown personally. Eligh is setting the standard for fellow staff looking to upskill and grow within the company.”
Simon Berghan
Spectrum Print general manager Sonia Dench says Mr Berghan’s attention to detail and concern for outputting the best quality possible, backed by years of experience, “add great amounts of value to our team”.
“I’m really pleased for Simon that he decided to go down the apprenticeship path as it would be easy for him not to,” says Ms Dench.
“He now has some official form of acknowledgment for his years of hard work and successes in the industry. He put immense amounts of work in to ensure he communicated effectively and this is the proof that it paid off.”
Flynn Clinch
Mr Clinch is a “real go-getter”, according to Opal Packaging NZ manufacturing manager Carl Hartmann.
“He is not afraid to ask why and challenge the norm, loves a challenge and is ambitious,” says Mr Hartmann.
“He is not afraid of hard work and rolls well with changes. Flynn has a very curious mind and asks great questions.
“He finished his apprenticeship in record time, which was thoroughly merit based. Flynn is certainly one of the best young people I have met in some time.”
Joshua Faccioni
Graphic Packaging International New Zealand plant manager Milton Froggat describes Mr Faccioni as “highly accomplished”.
“The Bobst diecutter he operates processes some of our most complex and difficult work such as the Bell Tea packs with tear-off tabs and concora cutting, essentially cutting both sides of the sheet in one process,” says Mr Froggat.
“Josh is very calm in his approach to difficult jobs and interacts with his peers in the same manner. He is highly respected by the entire team, has accepted additional duties and challenges with ease and displays a maturity beyond his years.”
Toese Fauatea
Mr Fauatea has shown great initiative and commitment since he came “knocking on the door for a job”, according to Opal Packaging NZ operations manager Dave Wilson and diecutting supervisor Andre Adams.
“He left his CV and that is how he came and that is how we came into Opal,” the say.
“He always focuses on getting the efficiencies up – just getting stuck in, running the machine as fast as possible which is obviously a money-maker for us – but also with a focus on quality.
“We all make mistakes and he made one, and then actually put that carton in his locker just to remind himself.”
Tayla Jones
Logan Print technical manager Colin Lean says Ms Jones is “highly self motivated”.
“She manages the press and her print assistant and covers for her supervisor when he is away,” says Mr Lean.
“Tayla communicates well with all of the areas of Logans from account managers, prepress and our ink lab through to finishing and logistics. Tayla also represents the print department on our health and safety committee.
“Tayla’s training was also completed during COVID – she, like many of our team, rose to the occasion during a very concerning time for our country.”
Lisa Maich
Print House operations manager/director Jim Grainger says his team knows that if they give Ms Maich a job “it will get done!”
“Lisa is always very keen to do her best at whatever you ask her to do, always finishes the job and is very quality conscious,” says Mr Grainger.
“Lisa has a brilliant sense of humour and fits in well with the other members of the team.
“I know that all the directors of Print House, me included, are immensely proud of Lisa and of all the hard work she has put in to get her qualification.”
Jessia Moore
Ms Moore is “one of the hardest-working staff members we have ever had”, says Imagine If Creative Studios senior graphic designer/owner Aly Cosson.
“She goes above and beyond in everything she does, nothing is ever an issue – she is more than happy to problem solve unusual jobs or figure out ways to achieve things we have never tried to do before,” says Ms Cosson.
“She is dedicated to what she does and she has an eye for detail and quality. An amazing asset to have in our business.”
Faamao (Paul) Muller
Wedderburn Scales labels production manager Tony Reid praises Mr Muller for having a “strong work ethic and good eye for detail”.
“He is also very good at trouble shooting technical printing issues,” says Mr Reid.
“Paul approaches every task with attention to detail, ensuring high-quality results and contributing to the overall success of our work. His positive attitude, combined with his growing technical expertise, enhances the efficiency of our operation.
“The value he adds to our business is clear.”
Bradley Smith
Mr Smith demonstrates a “very can-do attitude”, according to Transcontinental Packaging printing manager Nick Ball.
“No matter what the day brings for him he will tackle it head on,” says Mr Ball.
“He shows his leadership with the way he handles himself with the team – always leads by example, no job is too small for Brad to take on.
“Brad has been an integral part of TC in all departments he has worked in, not only with his work ethic, but also attitude and dedication to the role.”
The 2024 BJ Ball Print Apprentice of the Year will be presented on stage at the Pride In Print Awards, being hosted at Auckland’s The Cordis Hotel on Friday July 4.
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