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Scattered throughout campus are several signs displaying room numbers, directions and warnings. Rob Jensen (Printing and Mail Services) is one of the people responsible for manufacturing these and many other items encountered every day at NMU. “For the past six years, I’ve been part of a team that does the printing, design work and copying of NMU’s posters, signs, business cards, programs, brochures and raffle tickets," Jensen said. "You name it, we can print it. What keeps my job interesting is I don’t do the same thing every day. Several steps need to be done to get a project ready for the public, so during the course of the day I can be doing anything from working with the pre-press layout to trimming a finished product.”
One- and two-color printing presses, cutting utensils, and stapling and folding machines are just a few of the tools of Jensen’s trade. “A lot of people are not aware of how complicated the printing process is,” he said. “These projects are usually not the kind that we can have back by the end of the day, so we appreciate it when customers bring in their projects early instead of rushing us at the last minute.” Jensen has lived in Escanaba his entire life and commutes back and forth to work. He, his wife and their two daughters enjoy attending NMU hockey games, camping and other activities that they can do as a family. “I think that NMU is good for this area because of what it brings in terms of entertainment and athletics. My family and I are about an hour and a half away from everything that goes on in Marquette, and I wish we could be closer to take better advantage of the events. To have a university like this available to the Upper Peninsula is great.”
But overall, the long drive to and from work is worth it to Jensen. “We all evaluate whether the job we’re currently doing is the right one or not, but I like what I do. I like to keep busy, and this department operates by strict deadlines that must be met, so the day goes by very quickly. A poster isn’t of any use to anyone if it’s printed after the event has happened, so it’s required of me to stay on my feet and get things done. I’m pretty sure I can do this until I retire.”
Campus Closeup is a new feature of the NMU faculty-staff newsletter. It profiles individual employees, offering a glimpse of their professional responsibilities and personal interests. |
