Team Stories

Dickie Beale, Plant Manager

Fresh out of high school in 1980, Dickie Beale’s brother-in-law, working at Progress at the time, suggested he apply for a job. Dickie is now in his 45th year with the company. 

He started out driving a delivery van. Today, he is the plant manager, overseeing all areas of manufacturing, including printing, binding and shipping.

“I’ve always looked ahead,” he says. “And Progress does the same. They never put any limits on anyone. You’re encouraged to think outside the box and aren’t constrained to stay within a certain boundary.  You’re able to be creative, and in fact you have to be creative many times, in order to get a job to run well.”

He says despite having worked here for 44 years, he continues to learn something new every day. “It has never been boring to me.”

Ask anyone at the plant about Dickie, and they immediately talk about his work ethic, his can-do attitude.

“I want Progress Printing to be successful. I always want to give 100% and put forth my best effort in everything that I do. I have to answer to myself.” 

He says one of his favorite work projects has been the installation, startup, and training with the plant’s three Man Roland web presses.  He continues to be interested in the technology and variables in the printing process.

He has fond memories of a book Progress printed for the Super Bowl right after the game ended.

“We came in to work as soon as the Super Bowl was over that night and began printing a book with highlights and photos from the game.  We had to have some of these perfect-bound books ready to ship out by the end of the day on Monday.  It turned out to be an 18-hour work day for me, but it was very satisfying to get this job accomplished so quickly.  The Patriots won that Super Bowl and when they had the parade a couple days later, some of the players had these books in their hands.”

He has taken part in thousands of customer press checks.  “It’s always satisfying to me when the customer leaves happy. I like to see their eyes light up when you show them a sheet and that is exactly what they were looking for.”