Q: How did you begin working at Alpine Packaging?
Tim: I started in the printing industry in high school as a sophomore. Had a lot of classes, and they planted the seed and interest to pursue a career and expand that into college. After high school, I went and attended the same college my father did, ironically, California University. Now, at Penn West, they have a similar program to what we do right now in all facets of the printing industry, including flexography and digital. That’s a staple at Alpine. And even before I joined the team, I was on a field trip early in the 2000s, and I was fortunate enough to actually tour Alpine at that time. So that gave me an idea of “Wow, I’m actually going to work here at some point!” That just was a really cool concept. Then full circle, just to come back here and work and to really start, knowing that I was going to do this from high school and into the future.
Q: What does your day-to-day role as a technical/graphic designer look like?
Tim: What I like about my role is each day is very different. The graphics department has a rotation of roles currently that we alternate on a weekly basis, such as preflight graphics, technical review, and maintenance supplies. This in addition to maintaining our key accounts and balancing general workflow. You know, it could be a lot. It could be very rewarding. And at the end of the day, we really try to keep our clients happy as well, to meet their deadlines. As I mentioned, each day is a new adventure, and our goal is to complete each job in the most efficient way possible while maintaining each of our client’s deadlines.
Q: How would you describe the culture here, especially as a family-owned business?
Tim: Being a family-owned business, I definitely am treated like family when it’s life in and out of work. During challenges in general, Alpine has been there for me. That alone with my personal experience is different in a family-owned business such as Alpine in comparison to honestly, any corporate working environment, for sure.
Q: What is one aspect of working here that makes it feel different from a large corporation?
Tim: I can give you a couple: flex time, our open-door policy with the family, and work life balance are great features with being here and being a part of the Alpine team. I don’t feel owned by a corporation. I feel like family. My biggest takeaway is stability. Alpine didn’t miss a beat with Covid, for example, based on our life sustaining accounts. I, along with my coworkers, were very fortunate during that time just to continue to work and to deliver to our clients.
Q: How do you approach building relationships with customers?
Tim: The key is giving customers the tools they need, such as the graphic resources that we have available for advice just through our experience at Alpine so that our clients are successful as well. If they are successful, we are successful. And we really appreciate that when a client comes in and they give us X amount of time, we can deliver to that client. It’s very important to us.
In general, we try to utilize any means of communication necessary, for example, in person meeting online meetings via zoom, Microsoft Teams, and phone calls every day. Just interacting with the clients to meet their deadlines and to assure them that we are here for them and that we will execute and deliver.
Q: Can you share an example of a time when you felt supported by the team or management?
Tim: Alpine’s graphic team supports each other in all aspects to meet our clients’ deadline. Each member of our team at any given time, if able based on their workload, will contribute to their team members needs for sure. I feel that with everyone in my team. There is no “it’s all up to you.” We dig our heels in and really support each other
There’s a genuine support within reason, though, because we have a lot to balance based on our key accounts and daily tasks. Each team member has a lot of experience, which is awesome. That significantly contributes to getting each job done. Our department is also expanding and helping other people in other departments.
Q: What is one of your favorite moments or experiences working here?
There are many favorite moments, but in general, the kindness and generosity of management, the family and also the employees is different. At Alpine, it’s more of a personal touch to me. Yes, this exists in corporate America. Absolutely. But it’s a different feeling when birthday parties or special events take place just out of the blue or anything in general. There’s nothing like home cooked meals and honestly awesome camaraderie amongst our employees.
Q: Why would someone want to work at Alpine?
Tim: All things considered, it’s a surround sound. All elements combined, an awesome experience. I feel my contributions, for example, are valued, which is very important to me, and my input is more than just considered. I do not feel like a number, and also I feel like a part of a team that takes pride in introducing quality products for our clients.
Q: If someone were considering buying from Alpine, what would you want them to know?
Tim: In the graphics department, our support for you and our design capabilities are always there. We have technical tools available for all of our clients to utilize our capabilities, and we’re flexible to support any label orders, in the thousands, millions, depending on if you look for static runs or variable data, those capabilities are there. We have a lot to offer, and we have a lot of experience in many backgrounds as well. Our turnaround times. The clients’ products, definitely. We make sure that we get those into the market so that the client can be successful as well. We definitely try to meet your deadlines in the most efficient way possible, while balancing everything else here at Alpine.
