Double the Training, Twice the Opportunities

Dean Simon liked what he learned in HTCs Graphic Communications program. In fact, he liked the college so much that when he graduated and got a job in the printing industry, he used the money to enroll in HTCs Marketing and Management program. It has been an investment of time and effort that has paid off in a successful career that has spanned two decades. He completed the Graphic Communications program in 1984, followed by the Marketing and Management program in 1985. That combination has served him well.

“I feel the education I got in the 18 months I was at HTC is as good or better than the education of some of my friends who went to college for four or five years,” said Simon, who is general manager of Leffler Printing in Edina, Minnesota. He joined the company in 1994 as production manager and was promoted to his current position in 2000. He’s proud that the majority of the company’s 12 employees are also HTC graduates.

“The great thing about HTC is the hands-on training that starts from the minute you get there,” said Simon. That hands-on experience gives HTC graduates an edge when it comes to hiring. “You don’t want someone who has never touched a machine working on your equipment that costs $250,000 and more,” added Simon. He credits HTC with preparing him to make the most of career opportunities.

“Instructor Laura Esterberg really changed my whole way of learning and opened me up to seeing the bigger picture of marketing,” recalled Simon. “That has had the greatest impact on my career.” Prior to joining Leffler Printing, Simon owned a sign company and he used the knowledge he gained at HTC to create a business plan.

Simon initially decided to attend HTC after graduating from high school in St. Francis, Minnesota, because it was the only college he found that offered both a printing and a marketing program. He recommends HTC to prospective students and he has been proud to continue a relationship with the college; Leffler Printing has been printing materials for HTC for about 12 years.

Reflecting on changes in the printing industry during the past twenty years, Simon noted that changes in technology have driven it toward being less about craft and more about technical labor. “It’s really all about the digital age,” said Simon, noting that HTC remains on the cutting edge when it comes to training and equipment. As Dean Simon knows, the right training can make career opportunities multiply.

To learn more, visit www.lefflerprinting.com.

Contact HTC at 952-995-1300 or info@hennepintech.edu

Copyright © 2008 by Hennepin Technical College

 >