At a pre-ceremony briefing for the scholarship recipients and other students, McMahon introduced Charlie Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of Taylor Corporation, as a special guest speaker. A full-service communications solutions provider, Taylor ranks sixth on the 2023 Printing Impressions 300 list of the largest printing companies in the U.S. and Canada. It has annual sales of $2.2 billion and employs 10,000 people.
Whitaker assured the students that with the right mix of skills and motivation, their career prospects in graphic communications can be bright.
“This industry is a new person’s game,” he said. “You absolutely are the future.” Those who know how to engage customers and solve their problems will be in a strong position to negotiate for the kinds of compensation and advancement they desire, Whitaker advised.
At the same time, he counseled patience and a flexible approach to navigating a career. “Don’t rush it,” he said. “Don’t go in with a preplanned agenda. Let the company know that you’re willing to be thrown into any briar patch and work your way out.” Then the opportunities will follow, Whitaker said.
