About Dennis

 

 

 

 

 

 Dennis E. Mason

 

A seasoned senior executive with extensive experience in marketing, sales, distribution, operations and engineering. Significant executive experience in high growth and startup environments, new product and new market situations, acquisitions, divestitures and downsizing. Familiar with US, European and Far Eastern business practices.

 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

 

MASON CONSULTING INC, Western Springs, IL 1990 to Present

 

President of an independent consulting practice serving the graphic arts, electronics and software industries. The focus of the practice is upon new products, new markets, distribution and product positioning of high technology products. Clients include manufacturers, importers, suppliers, distributors and consumers of such products.

 

DS AMERICA, Chicago, IL 1985 to 1990

 

Vice President—Sales and Marketing, and Vice President—Operations of the $65 million North American subsidiary of a major Japanese corporation which imports,

sells and services sophisticated optical, electronic and electromechanical equipment and supplies through dealers and directly to printers and packaging firms.

Responsible for North American sales and marketing, order entry, inventory, purchasing, warehousing, importing and exporting, facilities and data processing.

 

ZENITH ELECTRONICS, Chicago, IL 1983 to 1985

Director of Marketing for a $250+ million division supplying OEM electronic components and subassemblies to virtually every computer and terminal

manufacturer worldwide.

 

ROCKWELL INTL, GRAPHIC SYSTEMS DIV, Chicago, IL 1977 to 1983

 

Director—Business Planning for a $400+ million autonomous division engaged in the worldwide manufacture and distribution of highly engineered industrial and printing equipment. Member of Division Management Committee. Responsible for product planning, market research and assessment of competitors’ technical, financial and

market positions, including closely held and foreign companies. Prepared annual strategic business plan. Extensive international emphasis.

 

QWIP SYSTEMS, DIV OF EXXON, Oak Brook, IL 1975 to 1977

 

Central Regional Manager of a venture capital subsidiary of the petroleum company which manufactured and rented low cost facsimile equipment. Staffed and

managed offices in eight Midwestern cities

 

BOWMAR INSTRUMENT CORP, Fort Wayne, IN 1971 to 1975

 

Vice President—Marketing and Engineering, and Director—Market Development. Member of Corporate Operating Committee. Developed new products and markets. Preparedlong-range business plans. Responsible for relations with advertising agencies, public relations counsel, shareholders and security analysts. Conceived the marketing strategy leading to growth of corporation from $13 million to $80 million in less than four years. Performed market research and product positioning leading to introduction of the first pocket calculator ever manufactured. Developed private label manufacturing business at Sears, Radio Shack and others, yielding more than $40 million in sales.

 

EDUCATION

 

MBA, Butler University

BSEE, Missouri University of Science and Technology

 

AFFILIATIONS

 

Member, American Mensa.

Member, and member of the Steering Committee, Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts and Research & Engineering Council of NAPL. 1995-2009.

Member, Board of Directors, NPES: National Printing and Equipment and Supply Association, Washington, DC, 1987 to 1990. Chairman of Market Research

Committee, with $100,000 annual budget to perform industrywide research studies.

Member, Research Advisory Committee, Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988 to 1990.

Member, Board of Directors, Graphic Arts Marketing Information Services, Printing Industries of America, Arlington, VA, 1987.

Member, Photo Offset Advisory Committee, Triton College, Chicago, IL, 1987 to 1991.

Member and President, District 101 School Board, Western Springs, IL, 1979 to 1985.

 

HONORS

 

Ben Franklin Honor Society, Printing Industries of America. Inducted 2013

Nonpareil Society of the Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts Industry. Inducted 2000.

Academy of Electrical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology. Inducted 1983.

Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in Advertising.

 

CLIENTS

 

Since 1990, Mason Consulting has specialized in management, marketing and technology issues facing the graphic arts and related industries. A small firm,

Mason Consulting concentrates on a few clients at any one time.

Typical assignments include determining the size of potential markets for new products, establishing distribution channels, cementing relationships with distribution

partners, and developing market presence for technology products. Mason Consulting also services trade associations in the graphic arts industry by performing confidential third-party surveys and conducting media relations services.

 

 

SERVICES for MANUFACTURERS

 

Since 1990, Mason Consulting Inc has provided marketing and management services to manufacturers, distributors and importers in the graphic arts, packaging,

electronics and software industries. Unlike some consultants, Mason Consulting does not do printing plant audits or advise printers or trade shops regarding equipment purchases. Our consulting practice consists primarily of advising manufacturers, dealers and distributors in matters of distribution, market demographics, and product introductions. Mason Consulting specializes in introducing new products, finding new markets for old products, analyzing existing markets, and solving distribution

problems. For trade associations, Mason Consulting provides comprehensive statistical and report preparation services.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Mason Consulting has authored a number of research and statistical reports dealing with issues in the graphic arts industry. We have also collaborated with a number

of other researchers in the industry on similar projects. The topics covered by these projects and the sponsors include:

 

The Market for Print Finishing Technologies (PRIMIR)

The Current and Future Status of Integrated Automation in the Commercial Printing Industry (PRIMIR, with PrintCom Consulting)

Direct Digital Imaging (PRIMIR, with PrintCom Consulting)

Study and Analysis of Digital Color Wide-Format Printing (PRIMIR, with PrintCom Consulting)

The Use of Computers and Software in the Foil Stamping and Embossing Industry (FSEA)

A Study Comparing the Needs and Concerns of Manufacturers with Those of Graphic Arts Dealers and Distributors (NPES)

Operations and Wages in the Foil Stamping and Embossing Industry (FSEA)

Demographics of Foil Stamping and Embossing Association Members (FSEA)

Compensation Practices of Composite Can and Tube Institute Members (CCTI)

Recovered Fiber Usage by Composite Can and Tube Institute Members (CCTI)

How PrintImage International Members Perform Mailing Services (PII)

Electricity Use in the Printing Industry (NPES, with Energetics, Inc)

Sales Compensation Practices of North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members (NAGASA)

Computerization and Business Systems at North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members (NAGASA)

How North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members View the Channel (NAGASA)How North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members View Trade Shows (NAGASAHow North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Manufacturer Members View Distribution Practices (NAGASA)

How North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members View Distribution Practices (NAGASA)

Service Practices of North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association Dealer Members (NAGASA)Markets, Products and Applications in the Business Forms and Label Industry (IBFI)

Review and Applications of Direct-to-Plate Technology in the Business Forms and Label Industry (IBFI)Market Potential for Polyester Printing Plates (PRIMIR, with PrintCom Consulting)An Industry Assessment of Package Printing (NPES, with Prism Associates)

 

SPEECHES

 

Adaptation Strategies for a Changing Business Environment by Printing Equipment Manufacturers. Presentation before the NPES 2014 Annual Conference and PRIMIR Winter Meeting. Charleston, SC. 3 November 2014.

Marketing (Not Sales) for Smaller Printers. Webinar conducted for Printing Industries Association of Northern Kentucky and Ohio. 19 March 2014.

Marketing (Not Sales) for Smaller Printers. Seminar at Graphics of the Americas 2014. Miami Beach, FL. 27 February 2014.

Industry Influencers Panel Discussion. Panelist at EFI Connect 2012—The 13th Annual Professional Print Users’ Conference. Las Vegas, NV. 12 April 2012

Industry Trends. Presentation at the Canon USA Production Systems Group Customer Roundtable. New York, NY. 26 August 2008.

drupa: A Review of New Technologies. Featured presentation at the Printing Association of Florida 2008 Print Management Conference. Orlando, FL. 9 August 2008.

State of the Industry Panel Discussion. Closing session panelist at EFI Connect 2008—The 9th Annual Professional Print Users’ Conference. Las Vegas, NV. 1 August 2008.

 

Graphic Arts Trade Magazine Articles by Dennis E. Mason

 

Mason’s Musings: Some Observations from EFI Connect Graphics of the Americas, and Dscoop9.American Printer. Summer 2014. p.28ff.

Bid or Sell?Printing Industries of America: The Magazine. August 2014. p.14ff.

Making Metallics More ProfitableFlexo. July 2014. p.56ff.

Print Rocks at GOA 2014. Graphics of the Americsas ExpoNewZ. GOA Wrap-up Issue. April/May 2014. p.1ff.
(Also in Spanish: ¡La Impresión fue la sensación en GOA 2014!Graphics of the Americas ExpoNewZ. GOA Wrap-up Issue. April/May 2014. p.1ff.

Walking the Aisles at GOA: Attendees Speak Out. Graphics of the Americsas ExpoNewZ. GOA Wrap-up Issue. April/May 2014. p.7.
(Also in Spanish: ¡La Impresión fue la sensación en GOA 2014!Graphics of the Americas ExpoNewZ. GOA Wrap-up Issue. April/May 2014. p.1ff.

 

CASE STUDIES

 

Case studies offer a unique opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their products and their customers. Mason Consulting has prepared dozens of case studies for products ranging from the most sophisticated software to the most ordinary hardware.

 

WHITE PAPERS

 

Media Relations for Graphic Arts Technology Companies—Manufacturers and distributors in the graphic arts market often ask how to leverage their products and services in the media—both in print and on line. This brief white paper discusses the issues and offers solutions. Fill out the form below to receive a copy.

 

 

MEDIA SERVICES

 

As part of our ongoing services to manufacturers and importers of graphic arts products, Mason Consulting writes and distributes press releases, and develops

detailed case histories and success stories. Because Mason Consulting specializes in the graphic arts industry, our press releases and stories are often used

verbatim by editors of industry trade magazines.

 

Mason Consulting also maintains a comprehensive list of worldwide trade media to which press releases can be mailed. Use of our mailing list is restricted to clients

with whom we have an ongoing relationship.

 

VIRTUAL MARKETING

 

Smaller manufacturers and distributors often suffer because they do not have the financial strength to hire an experienced marketing executive to conduct their

outreach activities to their customers. For these instances, Mason Consulting offers its Virtual Marketing service. Under this program, Mason Consulting undertakes marketing chores on an ongoing basis, doing press releases and press relations, website content preparation, trade event execution, and many other non-sales

activities that are so often neglected in smaller, busy businesses. These activities are available only on a retainer basis, which enables smaller businesses to

reliably predict cash flow while offloading tasks which most executives find tedious or difficult. We do not serve clients who compete with each other.

 

PRESS RELEASES

 

Mason Consulting provides press relations and press release services to smaller manufacturers that are unable to staff for such activities. Among trade publications editors, we enjoy a reputation for preparing well-written press releases that are easy to understand and can be published with little or no editing. We routinely address

the graphic arts, electronics, plastics, general manufacturing, and other industries.

 

OUR DATABASE

 

Mason Consulting maintains an extensive database of more than one thousand publication editors, website editors, bloggers, key influencers, consultants, and other

parties. From this master database, Mason Consulting constructs a unique database for each client, so that press releases and other communications can be

accurately targeted via email. We track each press release to assess the effectiveness of each mailing.