An Unforeseen Destiny

A friend talked Dan Johnson into accepting a job at Jonco Die Co. Inc. Twenty-six years later, he's still there, and can now add the 2005 IADD Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year Award to his list of achievements.

"IT WAS NEVER my goal to be a diemaker," said Dan Johnson. "As far as that goes, I didn't even know what I was getting into." But on May 19, 1979, only 48 hours out of Northwestern Bible College with a major in ministries and a minor in psychology, Johnson found himself hired at Jonco Die Co. Inc. as a flat die knifer.

Once he got started at Jonco, he quickly moved onto jigging and then into layout—spending the first five years of his career in the production department. Over the years, Johnson steadily climbed the ladder of success at Jonco, from department supervisor and production manager to operations manager and his current role as customer service manager.

His success at Jonco has been paralleled by his increasing leadership roles at the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD). It is highly evident that Johnson is well respected throughout the diecutting/

diemaking community, as he was voted president-elect of the IADD in 2003, and will take over as president in the fall of this year.

"Dan is an extremely positive person, who never wavered when things got difficult," said Eddie Mucci, the current president of IADD and general manager of National Steel Rule Co. "When you have a leader that has such a clear vision, it becomes contagious."

With his many contributions to the diecutting/diemaking industry and his involvement and leadership in the IADD, Johnson has been honored as packagePRINTING's 2005 IADD Diecutter/

Diemaker of the Year Award.

Growing up Johnson

As a young boy, Johnson spent his summers on his grandfather's dairy farm in central Wisconsin. Basically, from eighth to 12th grades, Johnson was a farmer. As the middle child of three, his earliest memories center around the time he spent working on the farm, and he acknowledges that what he learned during those summers molded him into the man he is today.

"I know that the time I spent working with my grandfather and other farmers in the area instilled in me the work ethic I have today," he said. "My grandfather taught me the value of a dollar, a good work ethic, and how important family is."

His parents were, and continue to be, great influences on his personal life and his career. "My dad is still a boy at heart. I don't know anyone that does not want to be around him. He taught me how to laugh," he said. His mother taught him, at an early age, right from wrong.

"There was an incident that happened when I was 7. I threw a rock at one of my friends, and when mom found out she took action right away, chasing me down the street with her bathrobe on. When she caught me, it didn't take long to realize that right was much better than wrong!"

Jonco Die Co. Inc.

The work ethic he learned from his family is evident in his work at Jonco and with the IADD. Jonco Die Co. Inc. is a manufacturer of laser steel rule dies, stripping tools, lightweight blanking tools, and creasing counters, as well as rotary corrugated laser dies and soft anvil rotary attachments. The company also offers a variety of cutting services including laser burnt boards, creasing counters, and water jet cutting services.

Founded in 1965 by John and Joann Gordon, Jonco has grown from two employees to 68 in 2000. At Jonco's 40th anniversary party held recently, Johnson said there was a reoccurring theme in regards to the IADD relationships, friendships, education, and shared ideas that "allowed us to stay up with current trends in the industry, including technological advancements," he said.

From the start with IADD

Johnson acknowledges that the growth of both his own career and that of Jonco has had a lot to do with the IADD. "The IADD has helped me and others gain knowledge about our industry and its trends that we would have been sheltered from if not involved," said Johnson.

He can even remember the first IADD meeting he attended. It was the year Dan Maureen of Precision Die Cutting Inc. was awarded Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year. "It made a big impact on me because Dan was a part of Jonco's decision to go out on a limb and purchase our first CAD system. I remember the excitement of his peers, the friendships between competitors, and the true bond between the members of the Association. This is something that I wanted to be a part of," he said. But the main driving force behind Johnson joining IADD came from his own boss, John Gordon.

"He encouraged me to be involved. He knew that I would become a better business person and a leader within our own company. He saw the value of the training, networking, and friendships that I would develop," Johnson said.

Johnson's tenure in the IADD has gone well beyond making friends. He has become an invaluable resource within the Association, according to Joe Adkison, ADKO Inc., the person who nominated Johnson for the award. "He has been a tireless worker in our Association at the chapter, board, and executive levels," wrote Adkison in his nomination letter. "He has his priorities well grounded in his family, his faith, his company, his friends, and his Association. His life, words, and deeds define the spirit of volunteerism for all to learn and to share."

IADD's flagship resource is the Odyssey Program, and Johnson was the program committee chairman for the 2005 Odyssey Program in Atlanta. "Dan used his knowledge and networking abilities to assemble a wide range of industry contacts to showcase what is good and what is new, and what is moving in our association. Vendors, attendees, and customers all expressed satisfaction with Odyssey 2005 to me," said Adkison.

"Dan is going to be a wonderful president because he understands what it means to be a leader. I'm looking forward to having him put his personal stamp on our Association over the next two years."

by Megan Wolf

Assistant Editor