You could say Perry Griggs has printer’s ink in his blood, entering the profession in a Georgia printshop at 15 and quickly moving to the newspaper industry, where he rose from entry level pressman to production manager for news outlets across the South.
Griggs, 48, was named production manager of The Dispatch earlier this month, bringing more than three decades of experience — and a thirst for excellence — with him.
He oversees the day-to-day print operations of the paper, along with managing the mailroom, pre-press department and building maintenance.
“Perry is one of a declining breed, a master pressman,” Dispatch Publisher Birney Imes said Saturday.
The Atlanta native said he thrives in the fast-paced news industry, and he especially appreciates the quality craftsmanship of the Dispatch’s 10-unit Goss Urbanite press.
“You know how people say, ‘They don’t make them like they used to?’ That goes for our press,” Griggs said Saturday morning. “Back in the days when they made those units, they really took a lot of care.”
“In the short time Perry has been here, we’ve seen a great improvement in our print quality. He is in the process of retooling our 60-year-old Goss Urbanite press, and our readers should expect even better print quality as those changes are made,” said Peter Imes, Dispatch operations manager. “Many smaller papers are outsourcing their printing; we are proud to have a staff that makes printing locally possible.”
He previously worked as production manager for The Opp News, a weekly newspaper in Opp, Ala.; the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, a tri-weekly newspaper in Ahoskie, N.C.; and The Sumter Daily Item, a daily newspaper in Sumter, S.C.
“I like the challenge,” he said. “I like the challenge of going in and turning places around. I get enjoyment out of that, out of seeing what I can do. My goal is to make (The Dispatch) the best-quality, most efficient newspaper in our area.”
Griggs is married to Jeannie Griggs, and they have three children: Courtney, 24; Emery, 21; and Cody, 20.
He said he has always encouraged his children to pursue their passions, using challenges to fuel their ambitions.
“Find something (you) can’t wait to get out of bed and do, and (you’ll) be happy,” Griggs said.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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