Periodically we like to introduce you to a member of our staff whose hard work is so integral to the outstanding products and service The Kingswood Company offers. This month we like you to meet Dave Lynch, Screen Printer, who has been part of our staff for six years.

Q: Could you give us a little background about yourself?

I come from an art background and am a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design. I majored in illustration and started out in t-shirt design. Work in that area led me into screen printing, as I didn’t just want to design the t-shirts but print them myself too. I found that screen printing is so much fun. So when I saw a job opening in screen printing I figured it would be perfect for me. I have so much passion for art and design and can channel that in my work.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

I still spend a lot of time working on my art. I am doing a series of paintings for a gallery right now, and my goal is to have some of my work in the galleries in the Short North (an arts area in Columbus). I once had work in a gallery about 20 years ago, and I really didn’t appreciate it at the time. Now I can’t wait to have my work exhibited. My work includes portraits, conceptual paintings and illustrations.

Q: Who is your favorite artist? Why?

There are so many ways I could answer this question, but I guess I would say Syd Mead. He is a production designer for films and whenever he comes out with a book, I have to have it.

Q: What is the last great book you read?

I read a lot of short stories. My last favorite book was Benjamin Rosenbaum’s The House beyond Your Sky. I also listen to stories and books and am always listening to books while I am silk screening.

Q: Describe any innovations you have made at The Kingswood Company.

We have made many changes since I’ve been here. Kristie (Nicolosi) and I love to experiment. We talk about changes we could make and give them a try. For a long time we talked about doing multiple color screen printing and now we are doing it for our new client, Stella & Dot. I love going through the process and making sure it works well.

I really enjoy innovating and trying new things. It is important to me to meet or exceed the customer’s expectations. Sometimes the customers have new ideas, or Kristie has new ideas, and I enjoy trying them out.

I also changed the process by which we burn images to the screen. It used to take seven minutes a screen; now we can do it in a minute per screen. That has improved our production quite a bit.

Q: What product would you most like to see The Kingswood Company offer?

For a long time I wanted to offer two-color screen printing, but now we’ve done that. I enjoy working with Pam (Waclawski, Art Director). She is the best artist and her graphics are great. Her talent is opening up a whole new world for what we do. Artistically, she just gets it.

Q: Do you have a fun ritual at work? Like something you HAVE to do before you can work?

I get here in the morning and the first thing I do is turn on Mike & Mike (ESPN’s morning sports radio show). I listen to sports radio through the morning while I work, then switch to audio books or podcasts in the afternoon. I like podcasts on how to paint and other things that spur my creativity. I have to learn something every day.

On another note, Scott Spencer and I have been working on a sports magazine outside of work. We’ve been working on it for awhile, and it will come out next month.