June 17, 2026
Webinar: Making Every Page Count — Practical Print Strategies for College & University Magazines
Zoom
Making Every Page Count:
Practical Print Strategies for College & University Magazines
Presented by:
Chris Cummings, CEO, Cummings Printing
Jake Hamel, COO, Cummings Printing
College and university magazines carry an important responsibility: they must engage alumni, showcase institutional pride, and make a lasting impression—often while working within tight budgets and rising production costs. In this session, Cummings Printing will share practical, real-world strategies to help designers and publication teams get more value from every print dollar without sacrificing quality or impact.
Drawing from our experience printing publications for more than 30 colleges and universities nationwide, we will discuss the advantages of short-run web press production, economical trim sizes, efficient page counts, smart paper and cover choices, and affordable coatings that can elevate a magazine without breaking the budget. We will also explore creative ways to make a publication stand out, from subtle production upgrades to thoughtful design decisions that improve both appearance and efficiency.
Attendees will leave with useful print knowledge, cost-conscious ideas, and practical questions to ask before their next magazine goes to press.
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Time: 1 p.m. (ET) / Noon (CT)
UCDA Members: FREE / Non-Members: $25
Registration ends at midnight the day before the event (June 16).
About the Presenters
Chris Cummings
Chris Cummings is Co-CEO of Cummings Printing, a fourth-generation, family-owned publication printer specializing in high-quality short-run web press magazines. Although he officially began his career at Cummings Printing in 2013 at age 16, Chris grew up around the company and has been immersed in the people, processes, and craftsmanship of print for much of his life.
Chris began on the production floor in mailing and bindery before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Florida. After returning to Cummings full time, he completed a comprehensive yearlong training program across every major department, including bindery, pressroom, prepress, purchasing, estimating, billing, customer service, and sales. That hands-on experience gave him a deep understanding of what it takes to produce magazines efficiently, consistently, and with the quality clients expect.
Today, Chris focuses primarily on operations, helping ensure Cummings Printing delivers the reliability, service, and production insight that colleges, universities, and publishers depend on.
Jake Hamel
Jake Hamel is Chief Operating Officer at Cummings Printing and brings a deeply practical understanding of magazine production from years spent learning the business from the ground up. He officially began working at Cummings Printing in 2011 at age 16, starting in the bindery and also gaining early experience in the pressroom and shipping departments.
After graduating from Saint Anselm College with a degree in Mathematics, Jake returned to Cummings Printing and completed a yearlong training process across the company’s production and business operations. His experience included bindery, pressroom, prepress, purchasing, estimating, billing, customer service, and sales, giving him a broad understanding of how each decision impacts the final printed product.
Jake’s background allows him to help clients think through the details that matter most in magazine production, from efficiency and scheduling to quality, cost, and overall impact. His hands-on experience makes him a valuable resource for designers and publication teams looking to make smart print decisions and get more value from every project.