As chief executive officer of Goss International, Jochen Meissner leads an organization that manufactures technologically advanced equipment in the United States, Europe and Asia and delivers value through a worldwide sales and support network. He has extensive international experience through sales, management, engineering, manufacturing, operations and executive positions with leading suppliers in the printing equipment industry over the past 25 years.
Meissner was appointed CEO of Goss International in 2008. He joined the organization as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2002, with responsibility for operational and strategic issues.
As a member of the senior management team, Meissner has been instrumental in reestablishing Goss as a premier brand in the print industry, expanding the company’s focus and resources through the acquisition of Heidelberg Web Systems, and extending its technology leadership position through unique innovations within its web press and print finishing product platforms. During his tenure, Goss International has sustained top-tier market positions and strengthened productive relationships with printers, publisher and other suppliers to continuously enhance the competitive value proposition of print.
Under Meissner’s leadership, Goss International reached an agreement in 2009 for utility and equipment conglomerate Shanghai Electric Group Corporation to acquire an ownership position, securing the advantages of a strategic shareholder with considerable financial resources, an industrial focus and a long-term commitment to the print sector.
Prior to joining Goss International, Meissner was senior vice president for sales, service and marketing for the Web Systems division of Heidelberg Druckmaschinen.
Meissner earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Aachen in Germany in 1982.
David Sarazen is the vice president of service for Goss International. He was first introduced to the printing industry in 1984 when he worked in the machine shop of The Los Angeles Times as a co-op student while attending Northeastern University in Boston, MA. After graduating in 1986 with a degree in mechanical engineering, David spent 11 years with MAN Roland in Middlesex, NJ, Augsburg, Germany, and Stonington, CT. He held a number of positions in the newspaper press division during his tenure, beginning as a design engineer, and later serving as a project engineering manager, technical services manager, and project manager. David was granted two patents for his work on inking systems.
In 1997, David joined Goss Graphic Systems, in Westmont, IL as a project manager and oversaw several large double-width newspaper projects. With Heidelberg entering the newspaper press market, he joined them in 1999 in Dover, NH, taking the role as the director of project management.
Following the merger of Heidelberg Web Systems and Goss International, David assumed the position of director of Installations for all web presses, mailroom and finishing systems. He was promoted to his current role as the Vice President of Service in 2008.
Tom Bernth Tom is the Senior Aftermarket Product Manager- Newspaper for Goss International and has been with the company for 10 years. Tom started with Goss in Mechanical Field Service for 2 years, then as a Customer Service Manager regularly traveling to newspapers and commercial printing facilities to audit quality, productivity and equipment reliability. Solutions were provided to improve newspaper quality and press productivity, in addition to extending the productive life of the printing equipment. Tom managed company aftermarket sales for 4 years before relocating to the Durham, NH office in his current position. Tom is a regular presenter at National and regional Newspaper production conferences.
Prior to Goss, Tom worked 13 years for the Chicago Sun-Times in the production maintenance department working in the pre-press, pressroom and packaging departments.
Tom is a graduate of The University of Phoenix (Bachelor’s Degree- Business Administration) and Vincennes University (Associate Degree-Tool & Die Manufacturing), studied at Purdue University and is also a journeyman machinist.
Byron Mayyou
is an Engineering Manager at Goss International. He is an electrical engineer by design with over 21 years with Goss. His focus over the years with Goss has been reel stand (RTP) control system development, web dynamics, and press electronic systems design and development. His engineering experience includes electronic component and printed circuit board design, drive system applications, and PLC application software design.
In his current position, he is responsible for the design and development of the static and running belt RTP controls and system upgrades, double and single width press drive system upgrades, as well as commercial press control systems design and upgrades.
In the recent years his attention has been on web dynamics helping users understand web breaks and web management through the press from the reel room to the folder. He has also been very active with addressing obsolete electronic component and replacements for Goss and its users.
Janet Smith
is the Manager of Customer Parts at Goss International Corporation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. Over the past 23 years, she has held positions in Installation Coordination and Support as well as Contract Administration for new capital equipment. Janet began her Goss career with Customer Parts in 1987 and returned to the Parts Team in 2002.
John Gallagher
is Director of Aftermarket Business Development at Goss International.
Specializing in project management, installation management and aftermarket operations, he began his career as a 16 year old apprentice at the Goss facility in Preston, England. In his 25 years with the company, he has served as Field Technician, Engineering Buyer, Customer Service Engineer, Project Engineer, Project Manager and Service Manager.
More recently John transferred to the Goss facility in Durham, New Hampshire where he served as Manager of Installations & Project Management, before taking on his latest role in June 09.
In his current position, he is working to develop aftermarket processes, products and services.
Roberto Dias Da Costa
is the Industrial process supervisor at the Newspaper S.A O Estado de S. Paulo, Brasil . He is a mechanical engineer with a specialization degree on maintenance management. He has been with S.A O Estado for over 15 years. During this time he has worked as a mechanical maintenance supervisor and pressroom supervisor. On 2007 he coordinated, as a key user, the SAP ERP production planning module implementation on the industrial area. He is responsible for the Lean Six Sigma’s 5S implementation and coordination. He is also part of the waste recycling coordination group of the Newspaper.
In his current position, he works in the Support and Analysis Department, being responsible for the industrial process definition and standardization, quality standard definition, work group coordination (waste reduction, operational training, parts, etc). He is also responsible for production data analysis and input in the SAP - PP module.
Christopher McAlpine - Technical Sales Manager
Goss International
With over thirty years experience in the printing industry, McAlpine has held numerous positions during his twenty two years with Goss including: Technical Trainer, Installation Supervisor and Double Width Sales Manager. As Technical Sales Manager, he is responsible for interfacing between Sales, Engineering and Customers, throughout the sales process. Christopher has maintained a continued presence at Metro Users meetings and has been a contributor to many other industry conferences over the years.
Mike Daniel
is the Director of Printing at the Houston Chronicle. He is responsible for Newsprint/Warehouse, Plateroom and the Pressroom. Mike specializes in managerial, budgetary analysis, operations statistical productivity, and product graphic arts aspects within the Production Division. During his 25 years with the Chronicle, he has previously served as Pre-Press Manager for 10 years. His overall newspaper industry experience includes Newsprint, Pre-Press, Ad Building and Pressroom.
In his current position, he oversees a production-centered workforce, whose activities involve the operation and maintenance of equipment that creates and handles printed content products, encompassing several departments from Platemaking, Pressroom and Newsprint and Warehouse. He is consistently involved in projects focusing upon ongoing production improvements and cost effective budgetary projections designed to enhance product print quality, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction. Mike has been actively associated with the graphic arts industry since 1990. Mike is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
Phil Tilley
is an Aftermarket Sale Manager at Goss International Americas, Inc.
Working out of Pennsylvania, he covers the Northeast. He has been with Goss over 33 years. He started as an Apprentice for Baker Perkins in the UK where he also earned a Production Engineering degree. In 1990, he transferred to the Reading Plant working on the Commercial and Single Width products. During this time he was a lead Product Engineer for a low cost Commercial Prototype Press. He also managed Cylinder Manufacturing and was responsible for improving processes and productivity. When the Reading plant closed in 1998, he moved into Customer Service Management acting as a conduit between the customer and Goss resources.
In his current position he works with customers on Press Width Changes and Aftermarket upgrades to improve products and productivity. Phil has Project managed key 44” PWC’s and enjoys a hands-on approach working with Goss service team and in-house customer personnel.
Phil has been a break-out session Facilitator for the Colorliner group at previous Metro Users Group conferences. He believes you really gain key information from the subjects discussed and the experiences/knowledge that are shared during these sessions.
Wesley Clements Vice President
Goss International Lifetime Support Programs - North America
Wesley Clements was appointed vice president of Goss International's Lifetime Support program in North America in 2009, overseeing parts, service, training and enhancements for the company's full range of web offset press and print finishing systems.
Clements joined the company in 1999 and has extensive project management and engineering experience. He most recently played key roles in development of the Goss FPS press and in large press installations in Europe and the U.S., including the Goss Colorliner project completed at The New York Times in 2008.
Through his experience with major installation projects, Clements has demonstrated an appreciation for the responsiveness necessary to deliver effective parts, service and training programs. His engineering background also puts him in a strong position to drive the Goss International philosophy of making the latest innovations available as enhancements for existing systems.
Jim Murphy, is the Sr. Press Operations Trainer for Goss International. He has over
35 years printing experience in both commercial and newspaper technologies. His experience includes most printing disciplines including Flexography, Heatset and Letterpress.
Jim is well known in the industry for his folder operations training and his ability to impart his knowledge to operators of all ages and experience levels. His training provides students with a new perspective on folder theory and performance. This leads to operators that are better equipped to troubleshoot.
In his current capacity with Goss International, Jim does field evaluation and training as well as equipment commissioning.
Chuck Tomczak
Chuck Tomczak joined Miehle Goss Dexter, June 1969 and promptly left-for his commitment as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Upon returning to MGD in 1972, he was transferred to Goss during which time he helped develop the Metroliner printing unit, studied such situations as ink spitting and worked on various sustaining projects. In 1979, he was transferred to the folder development department in which he had been promoted from project engineer to senior then principal engineer before taking the reins of the folder group as manager in 2001. During the past years, his group has concentrated on paper width changes as well as enhancement features such as improving the 5 pocket cog belt, the pneumatic nose, and introducing the 8-pocket cog belt as a retrofit package. He also created the 70 degree nose which is used on the Sovereign folder and is a standard for the N40 folders and the 2-speed pin cam which eliminates the need to change cam sections from straight to collect.
Reif Hammond
is a Goss R&D Manager. He is a mechanical engineer who started with Heidelberg-Harris 20 years ago in the Research Group. While in the Research Group he studied web tension and print registration, fluid flow in the dampener, doubling, and developed some of the first mathematical models of paper handling in end folders. In 1999 he transferred to the Development Group where he was in charge of the Mainstream angle bars, side folders, and web up. He has also worked on the flat back Universal Binders in the finishing group.
Reif is currently responsible for the mechanical engineering of the Goss double wide newspaper equipment.
Reif is the 4th generation in his family in the printing business. He got his start in high school cleaning and helping rebuild a web press. He has worked in paper mills (Westvaco) and taught mechanical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.
