Date: Fri 18-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: BILLB

Quick Words:

Cornerstone-printing-McNeil

Full Text:

Printer Moves Into Simm Lane Business Park with cut and sidebar

BY BILL BRASSARD, JR

About 2« years ago, Gordon McNeil decided to be his own boss and start a

printing business in Falls Village. Before he knew it, he had more work than

he knew what to do with and was successfully self-employed.

"It took off like crazy," said Mr McNeil.

Three months ago, Mr McNeil moved his business, Cornerstone Academy Printing,

to Newtown and became one of the first tenants in the Simm Lane Business Park,

the former Dual-Lite building, off Route 25.

Mr McNeil rents a no-frills 800-square-foot space. It is enough for him, two

presses, a cutter, folder, platemaker, paper, and other equipment necessary

for a print shop. He has a Ryobi press that takes up to 11 by 17-inch paper

and can do full bleeds, and an 1850 Multi that handles up to 13 by 18-inch

sheets and can do two-color jobs.

Cornerstone Academy Printing does letterhead, booklets, fliers, forms,

programs (the Music Mountain summer program was a recent order), and other

jobs.

Mr McNeil prides himself on fast, quality service and low prices. "I've been

in the printing business since 1957," he said, "so I know my trade. And I own

all my equipment, so my overhead is zilch."

While many of his clients from northwestern Connecticut have stayed with him,

Mr McNeil already has a number of new local clients - Gordon Fraser and

Trudeau's service center among them. He figures to add more once people learn

he's in town. Mr McNeil likes being in the business park because there are

tenants there that require the services of a printer.

"I'd like to specialize in same-day and next-day service," said Mr McNeil. "I

like the challenge of doing it."

Mr McNeil got his start in printing by working for A.D. Steinbeck of New

Haven, which in 1957 had one of the first four-color presses. Mr McNeil was

production manager for Kramer Printing in West Haven and, just before going on

his own, was binding department manager at Quebecor of Brookfield. But there

is nothing like having your own business, he said.

Mr McNeil, who recently moved his residence to Woodbury, is at work at 7 am

each morning. In addition to opening up his shop, he runs up the American flag

at the business park.

"I go home when I'm done," he said.

Before relocating to Newtown, Mr McNeil was involved with two other

Cornerstone Academy businesses. One was a riding and driving stable owned by

Ada Rickenbacker, daughter-in-law of the famed pilot and race-car driver,

Eddie Rickenbacker. The other business was a bed and breakfast in Falls

Village. Now he concentrates solely on Cornerstone Academy Printing.

A big reason that Mr McNeil moved to town is that he spends a lot of time at

the stables of the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard at Fairfield Hills.

He is a second lieutenant and horse officer with the cavalry unit, which

marches in parades and participates in state ceremonies. He's been with the

Horse Guard for 22 years - the longest continuous service of anyone in the

Second Company - and for the last 17 he's been paired with Socks, an

18-year-old Morgan horse that Mr McNeil thinks the world of.

Mr McNeil has done what many would like to do - he's consolidated and

simplified his life. Work, pleasure, and home are all close together and that

allows him more time to be at whichever one he chooses.