Historic Midland

Johnny and Doris Rhoden started Qualified
Printers in 1964.They started with four employees
to help with typesetting on the Linotypes,
run the letterpress and offset presses, and work
in bindery. Their son, Mike, 16, made deliveries
and swept the floors. Much of the work had to
be done by hand.
From the beginning, the Rhodens’ philosophy
has been—“combine today’s technology
with yesterday’s craftsmanship.” Soon, the policy
paid off in growth, both in new business,
and in reputation. As they prospered, they gave
back to the community by their support of community
functions, and by hiring new employees.
Mike grew up learning first-hand from firstrate
teachers—both his parents and the veteran
printers they employed. He graduated from college,
and spent two years in the military, then
came back to Midland and entered the business,
which had continued to grow during his absence.
Today, Mike and his wife Susan own the company.
From a high of 33 employees in the mid-
1980s, they now have 23 employees (16 of which
have been with Qualified more than 10 years).
In 1982, the company started making the
move to computerize their printing processes.
With new presses and digital typesetting and
scanning equipment they can handle the most
complicated projects. They are continually on
the lookout for ways to add value while maintaining
the excellence of their work. In an
age where it’s easy to do a mediocre job,
Qualified has kept its edge by a rigid insistence
on excellence.
QUALIFIED
PRINTERS
❖
Above, left: 1964 photo of Qualified
Printers’ storefront, which was then
approximately 1,800 square feet.
Below: Current office building with
plant of more than 13,000 square feet.
Sharing the Heritage | 109