Inside the Internship: Riley Shares His Royle Experience

What is your name, age, school year, what school you go to, major, etc.?

My name is Riley Habermehl. I’m 23 years old and entering my senior year at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. I’m majoring in Graphic Media Management, a program that focuses on all aspects of the print and graphics industry, but also including management, marketing, and sales. It’s one of only two print programs in the country housed within a college of business, giving me a unique blend of technical and business education.

Why Royle? What is it that you hope to get out of this internship?

As a Michigan native, I had never heard of Royle Printing until I attended a presentation that introduced us to the company’s printing capabilities, the lifestyle in Madison, their iconic Royle T-shirts, and some of the best popcorn I’ve ever had. I updated my resume that very day and eagerly submitted my application. From there, I dove into researching every aspect of Royle Printing. The more I learned, the more intrigued I became. Their strong company culture, growth opportunities, and innovative approach to print closely align with my professional goals and the future I envision in the industry. I hope to get more understanding and knowledge of print from Royle, which is something I can say is happening every day.

What made you choose the Printing Program at Ferris State over other fields of study?

My interest in print and graphics began during my junior year of high school when I enrolled in a graphic communications course at my local community college through a Career & Technical Education (CTE) program. That class sparked my passion for graphics, and I quickly became obsessed with the craft, though I still wasn’t sure exactly where it would lead me. After a visit from Professor Patrick Klarecki of Ferris State University and some encouragement from my instructor, I decided to take a closer look. I toured the Ferris campus and the program’s facilities and from that point on, I never looked back.

Why do you think print still matters in today’s digital world?

Being a younger individual in the world of print, I believe that print still matters because it is refreshing. It is something that feels new and ‘hip’ to me because it’s not digital. I look at print not for what it is, but rather what it is not. It’s not an ad you see for half a second on your phone, or a short video you might skip over. Rather it is a physical piece that feels good in your hands. Being born in the early 2000’s meant a childhood surrounded by technology at every stage. Receiving a birthday card in the mail or a media kit from a college you’re interested in is so much more exciting that anything I could see digitally.

What advice would you give to someone just starting to explore print as a career path?

One of the best pieces of advice I received in school and have applied throughout my personal experiences is to try everything. While this advice is valuable in any field, it’s especially true in print. The sheer number of directions you can take in this industry can feel overwhelming at first. In the Graphic Media Management program, students are required to complete at least one summer internship, typically between their junior and senior year. However, many of us, myself included, chose to pursue more than one to explore different roles, companies, and printing processes. I chose to intern at Royle Printing because it offered something completely new to me not only in terms of roles like sales and marketing, but also in exposure to printing methods such as web and sheetfed offset printing. It was the perfect opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and expand my understanding of the industry. One will never truly never know what they like and dislike within the industry without first giving it a try.

Can you tell us about the academic program you are in?

As I mentioned earlier, the Graphic Media Management program at Ferris State is unique because it’s housed within the College of Business. Unlike many other print programs across the country, which tend to be more technical and mechanically focused, our curriculum blends both technical and business education. In addition to learning about print production, we take courses in management, marketing, and sales giving us not only industry-specific knowledge but also essential soft skills like leadership, strategic thinking, and applied reasoning.

On the technical side, the program combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience in our on-campus print lab. This approach helps us not only understand concepts like offset printing in theory but also gain practical experience by operating presses ourselves. Some of our core courses include imposition, pre-press workflow, packaging, estimating, and substrates, inks, and coatings

What do you hope to contribute to the future of the print industry?

One of the main contributions I hope to make to the future of the print industry is bringing fresh insight and a modern approach to all aspects of a printing company. We’re already seeing this shift in marketing, where younger professionals are leveraging their understanding of their own demographic to drive engagement. I believe this generational transition will extend into other areas of business as more experienced workers retire and new voices step in. I aim to be one of those voices helping lead the shift from traditional office structures toward more innovative, tech-driven, and productive environments.