Our superior quality labels wouldn’t exist without the diligent work of many exceptional folks, and Janel Gurney, our Quality Assurance Coordinator, is one of them. Janel’s main priorities are to proofread live work using the PCI comparator and to perform press approvals, making sure everything looks exactly right on labels before and during print. She also maintains color standards and other QA records and monitors any issues that may arise with stock. On top of playing an integral role in ensuring the quality of our labels, Janel’s bright smile and positive attitude are a joy to the rest of the Dion team every day!



When we asked Janel what she loves most about her job, she waxed poetic: “This might seem odd, but I love all the sounds. Sometimes the presses sound like lawn sprinklers, other days a galloping horse, on occasion, popcorn. This mechanical symphony keeps my creative mind happy as I try to put a label (pun intended) on what I hear; and knowing that these noises are, quite literally, the fabric of some really beautiful products is highly satisfying.”

Janel was originally drawn to Dion Label Printing after spending many years in production printing in the offset, sheet-fed arena. When she exhausted all the roles she wanted to learn in that capacity, her search began for a new opportunity in the print industry she still enjoyed. Web printing and labels were the niche she found here at Dion. She is most proud at work when she aids in keeping a job on track the first time around—she hates doing things twice.

When Janel is not in the office making sure every label that leaves our building meets our strict standards, you may find her swimming, practicing ballet, or adventuring with friends and family. She’s a maker by nature and has dabbled in everything from cake decorating to small furniture upcycling; her world is an endless project! Her current obsessions include polymer clay, photo collages, and projects inspired by music and movies (especially from the ‘80s!). If you haven’t noticed, Janel is multi-faceted, motivated, and busy, and while she never has enough time for reading and writing, she is sure to always carve out some space to play with her pet rats!

Check out these 5 fun facts about Janel that we love:     

1. She loves to laugh, always uses emojis, and believes you can never use too many exclamation points!!!
2. Back in high school, she and her dad volunteered as ski instructors for the blind at Mt. Tom in Holyoke, MA. She was the youngest instructor in the group at only 16, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
3. Her growing collection of nostalgic and punny tee-shirts and crazy socks keeps her entirely too amused.
4. She has a condition called Essential Tremor that causes muscle twitches. She says, “the only thing more annoying than loss of fine motor control is having to always explain that I’m not nervous every time my hand jumps.”
5. Patterns and bold colors are huge for Janel; she finds beige walls completely depressing!

Janel is an amazing and inspiring woman to know, with a deep character that keeps us all smiling and on our toes. Here’s Janel’s personal philosophy in a nutshell: “Be a good driver, literally & figuratively. Pay close attention and anticipate, run your life efficiently and you’ll only need to walk. I also really like the book The Four Agreements, which urges us to: ‘Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.’ They’re great guidelines for a peaceful and happy life.”