Stacy A. Leszczynski

The Story Behind EXCEL PRINTING

This is also located in the Library of Congress in Washington DC

Established 1989

In 1975, my senior year of high school, I was introduced to printing by a counselor and a math teacher. I was curious why printing was my alternative to Advanced Math. As it turned out, I worked with numbers even more than I could have imagined.

In the class we started with Letterpress, setting type by hand (1 letter at a time) to make note pads. Next was Silk Screen printing (ink on fabrics and signs). Then came the life altering introduction to Offset Printing.

Offset printing was composed of negatives, plates, inks and presses. This type of printing got my attention!

After graduation in 1976, I got the first job I applied for at a Northwest Side local print shop. My responsibilities included cutting, padding and bindery for 3 months.

In December 1976, I began training to be a press operator (Skilled Trade at the time). In March of 1977 I was transferred to a busy downtown location of the same company. With a raise and PAID parking my career as a press operator started.

From March of 1977 until May of 1983 I worked for this company as pressman, Assistant Manager and finally manager of a store.

In June of 1983 I was hired as Lead Pressman for another local printer until 1988.

In 1988, a franchise printer, and fierce competitor of the company I was working for, contacted me for a position as their General Manager. I increased sales by almost 250% and the customer base by 50% in a very busy industrial park. In May of 1989 the owner of the franchise came back from a vacation (3 months) and told to stop production of a job that was 75% completed, had 9 people working on it for 6 weeks already -- and I said NO. He concluded the conversation with “I’m the Owner and it’s his way or no way”. So on that note I dropped the Company Keys on the counter and walked out the door.

On my fifteen mile walk back home (in a 3 piece suit down a freeway) I came up with a name, contacted a lawyer and an accountant to start my own business. For the next two months I saturated the area with business cards and notepads to attract new customers. Meanwhile, some of the companies I did work for started to call because the other company I left was going out of business. There was a lot of competition when I opened in August (8-9-89), but I was confident that my company would be able survive.

In 1998, I married my best friend, Debbie, who is not only my wife, but an extremely valuable partner, and her communication skills are an essential ingredient in the success of Excel Printing.

Now it is 2026, and 37 years after starting Excel Printing, I still enjoy the work I do and the people I meet. Sadly the demand for the type of work I do has diminished over the years and many of my competitors have retired or closed. I still believe customer service, honesty and a quality product is the best way to get and keep a customer.

Stacy Leszczynski President / Founder

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Born to Eternal Life August 22, 2026 at the age of 67. Loving husband of Debbie (Nee Fraser) Leszczynski. Father of Rachel Marek. Beloved grandfather of AnnaBelle Marek. Loving nephew of Adele (the late Dan) Mlinar, Ardi (Jerry), Adrian (Debbie) Eckert. Son in law of Jean (Roger) Newhouse. Brother in law of Carol and Kevin Fraser. Dear uncle of Haley (Zack) Nauert. Special friend of Henry. Further survived by many other family and friends.

Preceded in death by his parents Leo (Audrey Nee Eckert) Leszczynski.

Visitation at the MAX A. SASS & SONS GREENRIDGE CHAPEL (4747 S. 60th Street) on Friday September 18th from 4 PM until time of eulogies at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, Memorials to the family would be greatly appreciated.

Private Interment St. Adalbert Cemetery.