Rod Watson gazed down at the table holding the numerous t-shirts bearing the logos and illustrations his company has designed over the years.
Teamwork Graphics, Inc., Montoursville, has been churning out promotional products for businesses, schools, organizations, and athletic teams for more than a generation.
Watson started the custom screen printing business out of his parent's home in Montoursville 33 years ago.
It remains a small business, but with much bigger quarters at 227 Streibeigh Lane.
To start up and stick with a venture for so many years requires the type of nose-to-the grindstone, work ethic that prevent many people from succeeding.
"I enjoy getting up every morning and coming to work," Watson said. "Someone comes to us and wants something done. We figure something out."
A customer might bring in a poster and want the logo to be emblazoned on a t-shirt.
Watson's talented team of graphic artists and other personnel make it happen.
"We print for local businesses. We print for schools. We also do work for the Little League World Series," said Rod's wife, Barb, who helps run the operation.
Her husband said when he started the business nobody else in the area was doing this sort of work.
He remembered going to a blue grass festival in West Virginia back in 1977 and spotting someone selling t-shirts with designs out of the back of a truck.
Watson, at the time an industrial arts major at Millersville University, figured he could try something like that.
He eventually switched schools, enrolling in the graphic arts program at the former Williamsport Area Community College.
The former Montoursville High School athlete at first concentrated much of his design work on local athletic teams.
Now, it seems there isn't a business or organization that hasn't used Teamwork Graphics.
All around the inside of the work area can be seen t-shirts and other attire bearing a logo of a business or organization.
"You name it we've printed them," he said.
It's a meticulous process, from designing what goes on to the t-shirt, handbag or other promotional product, to getting the right color and making it look just right.
T-shirts are rotated around a press that applies the different colors. They later go through a drying process.
"We are into this business because we like what we are doing," he said. "We like the challenge."
Watson talked about some of the masters of the craft, people he's come to know over the years and from whom he's learned various tricks of the trade.
It's a constantly evolving business, and Watson is eager to learn the latest and greatest trends of the business.
He is constantly upgrading his equipment.
"We go to seminars and meet with the top people in the industry," he said.
Beyond that, Watson is always looking to adjust to the changing times and markets.
"Plus, it's boring if you don't change," he added.
Through it all, he said he's not out to make a bundle of money.
He does what he does because he loves it.
"I can't complain," he said. "Hopefully, the workers here will continue on when I'm done."
With a smile, he added, "But she (Barb) says I'll never get out."
