Posted: 6/14/06
30 years of growth, accomplishments celebrated at ECM
 Elmer Anderson started ECM Publishing with the purchase of two newspapers, the Princeton Union and the Princeton Eagle. Today, ECM boasts 27 publications reaching into 365,000 homes over 8,000 square miles. |
Success in business results in using history as a cornerstone and always looking ahead to making improvements that lead to building products and services that more adequately meet customer needs. Thatís ECM Publishers, Inc., 30 years old on June 17, 2006.
ECM Publishers, Inc. is a publishing, printing and distribution company that operates in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Started in 1976 as the vision of founder Elmer L. Andersen, the company has grown from one paid circulation weekly newspaper and shopper to its current operations of 27 publications. Most of these publications are printed at the companyís Princeton web printing plant. The market includes more than 365,000 homes covering 8,000 square miles.
ECM employs more than 500 full and part-time associates in four product lines: publications, sheetfed and web printing, distribution and online services.
ECM operates a non-heat-set web newspaper printing facility in Princeton, Minn. With 61 press units and four press lines, ECM has the most non-heat single-width commercial capability in the upper Midwest. In addition to printing 27 ECM owned weekly publications, ECM also produces work commercially for a number of high-profile publishers including the Midwest daily edition of The New York Times and The Minnesota Daily which has served the University of Minnesota community since 1900. Overall, ECM produces a wide variety of publications and freestanding inserts for hundreds of commercial customers ranging from magazine-sized work to tabloid and broadsheet work.
Community newspapers are the heart of the ECM operation. These newspapers serve ECM readers: Anoka County Union, Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life, Coon Rapids Herald, Dakota County Tribune, ECM Post Review, Forest Lake Times, Isanti County News, Mille Lacs County Times, Morrison County Record, Princeton Union-Eagle, Star News, The Caledonia Argus, Thisweek Apple Valley, This-week Burnsville, Thisweek Eagan, Thisweek Farmington, Thisweek Prior lake, Thisweek Rosemount, Thisweek Savage and Thisweek Life & Times of Lakeville.
Shopper publications include: Anoka County Shopper; Dairyland Peach, Sauk Centre; Scotsman, Cambridge; Star News Weekender, Elk River; St. Croix Valley Peach, Forest Lake; The Argus Shopper, Caledonia and Town & Country Shopper, Princeton.
Due to the strong synergy of its associates and shareholders, ECM Publishers has become a leader in providing news and advertising via its 27 weekly publications, 20 newspapers and seven shopper publications. ECM newspapers combined reach more than 181,500 homes every week and ECM shoppers combined reach more than 241,100 homes every week.
Elmer L. Andersen, former Minnesota governor and successful leader of the HB Fuller Corporation, began his newspaper career in 1976 buying two competing weekly newspapers, The Princeton Union and the Princeton Eagle in Princeton, Minnesota, and merged them together as one weekly newspaper.
Andersenís compassion in helping and serving others built a company that has spread its impact throughout Minnesota. His son Julian who now serves as chief executive officer and publisher of ECM Publishers says Elmer, who died at age 95 on Nov. 15, 2004, ìleft us many nuggets of wit and wisdom, and a life of example.î
The Andersen family continues to lead a company that serves its customers, associates, shareholders and communities in a way that provides opportunity and growth for the constituents it strives to serve.
The ECM operation has always exemplified growth and has shown a true commitment to utilizing the latest of technology improvements managed by the best leaders and professionals it can find. The company has always taken pride in bringing out the best in people and in showing confidence in people.
Just last year, ECM Publishers marked growth by acquiring a premier weekly newspaper, The Morrison County Record of Little Falls. The company also expanded its newspaper coverage in the south metropolitan area by adding two Thisweek newspapers in Prior Lake and Savage.
Four cornerstones built into the ECM business operation by Elmer Andersen remain a set of priorities, says Julian Andersen. First and foremost, know your customer and provide each customer with excellent service. Second only to customers is the well-being and growth of ECM associates. Third is the building of company and shareholder value. The fourth key goal is to support the communities in which ECM does business in ways that are appropriate to each community. A Community Affairs Council administers the fourth goal. Last year the CAC gave five student scholarships totaling $15,000 and core councils awarded $158,100 to 111 organizations in the ECM service area.
ìOur future depends on the support exhibited by our customers, associates, vendors, shareholders and communities,î says Julian Andersen.
ìWe thank everyone for allowing us to serve and to be partners in their growing communities,î Andersen added.
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com