Page 16 - SPiCE Magazine (January 2019)

16 The SPiCE Magazine • January 2019

From around the globe: US
Looking Back At 2018 Highlights

By Robinson Copland - HR US

As SPi Global Maine welcomes another exciting year, we look back at the triumphs and highlights that
made 2018 a truly transformative year for the team: acquisition of Wiley Onshore Journals, a communi-
cation enhancing technology initiative, our first ASPiREUniversity batch, and a memorable holiday party.

Global Footprint ASPiRE University

We launched a new onshore venture as of May 1, ASPiRE was launched for the first time in the US
2018: Wiley Onshore Journals. The program started with the bronze program, which gathered 15
with 10 production editors who came from various enrollees. There was a learning curve for not only
publishing worlds, then collaborated in the Maine our employees, but with the design and structure
office for the first time. After only three days of of the ASPiRE University team as well. ASPiRE Bronze
working together, they were able to demonstrate is a success with participants already in the final
to Wiley that this team is the perfect fit for the job. stages of the leadership development program.
We look forward to having a formal graduation
The team was already behind the eight ball as ceremony in early 2019!
they acquired late projects from the previous
production vendor. Some projects were more than Holiday Party
six months behind upon receipt by SPi Global.
To overcome geographic challenges and foster
Senior Production Editor and Team Lead, Lisa unity among various teams, we organized events
Putnam, took the reins and worked with senior by state. People who do not normally work together
level Wiley management staff to correct the had the opportunity to interact in a private get
course and bring 80 percent of Journals back on together. While some of them had not met before,
track, and their publishing on schedule. The everyone carried the spirit of one SPi.
remaining 20 percent will be completed by
year-end.

A technology initiative that was launched this
year centered on communication. Teamwork Chat
was launched as an instant messaging tool for
US teams and a management tool for various
projects and initiatives. We see this as an excellent
beginning for more communication initiatives
in 2019.