Charlotte, NC
Building a Rock Star Team: How to Hire, Train & Lead for Growth
Your equipment can print at lightning speed—but your business only grows as fast as your people. Whether you’re hiring your first employee or leading a small crew, building a strong, high-performing team is one of the most critical (and often overlooked) parts of growing a successful print or graphics business.
In this high-impact session, you’ll learn how to attract, hire, and develop a team that doesn’t just clock in—but takes ownership, delivers results, and drives your business forward. From defining roles to setting expectations and creating a culture of accountability, you’ll walk away with real-world strategies you can put into action right away.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to define roles and hire with confidence—even if you’ve never managed people before
- The traits of high-performing team members (and how to spot them during interviews)
- On-boarding secrets that get new hires up to speed faster and reduce costly mistakes
- How to build a culture of accountability and ownership in your shop
- Ways to lead and motivate your team—even when times get busy or stressful
Whether you’re tired of doing it all yourself or ready to take your team to the next level, this session will give you the blueprint to build a crew that rocks—so you can grow your business without burning out.
Speakers
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Gary BarkerNational Sales ManagerGary L. Barker is a seasoned professional with a remarkable 25-year career as the National Sales Manager for DTG, where he has consistently delivered exceptional results while fostering lasting relationships with businesses in the print industry. His dedication to excellence and commitment to customer satisfaction have made him a true asset to the organizations he serves. He is also the CEO and founder of the Barker Leadership Institute. With a rich background in executive sales leadership, business development, and executive roles, Gary brings a wealth of experience to his clients empowering them to start and scale a successful, sustainable business.
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Success Stories
What our attendees have to say
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Kerstyn Kunkle
Kunkle KreationsI really enjoyed the show and learned tons of new tricks to better my business. I’m grateful for this experience and the opportunity to meet with vendors that related to my line of business. There is really everything for anyone who works with designing/producing custom graphics.
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Mike Leary
Sundance SignThis show is an investment in my business. After seeing the diverse cross section of information available, it inspired me to look at other products and services that we could provide to our customers, and ways to do what we do better.
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Melanie Hutchinson
The Embroidery HutchHaving the ability to interact and speak with suppliers and educational professionals and to see new products is priceless!
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Judy Kriehn
Dallas MakerspaceThis has always been an event that I’ve looked forward to each year, and I wanted to thank you for a very nice event yesterday. I got a lot out of the UV printing seminar in the morning and had good discussions with a few vendors as well.
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Charli Belz
Impress DesignsEach time I attend GRAPHICS PRO EXPO I come away with new knowledge and resources. One of my favorite things is the training offered; I love being able to offer my team new ways to expand their knowledge from other sources in the industry!
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Erich Elfeldt
LanternMax EngravingAttending GRAPHICS PRO EXPO is essential for anyone in the business. I go every year and always learn something new. Meeting suppliers face-to-face has really helped leverage my product line, and the personal contacts I make are invaluable. GPX is a can’t miss event and already on my calendar for the next one.
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Chris Merz
Harbor WrapsI have attended the GRAPHICS PRO EXPO two years in a row now and have had an amazing experience both times. It’s a fantastic place to connect with vendors and other industry professionals.
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Bill Kuiper
Clan Customs, LLCThe amount of new information I gain both in training sessions and talking to the exhibitors on the floor is fantastic!