20 Under 40 - 2000 Profile: Royce Miles

PRESSTIME

By Presstime Magazine

First Published: December 2000

Since Royce Miles joined the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as press manager in 1998, one of his jobs has been serving as project leader for the paper's press and new facility. "His team evaluated four vendors and made their recommendation to our task force," reports Kenneth J. Kieck, the paper's vice president of production. On an everyday basis, the newspaper has reduced newsprint waste from 4.6 percent to 3.6 percent and improved roll-per-break average, average net-press speed and print quality.

Kieck credits Miles' leadership and his team-based approach for such progress. "He's enthusiastic, optimistic and exhibits a lot of energy," says Kieck. "People get caught up in his programs. He's also tenacious—he makes sure they do what they said they would do."

But Miles credits his co-workers with the improvements. The key, he says, is encouraging press operators to take ownership of the newspaper by soliciting their feedback, being open to their ideas, and making them feel part of the process. "They are willing to make changes if you work with them and show them it's the right thing," he says.

Miles began his newspaper career in 1986 as a pre-press and press apprentice with the American Newspaper Publishers Association in Reston, Va. In 1988, he joined The Washington Post, where he worked for 10 years until the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recruited him.

When not in the pressroom, Miles spends time with his 9-year-old daughter, Kiah, above, of whom he has sole custody. "We do a lot of little things," he says. "We go for bike rides, I watch her swimming lessons, we play games. Sometimes, we go to Chicago for weekends."

He also is a frequent speaker in Milwaukee's inner-city elementary schools. "I tell the students about the newspaper industry, but the main message is to stay in school and do the right thing."

Education: Attended Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, N.Y., summers, 1989-present, to study printing-operations management.
Career: 1985-1986, pre-press and pressman, National Petroleum Refiners Association, Washington, D.C.; 1986-1987, pre-press and press apprentice, American Newspaper Publishers Association, Reston, Va.; 1988-1998, press operator and quality-control member, assistant crew chief, team leader and foreman, assistant superintendent of Northwest pressroom, superintendent of Northwest pressroom, The Washington Post; 1998-present, press manager, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Personal: Age, 33. Born, Camp Springs, Md. Single, one daughter.
Diversions: Spending time with his daughter and relaxing.
Connections: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 333 W. State St., Box 661, Milwaukee, Wis. 53201. E-mail, rmiles@onwis.com; phone, (414) 223-5539; fax, (414) 223-5395.