Document advisor ready to help

Warren Dinkins, Document Solutions Center
Warren Dinkins, Document Solutions Center

New center open for business

Warren Dinkins is a man on a mission. He is determined to use his position at the UMKC Document Solutions Center to show people how their documents can do so much more than deliver information using the dry, lackluster designs that grew out of 1990s technology.

“There is no reason that your documents, even routine reports, can’t be recast to meet more objectives and engage the reader. All we have to do is think it through on the front end and let the new, modern print technology do the rest,” says Dinkins.

Dinkins is the on-site document advisor with a penchant for fitness and his own backyard grilling. A 13-year veteran of Xerox, he has spent the last seven years in high volume production with an emphasis in design and marketing.

Dinkins and the Center will work alongside existing services, such as those offered by UMKC Marketing and Communications.

Director of Creative Services, John Whiteman, said, “Our group, along with the Public Relations team, will continue to assist schools and departments in assessing their communications needs. We’ll help them choose the formats and materials that are right for their projects.”

Sharon Lindenbaum, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, is enthusiastic about Dinkins’ capacity to modernize and economize campus print materials.

“The Document Solutions Center fee scale lowers your copying costs the more the center is utilized; so even for small print runs, you will save money,” Lindenbaum said. “That is important to all of us in these times. Plus, the new center offers upgraded service and uses sustainable practices. To save time, money and resources, I encourage faculty, staff and students to use the Center.”

When UMKC awarded a print contract to Xerox, there was no adequate location to house the new Center. After arriving on campus in June, Dinkins went to 4825 Troost every day to watch the transformation of Room 108, going from a bare, unused space with no walls, no ceilings and no lights to a fully functional, clean, organized print shop.

“It went from a hollow shell into a spectacular space in a matter of weeks,” Dinkins says. “I can’t say enough nice things about UMKC’s people. Everyone involved in this project gave me a friendly, welcome reception. In particular, Cathy Simonds and Bob Crutsinger showed me around campus, helped iron out the bumps and introduced me to potential customers.”

Dinkins has shown deans and department heads that their high-volume jobs are a perfect fit for DSC. Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Multicultural Student Affairs, SPARK and the Department of History have ordered a variety of print jobs: brochures, booklets, flyers, posters and business cards. Ordering on line to save time, using paper with lower rag content and paying less, everyone on campus can produce course syllabi, course packs or seminar books. A courier brings the finished job to the customer, at no cost.

“A neighboring office placed an order, and we were able to save them $40 over a competitor’s price,” Dinkins said. “And, because the system retains the details, their reorder requires just a couple of keystrokes. That’s another feature that saves time and helps with cost control.”

For Dinkins, the best part of this position thus far is meeting the people. Because no two customers’ needs are the same, Dinkins knows he will have to come up with different solutions each day. In every encounter, he wants the Document Solutions Center to live up to its name. He wants to provide not just a solution, but one that fits the need precisely.

“I got here by trial and error,” said Dinkins. “I used to be in finance and lending, and I did not enjoy that at all. I was a creative person who was not using those talents. Xerox offered me a place where I could put my artistic aptitude to work and help a customer get a better-than-expected result.”

Off the job, Dinkins follows a fitness regimen and coaches his oldest son in whatever youth sport is in season. And he cooks, too.

“Being from the west coast, I’ve been told that the best barbecue is in Kansas City; but I tell people, if you want some good barbecue, just come to my backyard.”


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