Staff

Executive Staff

A Letter From Our CEO

Welcome – I am pleased to introduce you to The Ovid Bell Press. My grandfather founded this company on principles of responsibility and dedication to each individual client. Today, after more than 85 years, I am proud to be responsible for our reputation and the quality of our printed work.

John O. Bell, CEO

You and your publication are our focus – every day and every hour. Your special requests, concerns and needs are taken seriously and attended to with care and efficiency. This business is not just a job to me; it is my family’s legacy. Your publication is not just another task on our production list; it is an integral part of our business.

On behalf of my executive committee and our entire staff, I pledge total and personal commitment to you.

-John O. Bell, CEO

Chris Gilman, President

D. Christopher Gilman assumed responsibility as President of The Ovid Bell Press in 2008.

“It’s a privilege and an exciting challenge to lead a printing company with 85 years of history,” Chris says. “The Ovid Bell Press has survived and flourished because of its dedication to customer service and its adaptability. As technology and times have changed, we’ve stayed on the forefront in order to best serve our customers and that’s what fuels our continual growth and expansion.”

Chris Gilman

Chris says that part of The OBP’s success is due to the strong value the company places on people.

“As a business founded with family values, we make sure each of our staff members knows their importance to our clients’ success and our company’s,” says Chris. “We work together with a common focus, staying on top of what we need to do to help our clients succeed.”

Gilman began his career with The Ovid Bell Press in 1992 as an estimator. He later joined the sales staff as an account executive and went on to become sales manager and then vice president of sales in 2003. Gilman has served the company as vice president of production operations since 2005. A native of Auxvasse, Missouri, Gilman holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Central Missouri State University and is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course.

Chris is a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and he also serves on the school board for the North Callaway School District where he graduated in 1988. Chris and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Mikaela and Alana.

David O’Donley, Vice President of Sales & Marketing

David O’Donley leads The Ovid Bell Press’s team of account executives as they serve a national client base. Enjoying the competitiveness of the printing industry, David follows a simple, but significant sales-service philosophy.

“I put the client first-always,” David says. “It’s not a new concept, but it’s one that I don’t take lightly. I know that if we don’t take care of the client, someone else will. I gain a great deal of personal satisfaction in being able to prove to our clients that The OBP is the best choice for them as a printer.”

David O’Donley

A member of The OBP team since 1998 and in the sales industry since 1992, David proved his dedication to the company and the client during his first year as account executive by exceeding his first year sales goal four times over.

He instills a work ethic in his team that centers on the fact that the real work begins with the first issue that The OBP prints for each new client, as they must follow through past the initial sale to ensure satisfaction and a long relationship.

David earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Jill Custard, CFO

Jill followed a family legacy in choosing her accounting career.

“My mom was a bookkeeper for years. With her encouragement, I took my first accounting class in high school. I loved it and chose accounting as my college major,” she says.

Jill says that her current position allows her to provide the financial information that The OBP needs to make decisions for future growth.

As The Ovid Bell Press’s chief financial officer, Jill Custard is responsible for all the financial and accounting functions for the company. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (accounting) from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Jill has tallied more than thirteen years of experience at The OBP (as of 2009). She worked her way up to her present position, gaining experience in all areas of OBP accounting through duties as estimator, production analyst, controller and more. She was promoted to controller in 2006 and then named to the role of CFO in 2009.

“I feel very fortunate to be working in my dream job for a company that has always allowed me to put my family first,” says Jill, who spent two years on a hiatus from The OBP to stay at home with her kids.