Personnel
A family business
In the last 35 years, at least one person from HBL has been in attendance at the twice per year LBI national meeting. HBL personnel have toured over two dozen binderies, both library and edition, as well as visited paper, buckram, board, adhesive, endsheet and equipment manufacturers in the US and Canada. Once per year attendance at ALA is common, as are our over 20 per year appearances at state and special library meetings. We have also attended meetings about On-Demand Publishing, GraphExpo, Historical Preservation, Press Associations, BIA, DRUPA2000 and other related events.
H. Don Osborne
CEO
Iowa State University
Bio
Prior to purchasing Houchen Bindery in 1977, Don’s previous business experience was all in the dairy industry, as an owner and in management. Don has attended many ALA and LBI meetings over the years. He has been majority owner since 1977.
Connie J. Osborne
Assoc CEO
Iowa State University
Bio
Connie has been very active in library affairs since 1977. She began her involvement as a member of the board of Library Binding Institute from 1979-85. Connie was also on the organizing committee for the ALA ALCTS/LBI New Directions In Library Binding in October 1994. She attended ALA/LC sponsored “Library Preservation: Fundamental Techniques” at Stanford 1985. She also attended ALA/ALCTS in Minneapolis in 1994, Boston in 1996 and Los Angeles in 1999. She has organized and presented workshops in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. She is on the Nebraska Center for the Book board from 1997-present. Connie has been the minority owner since 1977.
H. Damon Osborne
President
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Bio
Of the family members, Damon is the one best described as growing up in the business. Before becoming President, Damon served as VP Sales for over 15 years, and started serving customers at age 16. He is also active in LBI and has been since 1980.
John C. Salistean
Vice-President Operations
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Bio
John started in library binding the day after his college graduation in 1977. He has been active in ALA and LBI, Board Member LBI from 1993 to 1999, LBI Officer from 1999-2003, LBI President from 2003-05, delegate to the White House Conference on libraries, and DRUPA2000. John serves as corporate Secretary/Treasurer, and is responsible for accounting, computers & LARS/ABLE, and overall business operations.
Landon K. Osborne
Vice-President Plant
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Bio
Landon oversees plant operations, and supervision of the staff and equipment. He attended ALA/ALCTS in Portland, OR in 1989, and has been active with LBI since 1977.
Susan Hultgrien
Production Manager Forwarding & QC
Bio
Many years previous to her bindery experience were spent in production management at a custom product manufacturer. Susie has been with the Houchen Bindery team since 1993.
Angie Pekarek
Production Manager Finishing & QC
Southeast Community College
Bio
Angie worked with us through high school, and has become a very proficient computer operator and supervisor. She attended the ALA/ALCTS Los Angeles in 1999. She oversees data entry, stamping and cloth pulling, and joined us full-time in 1989.