From Lawyer to Minuteman Press Owner

You might say Mitch Parker of Syosset is currently working on chapter three of the story of his career. The longtime Syosset resident is drawing on skills and experience he gained first practicing law, then helping operate a family business, to help run his commercial printing business.

Parker grew up in Roslyn and completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Binghamton before attending St. John's Law School. Right out of law school he joined a firm in Queens, where a majority of his work was handling trusts and estates.

"But I left law pretty quickly – I practiced for 3 or 4 years," Parker said. "I kind of knew early on that it wasn't for me... that I was better in a business environment than in law."

Next, Parker decided to join the family corrugated box manufacturing business, which had locations in Queens and New Jersey.

Still, he doesn't regret his foray into the legal profession.

"I think the education and the background were wonderful for me," he said. "And when I came into the family business, people perceived me with more respect because I was an attorney... I had a lot more credibility walking in the door."

Parker says that, in fact, the law background helped him significantly as he was thrust into a mature business dealing with customers, union negotiations and a host of other issues.

"In the family business I did a little bit of everything... production, sales, whatever needed to be done," he said. "I had to handle all kinds of things that I don't think I'd have been as effective in without my legal degree."

After a roughly twenty two-year stint, Parker was ready for a change: "I was there a long time – I was pretty burnt out," he remembers. "I was commuting to New Jersey for many years... and I missed too many little league games."

Parker and his wife Susan have lived in Syosset for more than 20 years, over the course of which they have been raising their three sons, the youngest of whom is now 13 years old.

"So, I left my family's business in 2006 and worked for a little while at a friend's company while we were both figuring out what we wanted to be when we grew up," he laughs.

The one thing Parker knew for sure was that he wanted to run his own business, so he started to research franchises.

"I had a geographic and a price point and this came up," he said, referring to Minuteman Press, located at 14 Berry Hill Rd. "So, I bought the place in February, 2008."

"At the time I knew a little bit about printing... just enough to be dangerous," he jokingly admitted, "but certainly nothing about running a small shop like this."

He credits production manager Todd Brown with enabling him to make the business successful.

"I was extraordinarily lucky to have him here when I bought the place," Parker said. "He's been here through all four of its owners since the 1970's."

"Todd helped me avoid all the wrong turns new business owners take," Parker said. "Without him I don't think I would have made it."

Although the majority of Parker's clients are corporate accounts, the walk-in business has a certain appeal to him.

"I spent years sitting behind a desk in a large company," he said. "And – especially at the start – I found it absolutely intriguing dealing with the public."

"It can be absolutely charming and wonderful... and you know, sometimes it's not fun," he said. "But I gotta tell you... it's always interesting."

In addition to printing, Minuteman Press offers copying and faxing services, and Mitch Parker is also a notary.For more information go to Minuteman Press of Syosset.