Cober

We’re excited to welcome Ron Verbaas to Cober as our new Vice President of Operations 🚀

With more than 30 years of industry experience, Ron brings a strong track record in operational leadership, strategic growth, process improvement, and building high-performing teams. His expertise will help support Cober’s continued growth and operational excellence across the business.

Please join us in welcoming Ron to the team!

From shipping floor to digital press expert - Kat’s journey is built on curiosity and craft 🔍

We’re excited to highlight Kat Potter, Digital Print Technician, and a key member of our Digital Print team. With over 10 years at Cober and more than 20 years in the print industry, Kat brings experience, precision, and a strong team-first mindset to everything she does.

Kat’s journey with Cober began after hearing firsthand from her husband, Jordon Potter, who often spoke highly of the company’s atmosphere and strong sense of teamwork, sparked her interest in joining the team. Kat started in the shipping department before moving into the Indigo room, where she discovered her passion for digital print. After a brief time in customer support, she returned to the press floor and hasn’t looked back. Today, she operates and maintains our HP digital presses, ensuring every job runs smoothly and meets the highest quality standards.

A typical day for Kat involves preparing files, loading stock, running test prints to check quality, and keeping the presses in top condition through regular maintenance. Her attention to detail is critical, ensuring files are set up correctly before printing to prevent costly reprints and keep production moving efficiently.

What Kat enjoys most about her role is the energy of the Indigo room and the people she works alongside. The team’s humour and camaraderie help keep spirits high even during busy production days. As Kat puts it, “I really love the job I do.”

After two decades in the industry, Kat’s advice for anyone entering print is simple: teamwork and adaptability are everything. Being able to think on your feet, pay attention to detail, and support one another is key in a fast-paced environment.

Outside of work, Kat enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, fishing, visiting the cottage, walking along the river, and exploring nature with her two kids. Those moments of connection and fresh air are what help her recharge.

Kat’s dedication, skill, and positive attitude make her an essential part of the Cober team!

Big news at Cober 📣

We’ve added the HP Indigo 120K Digital Press, built to accelerate what matters most to our customers.

With industry-leading speed, AI-driven automation, and offset-matching quality, this investment means:
✔ Faster turnaround times
✔ Consistent, high-quality results
✔ Greater flexibility at scale

More speed. More productivity. Better outcomes.

Behind every long-term client partnership is someone who knows how to truly listen 🌟

We’re proud to shine the spotlight on Karen Smith, Key Account Manager in Sales. With over 15 years at Cober and 30 years in the print industry, Karen’s journey is one of growth, relationships, and unwavering commitment.

Karen began her career at Cober as a Project Coordinator before naturally transitioning into sales, which was encouraged internally by Todd and just like that, a new chapter began. Today, Karen manages some of Cober’s largest commercial clients, guiding complex projects from early brainstorming through to final production with precision and care.

Her role goes far beyond maintaining accounts, it’s about building relationships and growing opportunities. Karen partners closely with clients in the early stages of ideation, helping shape scope, pricing, and production strategies. Internally, she acts as an extension of their brand, ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly.

What sets Karen apart is her generosity and appreciation for people. Whether it’s bringing in coffee and donuts for the team or sharing customer thank-you notes, she believes in celebrating wins together. “We are human beings, and we like talking with human beings,” she says, preferring real conversations and meaningful connections to build trust.

Over the years, Karen has embraced the rapid evolution of our industry by describing “I never thought I would learn as much as I have in the last 5 years, adapting to new automation technologies, 3PL services, robotics, sustainability initiatives, and more.” Her advice to the next generation? “To build trust with a client, the first thing you need to do is listen… just listen and remember.”

Outside of work, Karen enjoys spending time outdoors and golfing with friends, still chasing that dream Hole-in-One on a par three.

Karen’s energy, loyalty, and relationship-first mindset make her an invaluable part of the Cober team!

Last week, the Cober team had the pleasure of sponsoring and attending the Calgary Cannes Gala hosted by the Calgary Marketing Association at Heritage Park.

We were proud to bring several of our clients along to experience an evening celebrating some of the world’s most creative and impactful marketing campaigns from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

From inspiring work on the big screen to great conversations around the table, it was a fantastic night connecting with our clients, colleagues, and Calgary’s marketing community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the CMA for organizing such a great event in support of NABS Canada.