Check out our photo slideshow, ABA: A Journey Through Time. It is pictures of YOU, so, it's pretty awesome.

In 2024, ABA proudly celebrated Years-of-Service milestones for nearly 40 of our colleagues, with milestones ranging from 10 years all the way up to an impressive THIRTY-FIVE YEARS!

 

Our 10-Year Awardees

Ana Arellano

Begaim Mirzaeva

Brian Kojima

Earl Mustra

Glen Boehl

Graig Dutton

Jamil Kakar

Jose Luis Rodriguez

Melissa 'Mel' Ardelean

Michael Castanon

Showntia ‘Tia’ Varner

Sara Espinosa-Jenkins

Steve Decocq

Tomas Ramos

2014: This year, Marvel’s smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy took the world by storm, while Pharrell Williams’ catchy tune "Happy" was everywhere. In a shocking (and somewhat deserved) twist, Joffrey Baratheon met his horrific end on HBO’s Game of Thrones (spoiler alert). Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finally tied the knot, marking the end of the infamous “Brangelina” era, while Katy Perry and John Mayer called it quits. On the tech front, we got a glimpse of the now-ubiquitous Apple Watch, and Uber launched Uber Eats. The Seattle Seahawks dominated Super Bowl XLVIII (48), and the Ice Bucket Challenge became the coolest, most viral activity celebrities could do.

 

Our 15-Year Awardees

Tony Valdez

Amanda Haddan

Chris Raney

Richard Caguiat

2009: This year, Barack Obama was inaugurated as President, marking a historic moment. On the tech front, Barnes & Noble’s The Nook and Beats by Dr. Dre’s Beats Solo had us stepping up our game. Susan Boyle captured hearts with her unforgettable appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, while phrases like “Great Recession” and “too big to fail” became part of our everyday vocabulary. James Cameron’s Avatar was released and quickly became the highest-grossing film of all time (a title it still holds). Meanwhile, TV shows like Jersey Shore, Glee, and Modern Family, along with the game FarmVille, made their debut.

The Black Eyed Peas dominated the music charts with Boom Boom Pow and I Gotta Feeling, which collectively held the number one spot for an impressive 26 weeks. And of course, the world was introduced to Lady Gaga, all while we were being Rickrolled (you can relive it here: Rickroll) or getting lost in the world of Minecraft.

 

Our 20-Year Awardees

Katie Ragle

Keith Delle

Matt Mason

Nicole Rogers

Raul Echeverria

Rosie Tamayo

Scott ‘Jumpy’ Gephart

Valentino Castillo

2004:This year, the Statue of Liberty got a facelift, and Shrek 2 became the biggest film of the year. Myspace was the dominant social media empire, reaching one million users, while young upstarts Facebook and YouTube both launched, along with Gmail. The iconic Motorola Razr (priced at $499) and the iPod Mini were massive hits, and gaming took a leap forward with the release of the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. Meanwhile, Bratz dolls (or action figures?) became the coolest toys around.

Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code was in its second year on the New York Times Best Seller list, and Shake Shack opened its first location. The Star Wars trilogy was released on DVD for the first time ever, grossing over $100 million on its first day. The original World of Warcraft went live, forever changing online gaming.

Beyoncé took home five Grammys for her album Dangerously in Love, while Friends and Sex and the City both aired their series finales, and Lost and Desperate Housewives premiered. Napoleon Dynamite had everyone saying “Vote for Pedro,” and Mean Girls made wearing pink on Wednesdays a must. And, in a bit of celebrity drama, Bennifer (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) broke up for the first time.

 

Our 25-Year Awardees

Loida Ballesteros

Gerry Yasay

Gregory Bolton

Krista Lopez

Lawrence Welton

Michael Maduli

Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Bailey

1999 When we weren’t freaking out over a possible Y2K tech meltdown, we were all in on films like The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, Fight Club, 10 Things I Hate About You (miss you, Heath), American Pie, and The Iron Giant. We also got our first feature-length Star Wars film in decades with The Phantom Menace.

Music was huge this year, with Britney Spears’ ...Baby One More Time, Santana’s Smooth, and Backstreet Boys’ I Want It That Way all debuting at the top of the charts. On TV, SpongeBob SquarePants, Family Guy, and The Sopranos all premiered, marking the beginning of some iconic series.

At just 23 years old, Tiger Woods won his first PGA Championship, and in the tech world, Google was founded. Internet memes became a thing, starting with the now-infamous “All your base are belong to us”. Napster was revolutionizing music sharing, bringing hits like Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca to the masses. The Euro was introduced, and the final season of Friends debuted, closing the chapter on one of TV's most iconic shows.

 

Our 30-Year Awardee

Clarita ‘Tat’ Casipit

1994: This year Heeeeey Macarena and Furbies took over pop culture. Whitney Houston released her unforgettable version of I Will Always Love You, while films like Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, The Lion King, and Forrest Gump became cultural touchstones, reminding us that life is like a box of chocolates.

A tiny startup called Amazon launched, initially selling books, while Netflix began mailing DVDs. On TV, Friends premiered alongside The Real World, while Baywatch and The X-Files were still dominating. Oasis and Blur brought Britpop to the forefront, and Playstation entered the gaming world with a bang.

The Netscape browser and the advent of cookies arrived just in time for the very first website to make its debut. Meanwhile, Major League Baseball was on strike, and the Dallas Cowboys were the Super Bowl champions.

 

Our 35-Year Awardees

Camellia Sahm

Caryl Vickers-Harper

Deneilia Pappas

Michael Gill

1989: Batman mania took over with Tim Burton’s film, featuring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, kicking off a new generation of superhero movies (you’re welcome, Marvel). Meanwhile, Disney’s The Little Mermaid sparked the start of the Disney movie renaissance, and When Harry Met Sally gave us the unforgettable line, "I’ll have what she’s having."

Madonna released Like a Prayer, while TV saw the debut of The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and The Real World, all of which would go on to become cultural landmarks. The fall of the Berlin Wall marked a historic moment in global politics, and Michael Jordan’s iconic “The Shot” against the Cleveland Cavaliers solidified his legacy in basketball history.

Acid wash and neon colors were considered “bitchin’,” and in gaming, the Nintendo Game Boy and Sega Genesis were released, along with the revolutionary game SimCity. Meanwhile, the World Wide Web was born, forever changing how we connect and share information.

 

Congratulations to all our awardees! And thank you for making ABA the success it is! You Are ABA!

 

More than a dozen in-plant managers from California, New Mexico, and Georgia recently gathered at Sacramento State, for the final In-Plant Printing & Mailing Association (IPMA) Road Show of the year. The event took place on our campus, hosted by Laura Lockett and the rest of the university Print & Mail team. The event took place at an auspicious time as our campus was alive with the vibrant hues of autumn, glistening in the light rainfall.

Several leaders in the in-plant printing world were on hand for the event, including Lou Butera, the newly appointed California State Printer, who oversees the California Office of State Publishing. Rob Newlin, the Director of Printing Services for the state of New Mexico, and Jason Carne, the Manager of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta's in-plant, made the cross-country journey to attend. Representing California, in-plant managers from American River College, University of California San Francisco, California State University - Stanislaus, and Folsom Lake College were also in attendance.

After the discussions and presentations, the group toured the University Print & Mail facilities to observe its operations and equipment. Among the highlights were a pair of Konica Minolta digital presses, a new Printware iJet 1175 inkjet envelope press, and a Standard Horizon CF362 creaser folder. Staff members provided demonstrations of the various devices, sparking numerous questions from the visiting in-plant managers.

The main highlight for the visitors, however, was the in-plant's newly established "Wide-format Land" area. This dedicated space, once a paper warehouse, now houses state-of-the-art wide-format production equipment. The two newest additions to the area are a Mimaki flatbed printer and a Colex cutter. Visitors were treated to a live demo of the Colex cutter in action, watching it cut magnets from a large magnetic sheet. The shop also boasts a Direct Color Systems 1800z UV LED printer, which is used to produce ADA-compliant signage and custom acrylic awards.

Even in the world of high-powered, knowledgeable in-house printers, Sac State’s Print & Mail team proved they can hold their own and leave a lasting impression. A big thank you to the team for not only showing up, but for showing off the impressive capabilities of their operations!

Winter is a season that brings people together to celebrate, reflect, and share in the warmth of companionship. While the cold and wet weather outside might be a common feature in many places, the way people mark the season differs widely across the globe. From grand feasts to spiritual ceremonies, winter celebrations often center on themes of light, renewal, family, and gratitude. Let's take a closer look at how different cultures and communities celebrate the winter season, both internationally and here at home.

The winter season is a time for people around the world to come together in various ways to celebrate life, love, and the warmth of companionship. Whether through religious observances, cultural traditions, or simply enjoying the coziness of home, winter offers an opportunity for joy and reflection. From the snowy streets of the North to the sunny skies of the South, winter celebrations remind us of the importance of connection, gratitude, and the light that can guide us through the darkest of days.

If you found this information interesting, share it with others! Also, if you are interested, Inclusive Excellence has a Multifaith and Cultural Trumba calendar on their website (https://www.csus.edu/president/inclusive-excellence/) that lists many celebrations from communities near and far.

View Online

California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 278-6011  |   www.csus.edu