About Us

Meet the team behind PrintNinja

Since launching in 2009, PrintNinja has printed millions of books, comic books, children’s books, magazines, games, catalogs, and more for thousands of independent creators, publishers, and businesses.

In fact, we keep a running tally of the number of items we’ve printed. So why have these thousands of creators and businesses decided to take advantage of PrintNinja’s international offset printing services?

Printing Tracker

15,265,389
pieces printed, as of 3/18/2024

Together we maintain low prices while providing top quality printing and customer service.

Our Story

In 2003, Russell Potterfield was a business owner with a problem.

He was paying too much for his business printing needs, and the costs kept rising.

He discovered that printing in China was an affordable solution, and delivered the same high-quality printing as his U.S. printers. Skeptical at first, he started small, but over time his company did more and more of their printing in China. However, coordinating a project halfway around the world came with risks.

So in 2009, Russell and his family moved to Shenzhen, China and PrintNinja was born.

In 2021, we realized that some customers would be better served by having their projects printed a bit closer to home. That’s when we opened our domestic facility in Northbrook, Illinois.

With a robust team spanning across two continents, we maintain low prices while providing top quality printing and customer service.

PrintNinja has printed millions of comic books, children’s books, games, magazines, and catalogs for thousands of independent creators, self-publishers, and businesses. Our reputation is the best in the industry, and we work hard every day to uphold it.


The PrintNinja Team

Our two teams may work across the globe from one another, but we’re in constant communication, including regular trips across the world to continually improve our processes and strengthen our operations. International collaboration is what lets PrintNinja make professional quality printing accessible to everyone, without sacrificing quality, customer service, or savings.

Jeff Zwirek

Jeff Zwirek

Director of US Operations
Jeff leads the PrintNinja Operations team. He and his team focus on creating the smoothest, most pleasant customer experience possible. Jeff uses his 10+ years in the printing industry to shepherd projects from dreams to reality.
Justin Jurczak

Justin Jurczak

Account Management Ninja
Justin is one of our all star account managers, fielding all questions, and concerns. His customer service experience spans 7+ years. After hours, Justin enjoys reading, gaming, playing with his dog Bruce, and travel.
Jen Talvensaari

Jen Talvensaari

Prepress Manager
Jen is here to not only manage your prepress, but she will do everything in her power to make the rather intimidating “prepress process” go as smoothly as possible. Patience is her middle name! Jen is fluent in 90's movie quotes, red lipstick is her must-have, and she lives by the phrase “It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.”
Sam Schauer

Sam Schauer

Senior Prepress Manager
Sam assists creators with prepress and reviews their artwork files to ensure they’re print-ready and look stellar off-press. He has a passion for print and loves the smell of freshly inked paper. When not behind a monitor you can find him outdoors with his two dogs, playing pickleball or rooting for Boston sports teams. Sam enjoys vintage posters, classic vinyl and good coffee.
Laura Knickelbine

Laura Knickelbine

Account Management Ninja
Laura has worn a lot of different hats in the customer service world! She’s even served coffee to the drummer from Fallout Boy. Laura isn’t very good at keeping house plants alive, but she can pour really mean latte art and give you excellent book recommendations. Her other interests include running, writing, and comparing astrological signs.
Margaret Tratnyek

Margaret Tratnyek

Account Management Ninja
Margaret is a third-generation administrative professional and student of the secretarial arts. With a background in communication studies and commercial art, she’s always excited to see all the new ways creators are finding to tell their stories. When she’s not biking along Chicago’s Lakefront Trail, she can be found binge-reading sports manga, making fanzines about geology puns, or knitting accessories for her pets.
Campbell Royales

Campbell Royales

Account Management Ninja
Campbell has years of customer service experience in multiple industries and is excited to serve you next! Their passion and educational background in comics, graphic novels, and illustration give them a unique ability to understand your printing needs best. Outside of the office, Campbell spends time playing D&D, mushroom foraging, tie dyeing, cooking, baking, and of course reading comics, to name a few!
Thor Mallgren

Thor Mallgren

Web Project Coordinator
Thor has a passion for bringing the best possible website experience to PrintNinja's customers. He uses his background in communication and web design to ensure our online tools always meet the needs of your project. Outside of work, you can find Thor enjoying video games, obscure wikipedia articles, and Arsenal Football Club.
Ally Boyce

Ally Boyce

Account Management Ninja
Ally has years of experience in the printing industry, helping many people create the project of their dreams. With a formal background in book design, they have been in a similar position that a lot of PrintNinja customers are currently facing, the big daunting task of sending a file to print. While this can be scary, they are here to help you through the printing process. Outside of work, Ally enjoys reading comics, making art, and going roller skating.
Simon Kamerow

Simon Kamerow

Account Management Ninja
Before joining PrintNinja, Simon freelanced as a writer and editor. Having worked on projects that run the gamut from technical manuals to fantasy novels, he is excited to help creators realize their unique creative visions. Outside of business hours, Simon enjoys gaming, trying new restaurants, napping on Lake Michigan and lamenting over the state of Washington, DC's sports teams.
Mike Fox

Mike Fox

Technical Lead
Over the last 10 years Mike has played every role imaginable across marketing and sales enablement. With a strong focus on digital communication and user experience Mike wants to connect creators with the tools they need to succeed. Outside of work you can find him kicking around the Chicago independent music scene, soldering electronics projects, watching cartoons, and endlessly refinishing his 1880's worker's cottage.
Russell Potterfield

Russell Potterfield

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
PrintNinja was founded by Russell Potterfield, who has worked with product and business development for nearly 20 years and has over 40 patents to his name. Russ holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business as well as an undergraduate degree from Michigan in English literature.

Our Shenzen Team

Daniel Chen

Daniel Chen

Shenzhen Team Leader
Daniel began working at PrintNinja in 2010, as the leader of the China office. He brings over a decade of printing experience to the job, and he ensures our customers’ jobs are delivered on time and that the printing quality always exceeds expectations. He loves to read history books and business stories in his leisure time.
Chelsea Chen

Chelsea Chen

Prepress and Purchasing Ninja
Chelsea joined PrintNinja in 2013. She takes care of quoting, prepress and purchasing on the China side, and is the first link in the quality control chain. She has two lovely dogs, and she loves food and travel.
Eason Xu

Eason Xu

Shipping and Logistics Ninja
Eason is responsible for PrintNinja’s logistics. He coordinates production and shipping schedules, and routes freight to make sure customers receive their books as fast as possible. His interests include: Basketball and fitness.

Get in touch

Have a question, concern, or just want to say hi?