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Brian Christensen has had one job in his life. It started as a boy when his father brought him to the printing business he founded “to push a broom.”
He would grow up to lead Joe Christensen Inc., one of the nation’s leading publishers of law reviews and law journals.
On Tuesday, Christensen announced that the family business that was founded in 1933 has been sold to CJK Group Inc. for an undisclosed amount.
CJK Group, which owns Sheridan Publishing, a longtime competitor to Joe Christensen Inc., purchased the contracts of nearly 350 clients — law schools and other legal organizations — from the Lincoln-based company.
Eventually, the printing equipment and the building at 1540 Adams St. will be sold, Brian Christensen said.
But Tuesday was a day for making contact with those on the client list to inform them of the sale.
More importantly, he spent time with a staff of about 30 workers who will soon be out of jobs.
“This is hard,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for a long time. We’ve built up a lot of long-term relationships. We’ve got around 30 employees here in the building at the moment. Their lives will be transitioning as well and they are a magnificent people.”
With the acquisition, Sheridan, with over 350 law publications currently being produced in its Sheridan, Pennsylvania, facility, will nearly double in size.
“Acquiring the law review and law publication assets of Joe Christensen Inc. is indeed an honor for Sheridan, as we look to be the leading publication services provider to this esteemed market,” Chris Kurtzman, CEO of CJK Group, said in a written statement. “Over the last two decades, we’ve devoted many efforts and developed streamlined solutions to serve this community and are looking forward to not only delivering on but exceeding the expectations of our new customers.”
Christensen said the business had changed exponentially with the advent of the internet and online publishing. No longer was it necessary to “put ink to paper,” as much, he said.
“It’s a business where technology is changing rapidly and it would take someone with some energy to continue on with this for any great length of time,” he said. “I haven’t found that person.
“I always tell people I had 50 good years in the business, but it was a different business going forward.”
Joe Christensen Inc. oversaw the changes in the printing industry — from hot lead to the digital technology of today — since the company was founded in 1933.
It was incorporated in 1963 and eventually would be run by Brian and his older brother Richard.
With the sale of the company’s assets, Brian Christensen, closing in on 70 years of age, can look forward to his life’s long-awaited second chapter.
His answer to what he plans to do next is similar to that of a former Nebraska football coach who retired 25 years ago.
“It’s the same answer Tom Osborne had,” he said. “My wife’s name is Nancy and she has a list.”
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Reach the writer at 402-473-7391 or [email protected]
On Twitter @psangimino
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