Phil Blum, owner of GROUP 5 GRAPHICS, entered the graphic arts field in 1966 as a press operator for McGraw-Hill.

Mr. Blum spent the next 12 years working in the printing business, an experience that culminated in his managing an in-house printing plant for a nationwide mortgage company.

In 1979 he migrated to graphic design and print management. And in 1984, Mr. Blum was hired as a consultant to a 1400-employee contracting firm. He managed its in-house design group until 1994.

For a brief period, from 1997-1999, Blum worked as a designer and print buyer for a Northern Virginia publishing company.

He has operated GROUP 5 GRAPHICS full time since September 1999.

Mr. Blum attended Montgomery College and the American University's School of International Service. He continues to enhance his software skills, enrolling periodically in for-credit graphic design software courses.

Blum has 19 years experience with the Macintosh platform and 29 years in print production.