John J Neely.com
How it started
On September 11th 1964 John and Maura Neely were blessed with me. I was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and attended St. Mary's Catholic School. Since the beginning I have always loved to draw but it did not come naturally. So I practiced and surrounded myself with people who could draw with ease.My father and I would watch body building on TV and at the time Arnold was a big deal. So I of course got a broom stick and two book bags filled with books and set out to conquer the world.
Every week myself and two sisters, Cathy and Maryann would go to Irish Dancing lessons. I did not like it at the time but still managed to be good enough to compete in the World Championships several times.
That meant free trips to Ireland. I have been there around 14 times. Give or take a few. As I got older I started to think that it was great. We would spend most weekends on the road at competitions and that meant staying in hotels. With girls. Lots of girls. Everywhere. But I stayed pure as the driven snow. Well at least until I was much older.
In 1982 I went to work as a printers helper in Denville NJ. We had moved to Denville in 1978.
I loved it. Denville and printing. So I rose in the ranks until I had mastered all phases of printing and had to move on.
In 1992 I went to work at a larger printer in Morristown, New Jersey and started all over at the bottom. But I knew it would not be long until I was running the place. That came to pass with ease. Right around the time that computers really took off in the printing scene I had expressed interest in being a graphic artist. I took the necessary courses and graduated with expert status from the Apple Academy in Hackensack, New Jersey. Within a few months I was promoted to the Art Director. It came naturally to me. I knew all aspects of printing. From customer service to delivery and every process in between. I had arrived.
In 2008 the economy went way south as we all know and I was given my walking papers. No matter I thought, I am awesome. In the beginning of 2009 I started Text Art Print. I can remember the day I walked out of Unemployment. I had been denied benefits. I had made the mistake of telling them that I was working my ass off to save my financial situation. Sitting on my ass would have guaranteed me benefits. I did not know that if you own a business you cannot collect. So as I walked to my car I remember saying to myself, feel the fear and do it anyway.
Here I am a year later and while business is slow it is picking up. I base my success on the fact that I give my customers what they want, how they want and when they want it. Really I go out of my way for even the smallest project. I love what I do.
Anyone that has had work done at Text Art Print will testify to this.
Uncle Jim, my sisters and me in Ireland.
