A Life in Print—Allegra and The Art of Community

Ron Morris has spent a lifetime putting ink to paper. But for him, printing has never been just about business. It’s about people and the stories that need to be told, the ideas that need to be shared, and the small, everyday moments that form the fabric of a community.

Ron Morris, owner of Allegra Marketing-Print-Mail

Ron’s journey into the printing world was almost inevitable. Born and raised in the Brainerd Lakes Area, he grew up surrounded by books, poring over encyclopedias as a child and developing a deep appreciation for the power of the printed word. “I was never a great student,” he admits with a chuckle. “I always figured, why memorize something when I could just look it up?” 

That curiosity led him to pursue a career in print production, where he learned the mechanics of the trade at a technical school before entering the field. He worked in print shops big and small, from Palmer Printing in St. Cloud to Universal Printing in Brainerd, and eventually landed a role at Kodak, where he traveled the region helping businesses navigate the rapidly changing world of printing technology.

But Brainerd always drew him back. And after years of experience in the industry, Ron decided it was time to build something of his own. In 2004, with an SBDC-backed loan and a strong dose of determination, he took ownership of Allegra Marketing-Print-Mail, formerly Insty Prints, and set to work. “I don’t think we ever really know what we’re doing with things like this,” he says, “but we figure it out. We stay passionate and engaged, and with a lot of determination and hard work, the pieces fall into place.”

Ron’s philosophy is simple: people first, business second. It’s a lesson he learned from his father, who always believed in paying it forward. “When you hire an employee, you’re taking on a family too,” he says. That mindset has shaped how he runs Allegra. His team doesn’t just print business cards and brochures; they problem-solve, support, and adapt to the needs of everyone who walks through their doors.

The printing industry has changed dramatically over the years, but Allegra has thrived by staying nimble. Ron credits his team’s ability to innovate and respond quickly.

“We’re not just pushing buttons on a machine,” he says. “We’re figuring out what our clients really need and how to make it happen.”

Sometimes, that means last-minute banners for a local sports team heading to state. Other times, it means designing a book cover for a retired neurosurgeon turned author. Every project, no matter how big or small, is personal.

That approach has earned Allegra the 2024 Exceptional Service Provider of the Year Award from Region Five Development Commission (R5DC)—an honor Ron insists belongs to his employees. “They’re the ones doing this work and they make us look good,” he says.

Allegra Staff Pictured Left to Right: Jacob McClurg, Ron Morris, Acala Harrison, Rocco Harrison, and Matt Gould

Ron’s belief in supporting local isn’t just talk. When a nonprofit needs flyers for a fundraiser, he’s there. When a longtime customer’s family suffers a loss and needs funeral programs, he burns the midnight oil to make the pieces come together. “It’s small to me,” he says, “but it might be everything to them.”

That philosophy extends to his work with R5DC, a partnership that has spanned over a decade. Allegra prints brochures, reports, and marketing materials for the commission, helping them tell the stories of rural communities and businesses.

“What Region Five does—building up communities, investing in people—it matters,” Ron says. “We need strong communities, and that starts with making sure people have opportunities.”

For Ron, the work has always been about people. Allegra isn’t just a business; it’s a place where ideas take shape, where creativity thrives, and where relationships are built. It’s where his grandkids come to explore, where he still feels the quiet satisfaction of a job done well, and where he sees the impact of his work ripple through the community he loves.

“There’s always something new to learn, something new to create,” Ron says. “That’s what keeps it exciting. That’s what makes it meaningful.” Just like the stories that need to be told and the ideas that need to be shared, the work continues. And for Ron, that’s exactly how it should be.