In a town known for its stunning desert landscapes and a vibrant community spirit, Kevin Boerup has found his calling as the publisher of the OV Style magazine. This glossy lifestyle publication lands in every Oro Valley mailbox each month. But his journey to becoming the voice of OV’s unique lifestyle began decades ago in a basement darkroom in Chicago.
“I got into photography my senior year of high school,” Kevin recalls, his eyes lighting up as he describes saving every penny for a Minolta SLR camera. “I built a darkroom downstairs in the basement and was doing my own black and white development. I still have that enlarger—hasn’t been used in 47 years, but I can’t part with it.”
That early passion for visual storytelling would eventually lead Kevin down a winding path of graphic arts education at BYU, a Spanish-speaking mission in New York City, and ultimately into the printing industry, which would define his professional life for over three decades.
Building a Business from the Ground Up
Kevin Boerup, Publisher OV Style
Kevin’s entry into the printing world was a result of a chance encounter and some creative problem-solving. As a newlywed, looking for work in Tucson, a friend suggested that he apply at AlphaGraphics, despite having no experience working in a print shop.
“I had never run a press,” Kevin admits with a laugh. “I had printed our wedding invitations, and that’s about it. But I knew the darkroom processes, so they hired me.”
Within months, Kevin had mastered the equipment and became the top press operator. His success led to managing responsibilities, and eventually, in the mid-1980s, he took the leap into business ownership. Partnering with a well-established CPA who provided the financial backing, Kevin launched his own print shop with just $1,000 of his own money and a borrowed credit line.
“We weathered some tough times,” Kevin reflects, recounting economic downturns and the Gulf War period when he found himself working 20-hour days to keep the business afloat. “There were days I’d go in at six in the morning, come home for dinner and a nap, then go back at eight and work until midnight.”
For 25 years, Kevin’s print shop served the Tucson business community, crafting everything from company brochures to direct mail campaigns. “This was before the internet, before email, before websites,” he explains. “You had to have a company brochure. Printing was essentially an advertising product back then.”
The Digital Revolution and New Opportunities
The printing landscape underwent a dramatic shift in the mid-2000s with the advent of digital technology and the emergence of remote printing capabilities. After selling his print shop in 2010, Kevin found himself exploring new opportunities in the publishing world. His experience with an author who had written 50 western novels led him into the emerging world of e-book publishing, where he helped bring forgotten stories back to life.
But it was a chance conversation about the Raytheon employee magazine that would set Kevin on the path to magazine publishing. When the defense contractor needed a new publisher for their internal publication, Kevin stepped in, learning the intricacies of magazine production and distribution.
Birth of OV Style
Kevin’s path to creating the OV Style magazine involved careful market research and some trial and error. His first attempt at local publishing came through a collaboration with his brother, who lived in Vail and complained about the poor quality of the area’s existing publication. “He used to work with me in the print shop, so he knew about quality printing,” Kevin explains. “He said, ‘Why don’t we just do something better out there?'”
They tried publishing in Vail for a year, but the advertiser support wasn’t sufficient to sustain the venture. During those final months, Kevin began exploring other opportunities, including the Catalina Foothills market.
That’s when Kevin turned his attention to Oro Valley, recognizing its distinct community identity and engaged residents. The concept was simple but ambitious: create a high-quality, full-color lifestyle magazine and mail it free to every address in Oro Valley.
“The idea was to mail a free publication with quality content to every address in Oro Valley,” Kevin explains. “After the first issue, two realtors called and wanted the back cover ads for a year. One got the back cover and the other the inside front cover.
That first issue proved the concept, and OV Style was born. Now in its fifth year, the magazine reaches 24,633 addresses monthly, making it the only publication that hits every household in Oro Valley.
Content that Reflects the Community
Kevin’s approach to content is refreshingly straightforward. “I try to think of important lifestyle topics that we are all interested in, but I keep politics out of that mix,” he says. “You’re going to offend half your audience with politics.”
Instead, OV Style focuses on lifestyle topics that resonate with residents: health and wellness, food and dining, finances, staying active, and aging gracefully. Kevin writes some of the articles, drawing from his personal interests in hiking and nutrition, while also working with a team of contributing writers who bring their expertise to the magazine.
“I have 10 or 12 contributing writers,” Kevin notes. “Some have been with me for four years. The first was a nutritionist with a PhD who also had a consulting business. She loved the magazine and saw potential for her own practice by writing about her expertise.
Staying Connected to the Community
What sets OV Style apart is Kevin’s deep involvement in the Oro Valley business community. He’s a regular attendee at Chamber of Commerce events and business mixers, always seeking stories that reflect the community’s interests and values.
“I’ve interviewed the mayor and people on the Town Council,” Kevin says. “It’s a very cohesive kind of environment, and they have a unique lifestyle. They like to live that lifestyle.”
The magazine’s success is evident in the response from readers. “Everyone I ask, who lives in Oro Valley, remembers getting the magazine,” Kevin observes. “I also get calls from people saying, ‘Hey, I didn’t get my magazine yet. Where is it?’ That’s a good sign.”
Beyond the Magazine
At 69, Kevin shows no signs of slowing down. He maintains an active lifestyle that includes playing racquetball three times a week—a sport he has played for 50 years and continues to compete in nationally. He’s also learned Portuguese and still dreams of learning Italian.
“I saw what happened to my dad when he became less mentally active,” Kevin reflects. “I don’t want to end up like that. I want to stay mentally engaged. Learning new things is a way to do that”.
Kevin’s daily routine reflects this philosophy. “I’ll get up, take an hour to eat breakfast, and catch up on emails. Then I’ll work on the magazine—someone to call, someone to remind about deadlines. In the afternoon, I’ll go play racquetball or attend an evening networking mixer”.
Looking Forward
While Kevin has considered expanding with publications in other areas, his focus remains firmly on making OV Style the definitive voice of Oro Valley’s lifestyle. “For my readers, I foresee Oro Valley Style being the dominant lifestyle publication that every business wants to advertise in,” he says confidently.
The magazine’s success reflects Kevin’s understanding of his community and his commitment to quality. “The demographics of Oro Valley tend to be older—50% are now 54 years or older,” he explains. “That’s my generation, and we’re still very inclined to read print publications.”
A Community Connection
Kevin Boerup’s journey from a teenager photographer wannabe in a Chicago basement to the publisher of Oro Valley’s premier lifestyle magazine reflects the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in our community. Through OV Style, he has created more than just a publication—he has built a monthly connection that celebrates what makes Oro Valley special.
“It’s really the only publication that hits everybody in Oro Valley,” Kevin notes with satisfaction. “That’s our big advantage.”
For residents who find OV Style in their mailboxes each month, it represents something valuable: a reflection of their community’s values, interests, and lifestyle. And for Kevin Boerup, it represents the culmination of a career spent bringing people together through the printed word—one story, one issue, and one community at a time.
