EXHIBIT 10.12
 
                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------


     This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is dated as of February ___, 1997, by and among
Pen-Tab Holdings, Inc., a Virginia corporation (the "Company"), Pen-Tab
                                                     -------           
Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Pen-Tab"), and Michael Greenberg (the
                                           -------                              
"Executive").
 ---------   

     WHEREAS, the Company, Pen-Tab and the Executive desire to enter into an
agreement regarding the employment of the Executive as Executive Vice President
of the Company and Pen-Tab; and

     WHEREAS, as an inducement to CVC to enter into the Recapitalization
Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated therein, the Executive
has agreed to the provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation,
Sections 3, 4 and 6.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.   DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the following terms shall have the
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following meanings.

     "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person which directly or
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indirectly controls, or is under common control with, or is controlled by, such
Person.  As used in this definition, "control" (including, with its correlative
meanings, "controlled by" and "under common control with") shall mean
possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of
management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership
or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise).

     "Board" means the Company's board of directors.
      -----                                         

     "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on
      ------------                                                           
which commercial banks are required or authorized to close in New York, New
York.

     "Cause" means (i) a breach of the Executive's covenants under this
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Agreement and Sections 4, 5, and 9 of the Shareholders Agreement, the last
sentence of Section 3 of the Shareholders Agreement and Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
and 8 of the Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company, the
Executive and certain other parties of even date herewith, which breach shall
not be cured within ten (10) Business Days after written notice thereof, or,
(ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, a crime involving moral
turpitude or other act causing material harm to the standing and reputation of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) the Executive's repeated
failure to comply with the lawful and reasonable (with respect to Executive's
position as Executive Vice President of the Company and Pen-Tab) written
directives of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the
Board which failure shall not be cured within ten (10) Business Days after
written notice thereof.

 
     "CVC" means Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd., a New York corporation.
      ---                                                               

     "Disability" means the inability, due to illness, accident, injury,
      ----------                                                        
physical or mental incapacity or other disability, of the Executive to carry out
effectively his duties and obligations to the Company or to participate
effectively and actively in the management of the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company for a period of at least 120 consecutive days or for shorter periods
aggregating at least 150 days (whether or not consecutive) during any twelve-
month period, as determined in the reasonable judgment of the Board.

     "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect
      ----                                                                   
from time to time and as adopted by the Company with the consent of its
independent public accountants, consistently applied.

     "Good Reason Event" means (i) the failure of the Company or Pen-Tab to make
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the payments described herein within 5 Business Days of the applicable due date,
(ii) the written request by the board of directors of the Company or Pen-Tab
that the Executive relocate his primary residence or relocate Executive's
primary location from which he performs his services to a location which is more
than ten (10) miles from the Company's current location in the State of
Illinois, or (iii) a written directive from the Board of directors of the
Company or Pen-Tab that results in a substantial reduction of the Executive's
job responsibility, (other than during periods when the Executive is unable to
fulfill his job responsibilities due to injury, illness or other incapacity or
disability and the period of such incapacity does not constitute a Disability
hereunder).

     "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association,
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a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an
unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency
or political subdivision thereof.

     "Recapitalization Agreement" means the Recapitalization Agreement dated as
      --------------------------                                               
of January 9, 1997 by and among CVC, the Company and the shareholders of the
Company.

     "Shareholders Agreement" means the Shareholders Agreement dated as of the
      ----------------------                                                  
date hereof by and among the Company, the Executive, CVC and certain other
parties thereto.

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
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partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of
which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of securities
entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership,
limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of
the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned
or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries
of that Person or a combination thereof.  For purposes hereof, a Person or
Persons shall be deemed to have a majority

                                       2

 
ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or
other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity
gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director or general partner
of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity.

     "Termination Year" means that fiscal year of the Company during which the
      ----------------                                                        
Employment Period ends pursuant to the terms of Section 2(d) hereof.

     2.   EMPLOYMENT.
          ---------- 

          (a) Employment.  Each of the Company and Pen-Tab agrees to employ the
              ----------                                                       
     Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company and
     Pen-Tab, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the
     period beginning on the date hereof and ending as provided in Section 2(d)
     (the "Employment Period").
           -----------------   

          (b)  Position and Duties.
               ------------------- 

               (i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the
     Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President of
     the Company and Pen-Tab under the supervision and direction of the
     Company's and Pen-Tab's President and Chief Executive Officer and
     respective boards of directors.

               (ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full
     business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and
     reasonable periods of illness other than Disability) to the business and
     affairs of the Company, Pen-Tab and their Subsidiaries.

          (c)  Base Salary and Benefits.
               ------------------------ 

               (i) Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, the Executive's
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     base salary shall be $228,800 per annum (the "Initial Base Salary"), which
                                                   -------------------         
     salary shall be paid by Pen-Tab in regular installments in accordance with
     Pen-Tab's general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary
     withholding.  During the Employment Period, effective on each anniversary
     of the date hereof, Executive's Initial Base Salary shall be adjusted to an
     amount equal to Executive's Initial Base Salary multiplied by a fraction
                                                     -------------           
     (i) the numerator of which is the Index for the calendar month in which
     such anniversary falls and (ii) the denominator of which is the Index for
     January, 1997 (the Initial Base Salary as may be adjusted shall be referred
     to herein as the "Base Salary").  For purposes of this Agreement, "Index"
                       -----------                                            
     in any

                                       3

 
     particular month shall mean the United States Department of Labor All
     Cities Consumer Price Index, as published by the United States Department
     of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.  If the Index is not published by the
     Bureau of Labor Statistics or another governmental agency at any time, then
     such calculation shall be made using the most closely comparable statistics
     on the purchasing power of the consumer dollar as published by a
     responsible financial authority selected in good faith by the Board.

               (ii) Bonus Plan.  For each fiscal year during the Employment
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     Period, the Executive will be eligible to receive a bonus of up to 50% of
     his Base Salary, the terms and conditions of which shall be established by
     the Board.

               (iii)     Benefits.  In addition to the Base Salary, the
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     Executive shall be entitled, during the Employment Period, to all benefits
     set forth on Schedule A hereto (the "Benefits").
                  ----------              --------   

               (iv) Expenses.  Upon the request of the Executive, the Company
                    --------                                                 
     shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by him
     in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement which are
     consistent with the Company's and its Subsidiaries' policies in effect from
     time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business
     expenses, subject to the requirements of the Company and its Subsidiaries
     with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses.

          (d) Term.  The Employment Period shall end on February 4, 2002,
              ----                                                       
     subject to earlier termination (x) by reason of the Executive's death or
     Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with Cause (it being understood
     and agreed that the employment of Executive may not be terminated without
     Cause), or (z) upon the Executive's voluntary resignation with or without a
     Good Reason Event. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
     contrary, this Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and
     effect upon the consummation of an initial public offering registered under
     the Securities Act.

               (i) If the Employment Period is terminated on or before February
     4, 2002:

               (A) by the Company other than for Cause, or as a result of the
          Executive's voluntary resignation within ten (10) Business Days of a
          Good Reason Event, the Executive shall be entitled to receive (payable
          in equal or substantially equal consecutive monthly installments) (1)
          the stated Base Salary from the date of termination through the period
          ending on the anniversary date hereof, and (2) all vested benefits to
          which Executive is

                                       4

 
          entitled under the terms of any benefit plan or arrangement of the
          Company or Pen-Tab which is applicable to Executive or in which he is
          a participant.

               (B) as a result of the Executive's death, Disability or voluntary
          resignation (other than within ten (10) Business Days following a Good
          Reason Event), or by the Company for Cause, the Executive shall be
          entitled to all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary,
          bonus payments and Benefits up to the date of such termination but
          shall not be entitled to any further Base Salary, bonus payments or
          Benefits for that year or any future year, or to any other severance
          compensation of any kind, nature or amount; provided, however, that
          nothing herein shall reduce, eliminate or restrict the disability
          benefits to which Executive is entitled under the terms of any
          applicable benefit plan or arrangement of the Company or Pen-Tab which
          is applicable to Executive or in which he is a participant.

               (ii) Following the termination of the Employment Period:

               (A) the Executive agrees that:  (1) the Executive shall be
          entitled to the payments provided for in Sections 2(d)(i)(A), if any,
          if and only if Executive has not breached as of the date of
          termination of the Employment Period the provisions of Sections 3, 4
          and 6 hereof and does not breach such sections at any time during the
          period for which such payments are to be made and (2) the Company's
          obligation to make such payments will terminate upon the occurrence of
          any such breach during any such severance period which breach shall
          not be terminated or cured within ten (10) Business Days after written
          notice thereof.

               (B) any payments pursuant to Sections 2(d)(i)(A) shall be paid by
          Pen-Tab in regular installments in accordance with Pen-Tab's general
          payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding, and
          following such payments none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
          shall have any further obligation to the Executive pursuant to this
          Section 2(d) except as provided by law.

          (iii)     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, if
     all or any portion of the payments or benefits provided under Section
     2(d)(i)(A) either alone or together with other payments or benefits which
     the Executive receives or is then entitled to

                                       5

 
     receive from the Company and any of its Subsidiaries would constitute a
     "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal
     Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), such payments or benefits
                                            ----                             
     provided to the Executive under Section 2(d)(i)(A) shall be reduced to the
     extent necessary so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the excise
     tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; but only if, by reason of such
     reduction, the Executive's net after tax benefit shall exceed the net after
     tax benefit if such reduction were not made.  "Net after tax benefit" for
     purposes of this Section 2(d)(iii) shall mean the sum of (w) the total
     amount payable to the Executive under this Section 2, plus (x) all other
                                                           ----              
     payments and benefits which the Executive receives or is then entitled to
     receive from the Company and any of its Subsidiaries that would constitute
     a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, less
                                                                           ----
     (y) the amount of federal income taxes payable with respect to the payment
     and benefits described in (w) and (x) above, calculated at the maximum
     marginal income tax rate for each year in which such payments and benefits
     shall be paid to the Executive (based upon the rate in effect for such year
     as set forth in the Code at the time of the first payment of the
     foregoing), less (z) the amount of excise taxes imposed with respect to the
                 ----                                                           
     payments and benefits described in (w) and (x) above by Section 4999 of the
     Code.

               (iv) The Executive hereby agrees that except as expressly
     provided herein, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount
     shall be payable to the Executive and except as expressly provided herein,
     the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance
     compensation.

               (v) Subject to the provisions of Section 2(d)(i)(B) above, all of
     the Executive's rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) for any period
     subsequent to the effective date of termination of the Employment Period
     shall cease upon the termination of the Employment Period other than
     Executive's rights under any retirement plan of the Company or Pen-Tab in
     which Executive is a participant.  Within thirty (30) days after
     Executive's employment shall terminate, the amount to which he is entitled
     under any such retirement plan shall be distributed to Executive and, in
     the event Executive shall be terminated without Cause or following a Good
     Reason Event, then Executive shall have a 100% vested and nonforfeitable
     interest in such retirement benefits.

               (vi) If the employment of Executive hereunder shall terminate
     pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(A) above, then Executive shall have no duty
     whatsoever to mitigate damages, and any income, earnings or other
     compensation earned from self employment or employment with any company
     subsequent to the date of such termination of employment shall not reduce
     or offset any of the payments described in Sections 2(d)(i)(A) hereof.

     3.   CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.  The Executive acknowledges that the
          ------------------------                                      
information and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by him while
employed by the Company or any of its

                                       6

 
Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary
(the unauthorized disclosure of which would be adverse to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) (including without limitation the Company's
technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information)
(collectively, "Confidential Information") are the property of the Company or
                ------------------------                                     
such Subsidiary and that the continued success of the Company and its
Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping this information from becoming
known to competitors of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  Therefore, the
Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period and for all times
thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not disclose to
any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information
without the prior written consent of the Board, unless and to the extent that
the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by
the public or Persons within the industry in which the Company or Pen-Tab
competes other than as a result of the Executive's acts or omissions to act, or
in the event any such information is disclosed (other than by Executive) by any
person who is not bound by a similar nondisclosure agreement; provided, however,
that, subject to Section 5(b) below, nothing herein shall be deemed to limit,
restrict or prohibit the use or disclosure by Executive of any non-confidential
general industry knowledge or contacts gained or obtained by Executive from his
prior expertise and experience.  The Executive further agrees to use his
reasonable best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information
and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft.  The
Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination of such Executive's
employment, or at any other time the Company may request, all memoranda,
correspondence, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer
tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to
the Confidential Information, the Work Product (as defined below) or the
business of the Company or any Subsidiary which he may then possess or have
under his control.  If the Company requests, the Executive agrees to provide
written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

     4.   WORK PRODUCT.  The Executive agrees that all inventions, innovations,
          ------------                                                         
improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports, and all similar or related information which relates to the
Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' actual or anticipated business or research
and development or existing or future products or services and which are
conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or
jointly with others) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
                                                                             
("Work Product") shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or such
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Subsidiary.  The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to the
President and Chief Executive Officer or to the Board and perform all actions
requested by the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Board (whether
during or after the Employment Period) to establish and confirm such ownership
(including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and
other instruments).

     5.   RIGHTS OF FORMER EMPLOYERS AND OTHERS.
          ------------------------------------- 

          (a) No Undisclosed Restrictions.  The Executive represents and
              ---------------------------                               
     warrants that, unless he has informed the Company or its Subsidiaries to
     the contrary in a writing attached to this Agreement, the performance of
     his duties as Executive Vice

                                       7

 
     President of the Company will not place the Executive in breach of any
     existing agreement, including, but not limited to, any confidentiality
     agreement or restrictive covenant with a former employer or other third
     party.

          (b) Confidential Information of Others.  The Executive agrees that he
              ----------------------------------                               
     shall not disclose to the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor induce the
     Company or its Subsidiaries to use, any confidential or proprietary
     information of others that the Executive may have learned as a result of
     any prior employment or other relationships.

     6.   NONCOMPETE, NONSOLICITATION.
          --------------------------- 

          (a) The Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment
     with the Company and its Subsidiaries he has become familiar, and he will
     become familiar, with the Company's and its Subsidiaries' trade secrets and
     with other Confidential Information and that his services have been and
     will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its
     Subsidiaries.  Therefore, the Executive agrees that, during the Employment
     Period and (i) if the Employment Period terminates on February 4, 2002,
            ---                                                             
     then for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter, (ii) if the Employment
     Period is terminated pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(A), then for a period
     ending on the earlier of (x) February 4, 2002 and (y) the second
     anniversary of the date of termination, or (iii) if the Employment Period
     is terminated pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(B), other than as a result of the
     Executive's death, then for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter
     (the "Noncompete Period"), he shall not directly or indirectly own,
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     operate, lease, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise,
     permit his name to be used by, provide services for, or in any manner
     engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any
     person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other
     entity) that manufactures any product or provides any services that may be
     used as substitute for the product, or service, of the Company, its
     Subsidiaries or any business in competition with the businesses of the
     Company or its Subsidiaries as such businesses exist or are in process on
     the date of the termination of the Employment Period, within any
     geographical area in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries engages
     or plans to engage in such businesses as of the date of termination of the
     Employment Period.  Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being
     a passive owner of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of a
     corporation which is publicly traded, and which is a direct competitor of
     the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, so long as the Executive has no
     active participation in the business of such corporation.  Anything herein
     to the contrary notwithstanding, the Noncompete Period and the
     noncompetition restrictions set forth herein shall immediately terminate
     and be of no further force or effect, without notice or further act by any
     party hereto or any other person, upon the first to occur of (i) a default
     by the Company or Pen-Tab in the payment, following ten (10) Business Days
     of the date

                                       8

 
     when due, of any amount payable to Executive under Section 2(d)(i)(A)
     above, or (ii) the Company or Pen-Tab shall be insolvent or shall become
     bankrupt.

          (b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or
     indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any
     employee of the Company or any Subsidiary either to leave the employ of the
     Company or such Subsidiary, or to interfere with the business or operations
     of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an
     employee of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time during or after the
     Executive's employment period other than in connection with a general
     hiring solicitation or advertisement which is not specifically targeted to
     employees of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iii) induce or attempt to
     induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other
     business relation of the Company or any Subsidiary to cease doing business
     with the Company or such Subsidiary.

          (c) The Executive agrees and acknowledges that:  (i) the covenants set
     forth in this Section 6 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope
     and in all other respects, (ii) the Company would not have entered into
     this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein,
     (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce the
     Company to enter into this Agreement, and (iv) that CVC would not have
     entered into the Recapitalization Agreement but for the covenants of the
     Executive contained herein.

          (d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 6, a court shall
     hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are
     unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the
     maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall
     be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court
     shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the
     maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

          (e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his
     breach of any provision of this Section 6, money damages would be
     inadequate and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law.
     Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a
     threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section
     6, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies
     existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent
     jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in
     order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof
     (without posting a bond or other security).

     7.   NOTICES.  All notices, demands or other communications to be given or
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delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement will be in
writing and will be deemed to have been given when delivered personally, mailed
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid,
or sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, or sent via

                                       9

 
facsimile followed by delivery by reputable overnight courier service.  Such
notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated
below:

          To the Company or Pen-Tab:
          ------------------------- 

               Pen-Tab Industries, Inc.
               167 Kelley Drive
               Front Royal, Virginia 22630
               Attention:  Mr. Alan Hodes
               Telecopy No.:  (540) 622-2008

               With copies, which shall not constitute notice, to:
               -------------------------------------------------- 

               Rudnick & Wolfe
               203 North LaSalle Street
               Chicago, Illinois 60601
               Attention:  Stephen A. Landsman, Esq.
               Telecopy No.:  (312) 236-7516

               Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd.
               399 Park Avenue
               14th Floor
               New York, New York 10043
               Attention:  Mr. Thomas F. McWilliams
               Telecopy No.:  (212) 888-2940

               Kirkland & Ellis
               153 East 53rd Street
               New York, New York 10022-4675
               Attention:  Kirk A. Radke, Esq.
               Telecopy No.:  (212) 446-4900

               To CVC:
               ------ 

               Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd.
               399 Park Avenue
               14th Floor
               New York, New York  10043
               Attention:  Mr. Thomas F. McWilliams
               Telecopy No.:  (212) 888-2940

                                       10

 
               With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
               -------------------------------------------------- 

               Kirkland & Ellis
               153 East 53rd Street
               New York, New York 10022-4675
               Attention:  Kirk A. Radke, Esq.
               Telecopy No.:  (212) 446-4900

               To the Executive:
               ---------------- 

               Pen-Tab Industries, Inc.
               2011 West Hasting Street
               Chicago, Illinois 60608
               Attention:  Michael Greenberg
               Telecopy No.:  (312) 243-0606

               With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:
               -------------------------------------------------- 

               Rudnick & Wolfe
               203 North LaSalle Street
               Chicago, Illinois 60601
               Attention:  Stephen A. Landsman, Esq.
               Telecopy No.:  (312) 236-7516

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

               8.  MISCELLANEOUS.
                   ------------- 

          (a) Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
              ------------                                                      
     will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
     applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be
     invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law
     or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
     unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other
     jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced
     in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision
     had never been contained herein.

          (b) Complete Agreement.  This Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement,
              ------------------                                              
     the Option Agreement and the Recapitalization Agreement embody the complete
     agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any
     prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the
     parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter
     hereof in any way, including,

                                       11

 
     without limitation, the letter agreement dated October 29, 1996 by and
     among the Company, CVC, the Executive and certain other parties.

          (c) Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate
              ------------                                             
     counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which
     taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

          (d) Successors and Assigns.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this
              ----------------------                                            
     Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
     Executive, the Company, and their respective successors and assigns;
     provided, that the rights and obligations of the Executive under this
     Agreement shall not be assignable.

          (E) GOVERNING LAW.  ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION,
              -------------                                             
     VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE EXHIBITS HERETO WILL
     BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC LAWS OF THE
     STATE OF VIRGINIA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT
     OF LAW PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY OTHER
     JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY
     JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

          (f) Remedies.  Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled
              --------                                                         
     to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages
     and costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) caused by any breach of
     any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing
     in its favor.  The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages
     may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this
     Agreement and that any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court
     of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or
     deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order
     to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

                                       12

 
          (g) Amendment and Waiver.  The provisions of this Agreement may be
              --------------------                                          
     amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company, the
     Executive and the Investor.

          (h) Time is of the Essence.  Time is of the essence for each and every
              ----------------------                                            
     provision of this Agreement.

          (i) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL.  EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE EXECUTIVE
     AND PEN-TAB HEREBY WAIVERS, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
     TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION IN ANY COURT WITH RESPECT TO, IN CONNECTION
     WITH, OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED
     HEREBY OR THEREBY OR THE VALIDITY, PROTECTION, INTERPRETATION, COLLECTION
     OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                    PEN-TAB HOLDINGS, INC.

                                    By:__________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


                                    PEN-TAB INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                    By:__________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:


                                    MICHAEL GREENBERG

                                    _______________________________

                                       13

 
                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT


State of New York   )    ss.:
County of New York  )



          On the ____ day of _________ in the year 1997, before me personally
came _____________, who, stated that he resides in ______________, ____________,
and that he is _____________ of Pen-Tab Holdings, Inc.



                                    ------------------------------------------- 
                                    Notary Public
                                    My commission expires:



State of New York   )    ss.:
County of New York  )



          On the ____ day of _________ in the year 1997, before me personally
came _____________, who, stated that he resides in ______________, ____________,
and that he is _____________ of Pen-Tab Industries, Inc.



                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Notary Public
                                    My commission expires:

State of New York   )    ss.:
County of New York  )



          On the ____ day of _________ in the year 1996, before me personally
came _____________, who, stated that he resides in ______________, ____________,
that he is ______________.



                                    ------------------------------------------- 
                                    Notary Public
                                    My commission expires:

                                       14

 
                                                                      SCHEDULE A
                                                                      ----------

                               EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
                               -----------------


Health & Welfare benefit plans:

     The Executive is a participant in Pen-Tab Industries. - Group Health
     Insurance (Health Insurance with Oxford Insurance Company),  Group Life
     Insurance (2 times salary - Policy with Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance
     Company), Pen-Tab Industries, Inc. Employee Savings & Protection Plan, and
     Long Term Disability Insurance (Policy with Reliance Standard Life
     Insurance Company)

Vacation: 4 weeks

Car: Use of Company leased car


         [PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE ABOVE BENEFITS ARE ACCURATELY STATED]
                                    

                                       15