Idealliance Recognizes Leadership at Closing Board Meeting Prior to Merger with PRINTING United Alliance

The Idealliance Board of Directors held its last Board meeting on February 18 prior to the closing of the merger between Idealliance and PRINTING United Alliance. As part of its final actions during the board meeting, the Board of Directors celebrated the association’s 55th Anniversary. Idealliance, having been founded in 1966 as the Computer Section of the Printing Industries of Amerca, recognized the volunteer and executive staff leadership of the asssociation. Over its history Idealliance has evolved with a common denominator to serve as a catalyst for technological change across the broad spectrum of the print and packaging production process and supply chain. On March 1, Idealliance took its next step to serve the broader industry by becoming a part of the PRINTING United Alliance.

Todd Maute, Idealliance Board Chairman said, “Idealliance has been in the forefront of many, if not most, of essential workflow transformations to remove friction in the graphic communications supply chain. It has engaged partners from upstream brands, publishers, creative and advertising agencies, and print buyers, as well as myriad print service providers, industry suppliers, and technology partners, to speed information, reduce cost, and create efficiencies."

Also, during its final board meeting, Idealliance recognized each Officer and Director for their service to Idealliance during the past year with the sole purpose of securing a viable strategic direction for its future. This effort began in late 2019 and resulted in the hiring of CEO Dick Ryan and Managing Director Steinhardt in April 2020. From April until this month, the Board of Directors met eight (8) times – with nearly 100% attendance by all Officers and Directors. Each Officer and Director was recognized with a Service Award. CEO Ryan thanked and recognized each Director. They were:

• Chair: Todd Maute, Partner, CBX LLC
• Treasurer & Past Chair: Wayne Marshall, President, Flatout Branding & Design
• Secretary: Meghan Milkowski, SVP, Commercial Operations-Print Products & Enterprise Services, Dow Jones & Company

Directors:

• Albin Baranauskas, Managing Director, Techkon GmbH
• Andrew Bullock, Partner, Spanner LLC
• Sonja Dearden, Print Production Manager, Lindt & Sprüngli
• Jack Frank, Color Process Manager North America-Multi Packaging Division, WestRock
• Edward Jansen, Vice President, PPS Professional Services, Canon Solutions America, Inc.
• Brian Keith, Senior Program Manager-Print & Color Management, Packaging & Content, Microsoft
• Traci L. Lucien, Vice President, Print Center, AARP
• Toby Saalfeld, US Director, Color Management, Ricoh USA, Inc.

CEO Ryan highlighted the steadfastness, governance and dedication of former Treasurer and Director Jansen, Past Chair and Treasurer Marshall, and Chairman Maute during the leadership transition.

At the conclusion of the board meeting, Idealliance recognized David Steinhardt for his service to Idealliance from 2001 to 2021, as both CEO and Managing Director. Steinhardt now concludes a long and distinguished career with Idealliance and the graphic communications industry. CEO Ryan noted his start with Graphic Communications Association (GCA) (Idealliance predecessor) as Director of Training in 1985 and then as Chief Operating Officer. Ryan stated that Steinhardt has spent twenty-five years, two-thirds of his career, with Idealliance from 1985 to 1991 and then again between 2001 to 2021 as CEO and Managing Director. Mr. Ryan showed a recognition award to be given to Mr. Steinhardt recognizing his dedication and stewardship on behalf of Idealliance and helping guide many of the transformations the industry has undergone, as well as his unique way of developing many friends along the way.

During his tenure with Idealliance, he separated GCA from Printing Industries of America and renamed the newly independent non-profit association, International Digital Enterprise Alliance (Idealliance); served as an early consolidator for a fragmented industry by merging seven industry groups into Idealliance; facilitated and released the G7 methodology and certification programs; created a global platform for global color management standards by launching international affiliates and joining and partnering with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); and creating one of the earliest and now preeminent industry online learning platforms for education and certification; and publishing core XML-based specifications in digital content publishing, mail and distribution, paper and forest products business supply chain, and production workflows in print and packaging. The Board acknowledged Mr. Steinhardt’s tenure and service to Idealliance with a standing ovation.

Mr. Steinhardt said, “Each generation, Idealliance has redefined itself staying ahead of change in the graphic communication industry, creating standards-based, automatable processes, enabling every part of the print and packaging supply chain to change, grow, and prosper. My last tour of duty with Idealliance was partnering with Dick Ryan, former Idealliance Board Chairman, and now as CEO, to guide the next strategic move by Idealliance. My success over my twenty-five years with Idealliance was built on the work of volunteer members and their transformation leadership. As Idealliance turns to its next generational change, our association will stay as relevant as ever in a rapidly changing print and packaging industry, serving its members by guiding them through the next revolution.”