LPIA Names New Officers, Inducts Frantz into Hall of Fame and Details Technical Institute Program
PITTSBURGH—December 10, 2008—The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of new officers to the LPIA Board of Directors for 2009–2010. Serving as chairman of the board is Randy Hicks, vice president of operations, WS Packaging Group/SenecaSalem in Franklin, PA. Serving as vice chairman is Bernie Lacy, vice president, Litho Press Inc. in Indianapolis. The secretary/treasurer position will be held by Louis Iovoli, vice president of sales and marketing, Hammer Packaging Corporation, Rochester, NY. William J. Hickey, III will serve as the immediate past chairman. Bill is the president & CEO of Smyth Companies in Minneapolis.
LPIA is also pleased to announce the appointment of four additional directors to the LPIA Board of Directors. Stacy Buening, vice president and general counsel, Philipp Lithographing Co., Grafton, WI; James Helms, president, Oak Printing Co., Cleveland, OH; Scott Payne, director of corporate procurement and analysis, Inland Label & Marketing Services, LLC, LaCrosse, WI; and Robert Kuehl, director of Polar Cutting Systems, Heidelberg USA, Inc., Kennesaw, GA.
In other news, the association announced that Stephan Frantz, COO, Huston Patterson Corp. is the ninth recipient of the LPIA Hall of Fame. Frantz was inducted during the November 2008 LPIA Fall Management Conference.
Frantz has been involved with the printing industry for more than 40 years, beginning in the pressroom of Colwell Printing in 1964. The publication and stationary printer became Kowa Graphics in 1975. Frantz joined the staff of Midland Litho in 1980 as assistant to the vice president, commercial division, a company known for printing Hallmark greeting cards and state road maps. In 1985, Frantz was hired by Huston Patterson as general manager, where he worked on Sangamon Greeting cards and assisted in establishing national sales territories for labels. Frantz served as vice president, sales and production, for Printing Incorporated from 1990–1995; worked as vice president of sales and marketing for Midland Litho from 1995–2000; and rejoined Huston Patterson in 2000 in his current position of COO. During his successful printing career, Frantz has worked or supervised in every area of the field but accounting.
Frantz currently serves on the LPIA Board of Directors.
The LPIA Hall of Fame is conferred to that label or packaging executive (printer or supplier) who has reached an unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement in the industry—a leader who has gone far beyond the standard obligations to become a dominant force in shaping the business of label printing. Sponsored by LPIA, this award is dedicated to the spirit of those industry pioneers whose hard work and determination have created a vibrant, growing, and changing industry.
LPIA also announced the dates for its third annual Technical Institute. The program will take place February 22–24, 2009, at the Printing Industries of America in Pittsburgh.
The program is designed with your entire technical team in mind. Developed by the members for the members, this dynamic program offers real-time tactical insight and direction featuring technical experts who will share their knowledge and impart practical, real-world applications, best practices, and solid solutions.
Delve in-depth into issues such as sustainable packaging perspectives from packaging managers; what’s new in the world of substrates; foam labeling and packaging—applying new ideas to an old concept; the latest developments and applications within the industry, as well as an update on the progress of PLA and other biopolymer based initiatives on labeling and packaging and strategies; inks and coatings; impact of the label on recycling PET containers; digital printing; managing color in the pressroom; freight logistics; Lean/continuous improvement; and the environmental impacts of packaging and labels.
The LPIA Technical Institute was borne from the recognition that label and packaging printers need the latest cutting-edge technical expertise to match their customer and market demand. Mark your calendar and commit now to attend the 2009 LPIA Technical Institute, February 22–24, 2009, at the Printing Industries of America in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Space is limited, so register today!
For more details on the LPIA Technical Institute, please contact Laurie Reynolds at 412-259-1802 or via email at lreynolds@printing.org.
About LPIA:
The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA), a chapter of the Printing Industries of America, represents a membership of privately and publicly owned label converting, packaging, and box wrap printers throughout North America producing more than 75% of the glue-applied labels converted in North America for the consumer packaging industry, including food, beverage, household products, and pet products.
