Neographics Event Goes ‘Green’

PHILADELPHIA—Green has quickly become the earth-friendly color of choice for buyers of printing and, hence, their print suppliers. Subsequently, the emphasis on environmental sustainability provided a timely “Greener Than We Think” theme for the 37th annual Neographics Power of Print awards exhibition, ceremony and dinner held here May 1.

Hosted by the Graphic Arts Association (GAA), 400 attendees crowded the Crystal Tea Room in the Wanamaker Building to pay tribute to all of the Franklin Award, Best of Category and Power of Print winners, as well as the 2008 individual honorees.

Chosen from nearly 400 entries, Pomco Graphic Arts, Philadelphia, took home the 2008 Power of Print award; followed by first runner-up Innovation Printing & Communications, Philadelphia; second runner-up Oxford Bookbinding of Philadelphia; third runner-up ITP of USA, Elizabethtown, PA; and fourth runner-up Pearl Pressman Liberty Communications Group in Philadelphia.

Veteran industry sales and marketing consultant Dick Gorelick was honored as the “Person of the Year.” James Moore, lead pressman at Joseph H. Tees & Son Printing in Bensalem, PA, was named the “Pressperson of the Year.” And Francis Ciociola, retired vice president of production at Innovation Printing, received “Unsung Hero” kudos for helping others during his 46-year career in the printing industry.

Among the Best of Category winners, Professional Graphic Communications, Sewickley, PA, received the GAA’s new Environmental Stewardship Award (greenest project). All attendees also took home canvas grocery bags donated by Wegmans (grocery chain) and live plants in Cabrun Ink cans to reinforce the environmental sustainability theme of the annual event.