PIA/GATF Announces 2009 Officers and Board
PITTSBURGH—November 17, 2008—The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) is pleased to announce the installation of its 2009 Officers and Board of Directors. An installation ceremony took place on November 16, 2008 at PIA/GATF's Fall Administrative Meetings.
Chairman of the Board - Ken Kaufman, President of Omniprint, Inc., Lanham, MD
Ken Kaufman is President of Omniprint, Inc., a print and mailing firm in Lanham, Maryland. In business since 1971, the company specializes in production and distribution of newsletters for businesses, political advocates, and trade associations in Washington, DC. Four years ago the company expanded into the direct mail market. On January 2, 2008, the company was purchased by Corporate Press Companies, continuing to operate in its own building with its own staff. Since 1973, Kaufman has been involved with his local PIA/GATF affiliate, serving as president of the Printing Industry of Metropolitan Washington in 1989-90. He was also the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award in 1991, and Kaufman continued to serve on the Board of Directors of the Printing and Graphics Association Mid-Atlantic until 2008. Kaufman joined the PIA/GATF National Board in 2000 and has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2005. He is also a four-year member of the Finance Committee, the Investment Committee, and a past chairman of the Presidents Conference Committee.
1st Vice Chairman - Bill Gibson, Chicago, IL
Gibson grew up in a family tradition of print. In 1908, his grandfather started Gibson Graphics, Inc., a commercial sheetfed printing company in Chicago, and Gibson's father took over the company after World War II. After graduating college, Gibson worked for Waverly Publishing until his father decided to sell Gibson Graphics in 1982. Gibson purchased the company and ran it until he sold the business to Rider Dickerson, Inc. in 2000. He is active in his affiliate, Printing Industry of Illinois/Indiana Association, and serves on its board, and he is past president of the Ben Franklin Club of Chicago. Gibson also currently serves as chairman of the PIA/GATF Presidents Conference Advisory Committee.
2nd Vice Chairman - Michael Keene, President and CEO, The John Roberts Company, Minneapolis, MN
Keene started his career while attending The University of Minnesota. After graduating in 1972, he was appointed supervisor of the John Roberts prepress department and was named Vice President in 1982. Keene has served as president of The John Roberts Company since 1986 and as Chief Executive Officer since 1994. During Keene's tenure, The John Roberts Company has increased market share and maintained a reputation for technical excellence and the effective integration of new technologies. Spearheading the company's investment in ISO 9001:2000 certification is just one of the ways in which he has led The John Roberts Company into the highly competitive global economy of the 21st century.
Secretary - Laura Lawton-Forsyth of Lawton Printing, Inc., Spokane, WA
Laura Lawton-Forsyth is President of Lawton Printing, Inc. and File-EZ Folder, Inc., both located in Spokane, WA. She is the fourth generation to join the family business, working full-time beginning in January 1991 and becoming President in October 2001. Lawton-Forsyth's industry involvement is extensive. She has been involved with the Pacific Printing & Imaging Association (PPI) since 2002, most recently becoming Board President in 2008. She has been affiliated with the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) since 2001 serving as R&D Committee Member in 2001; Board Member 2002-present; Chair, Young Print Professionals Group, 2004-present; Chair, Education Committee and Executive Committee member 2006-present; and Finance Committee Member, 2008-present. She has also been a Kodak Commercial Printing Advisory Group Member, serving from 2004-2007.
Treasurer - Hal Slager of Trico Graphics, Inc, Chicago, IL (continued term)
A Certified Public Accountant by trade, Slager has spent over 20 years with Trico Graphics. Founded as Triangle Engraving Company in 1915, the company evolved to focus on sales and marketing support services with Slager as a driving force in advancing the company into electronic publishing. Slager also serves his community as a Town Councilman in Schererville, Indiana and is a director for the Calumet Region Striders, a local running club of 500 members.
Immediate Past Chairman - Janet Green, CEO of Greens Inc., Irvine, CA
Green was the first female Chairman of the Board in PIA/GATF's history, which dates back to 1887. A 25-year veteran of the printing industry, Green has worked in nearly every department in her company, a third-generation, family-owned firm which has operated since 1908. Green has served on the PIA/GATF board for over 10 years and has been involved in countless committees, including government affairs, GAIN, finance, and business practices. She has chaired both the Association Relations Committee and Planning Committee and served on the Task Force which led the efforts to consolidate PIA and GATF. On the local level, she served on and ultimately chaired the Finance, Government Affairs, and Public Relations Committees of Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC), and in 1999 she became one of the youngest people in PIASC's history to serve as Chairman of the Board. In 2004, she was recognized as PIASC's Executive of the Year.
Also joining the Board of Directors for 2009 are John Barry of Jay Kay Press, Dallas, TX; Ed Chalifoux of PIA of the South, Nashville, TN; Bryan Hall of Graphic Printing Services, Greensboro, NC; Tony Mancuso of TUI, Phoenix, AZ; Bart Nay, II of Bart Nay Printing, Houston, TX; David Olberding, of Phototype, Columbus, OH; Frank Parks of Parks Printing, Modesto, CA; Boyd Richardson of RR Donnelley, San Diego, CA; John Rosenthal of Digital Color Graphics, Southampton, PA; Randy Sparrow of Reflections Press, Woods Cross, UT; Brad Thompson of Inland Press, Detroit, MI; and Stephen Zenger of The Zenger Group, Buffalo, NY.
About PIA/GATF
PIA/GATF is the world's largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. PIA/GATF, along with its affiliates, delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information. For more information, visit www.gain.net.
