Check out employment opportunities and find equipment for sale. Used equipment ad added 7/27/2010.  Only 2 CMC pieces left , hurry now to catch these great deals !

 Printing Industries of America has announced the 2010 Education Award of Excellence in the industry representative category as going to Katherine Gekker. The award is presented annually to an industry representative in recognition of outstanding contributions to education and training in the graphic arts.

Katherine Gekker is the director of the “Ambassador for Print & Graphics” program launched in 2007 by the Virginia Printing Foundation. The “Ambassador for Print & Graphics” program was designed by Ms. Gekker and aims to align education, workforce, industry, and economic growth strategies statewide so that more students take advantage and participate in the opportunities afforded by careers in the printing industry.

Ms. Gekker tours the commonwealth of Virginia educating students and teachers as well as raising awareness about the many benefits that the printing industry has to offer. Since 2007 when this program began, Ms. Gekker has increased teacher morale, worked closely with graphic communications programs to increase student awareness and enrollment in graphic programs, ensure graphic communication programs persist from one year to the next, and secured scholarship funding for instructors and programs for teacher continuing education and capital expenditures.

Ms. Gekker routinely visits the 19 graphic communications program’s throughout Virginia to educate students and work with teachers to preserve graphic communication programs as well as raised interest in them. In doing so, Ms. Gekker hopes to avoid future workforce shortage and help the industry flourish.

The “Ambassadors for Print & Graphics” program has seen PrintEd accreditation applications increase dramatically, two new scholarships program launch (The Progress Printing Education Scholarship and the E. Worth Higgins, Jr., Print Educator’s Grant), the Education Summit adopting the program as a key initiative that recognizes it as a program that can be duplicated elsewhere and several Virginia high schools add graphic communication courses to their curriculum.

“Katherine approaches her challenge from every angle, mentoring students, persuading parents, supporting teachers, communicating with advisory and school boards and advocating for statewide programs,” a peer said.

Education Awards of Excellence will be presented in front of academic educators and industry trainers at the 2010 GASC/Printing Industries of America Teacher’s Conference, October 2-4 in Chicago, IL. For more information about the Education Awards of Excellence, please contact Chrystal Senay at 800-910-4283, ext. 736 or csenay@printing.org. 

Congratulations to:

Einstine Anonas, who placed 7th in Advertising Design for post-secondary students.  Einstine is Pam Smith's student, at CS Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg, VA.

James Williams, who placed 10th in Screen Printing.  James is a student at Hermitage Technical Center in Richmond, VA.  He is instructed by Bill Burton.

Ben Phillips, who won 2nd place in Graphic Communications.  Ben is a student at CS Monroe Technology Center in Leesburg, VA and instructed by Pam Smith.

Student Scholarship Winner:  Walter Alvarado has been awarded a scholarship toward his college education.  A student at CS Monroe Technology Center and Park View High School, he has served an internship with ColorCraft of Virginia in pre-press, press and bindery.   Walter has competed in SkillsUSA, earning a 6th Place in the 2010 Virginia Graphic Communications contest, a 2nd place in the 2010 Virginia Advertising Design competition in the post-graduate level, and also received a 3rd place in the Virginia 2010 T-Shirt Design competition.  He plans to attend college in the fall of 2010 and major in graphic communications/printing technology.

The student scholarship is funded by the Virginia Printing Foundation.

Educator Scholarship Winner:  Pam Smith has been awarded the following:

The Progress Printing Education Scholarship

The E. Worth Higgins, Jr. , Print Educator's Scholarship

These scholarships are funded by Progress Printing, Lynchburg, VA and Worth Higgins Associates, Richmond, VA.

Pam Smith, Graphics Communications Instructor, Monroe Technology Center, will use her scholarship for further education classes toward her Associate in Printing Management, and to buy software and computer equipment for her classroom.               

The first Women In Print luncheon of the year was celebrated on May 12th. Kate Dunn of Digital Innovations Group presented on business models and marketing. We thank Rhett Riddle of Kenmore Envelope Company for letting us use his lunch room.

Mark your calendars for the next Women In Print on June 16th at Pogress Printing in Lynchburg.

Unisource Establishes Social Media Presence on Facebook; Twitter

Printegration recognized as PIVA's Longest Active Member

Progress Press is now Chocklett Press!

Wide Format Printing Arrives at McClung

McClung recognizes Employee of the Quarter

Print is durable.

• 24% of readers pass articles to someone else.
• 23% save an article for future reference.
• 13% visit a related website.

Source: Print in the Mix: Fast Facts, www.printinthemix.org

In three-fourths of households, women are CEOs of the Mail.

• 95% choose which ads to keep
• 93% clip coupons
• 86% write the checks

Clearly direct advertising reaches decision makers.

Source: Deliver, Volume 5, Issue 2

The Virginia Printing Foundation has inducted William D. Burton, graphics instructor at Hermitage Technical Center, Richmond and Paul Vadeboncoeur, former graphics instructor at Spotsylvania Career Center, Spotsylvania. The induction took place in conjunction with the 50th Best In Print. Congratulations Bill & Paul!

The year 2009 marked the 50th celebration of the Best In Print program.  Although the snow almost put a damper on the celebration, we managed to kick off the celebration in the end of March 2010. This "star studded" celebration included past PIVA Chairmen, a past PIVA president, old friends and more. Check it out...

For the 50th anniversary of the Best In Print competition, 27 companies participated with a total of 634 entries. A total of 195 First Place awards and 322 Awards of Excellence were awarded by judges Lindsay Ferrari and Brad Evans of Printing Industries of America. Twenty-three special awards were also awarded which included 2 awards presented to four schools in the state of Virginia and a People's Choice award voted at the banquet by the attendees.

 Virginia State SkillsUSA Graphic Communications Contest: On Saturday, March 20th, 2010, this contest took place at North Stafford High School.

We're proud to announce the winners of this year's competition:

1st Place: Ben Phillips, CS Monroe Technology Center (teacher: Pam Smith)

2nd Place: Chad Wood, North Stafford High School (teacher: Susan Caldwell)

3rd Place: Aaron Hyre, North Stafford High School (teacher: Susan Caldwell)

Congratulations to all contestants, and their teachers!

Let us introduce you to our newest Member Services partner Enernoc. 

Click to find out more...

Best In Print entries were judged early December by Printing Industries of America experts Brad Evans and Lindsay Ferrari. The judges awarded 195 First Place awards and 322 Awards of Excellence to printers throughout the state. They also awarded a total of 22 Best of awards.

Don't miss our 50th Best In Print celebration on January 30th! The celebration will be in Richmond at the Wyndham Airport Hotel. This year's program will be a party to remember as we say goodbye to old friends, get reacquainted with old ones and introduce new ones. We have extended an invitation to Governor Elect Bob McDonnell. Be sure to be there to meet the new Virginia Governor.

Thanks to our generous sponsors and the golfers, the Virginia Printing Foundation raised over $6,000 for the Ambassadors for Print & Graphics program. Our special thanks go to Education Sponsors: VADA & Winchester Printers; Hole Sponsors: Fannon Fine Printing & Good Printers; Prize Sponsors: Hewlett Packard, Indigo Division, Clinch Valley Printing & Heidelberg; Hospitality Sponsors: VA Beach Printing & Sentry. Click for event coverage...

This year's Mid Atlantic Print Management Conference was held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. It featured great speakers, fun for the kids and family, and a golf tournament. Click to get the full coverage...

Congratulations to Heidelberg, Kodak and Xeikon for winning the 2009 Intertech Technology Awards. These awards were presented to 9 companies. Heidelberg won one award, Kodak won two awards, and Xeikon won one award. Click to read more...

 The Virginia Printing Foundation has awarded an education scholarship to Hermitage Technical Center student Casey O'Farrell. This is one of many scholarships awarded by the foundation for several years. The Ambassador program is responsible in keeping this tradition alive.

Graphic communications students in Northern Virginia and Richmond honor Progress Printing for their Progress Through Education scholarship awarded last year. The Progress Through Education Scholarship was founded to help programs throughout the state that offer graphic communications in their curriculum. The Virginia Printing Foundation, the students in the state of Virginia and PIVA thank Michael Thornton for his generous contribution.

The Virginia Printing Foundation has awarded the Worth Higgins Progress Through Education Scholarship to Pam Smith instructor at CS Monroe Technology Center iin Leesburg and Bill Burton instructor at Hermitage Technical Center in Richmond.

The scholarship was founded by Progress Printing in Lynchburg and expanded by Worth Higgins & Associates this year. We extend our sincere appreciation to both contributors and congratulate Pam and Bill.

The Ambassadors for Print & Graphics practices what it teaches. This weekend at the Henrico County CTE Program Conference,  Ambassadors director Katie Gekker and PIVA board member Wil Jones (The Embossing Co) spoke to students and parents about printing along with graphics instructor Bill Burton (Hermitage Tech Center). One of the goals of the Ambassador program is to bring awareness to printing and graphics as careers.

Siete de Mayo Fiesta was a success with over 45 people in attendance. The event featured Linda Bishop speaking on Selling in Tough Times and margaritas.

Click to find out more...

With OSHA on the prowl targeting Virginia printers the last couple of months, you need to make sure you are following the right safety procedures. PIA has put together a guide that will help you on making your plant safer and will meet OSHA's standards. Click to find out more.

The Virginia Printing Foundation extends their sincere gratitude to Rhett Riddle of Kenmore Envelope Company who donated an Epson 9600 wide-format printer for the Ambassador program. Congratulations to Fauquier High School in Warrenton who was selected out of all the high schools and technical centers in the state. Please take a look at our Ambassadors section on the right panel for more information about the Ambassadors for Print & Graphics program.

Around 30 ladies gathered for the first Women In Print luncheon at Worth Higgins & Associates on February 18th. Luncheon featured four exceptional speakers; Julie Mouganis, Lisa Rawa, Katie Gekker, and Meredith Mayes. Our sincere appreciation goes to Rick LaReau and Susan Higgins for hosting the event. Click to find out more...

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