PROMOTIONS
Ric Fisher assumed the position of executive vice president of Englewood, Colo.-based manufacturer PrintXcel's Document Group. He's responsible for sales, operations, and profits and losses at all Document Group facilities. Most recently, Fisher led the company's evaluation and integration of ProcessXcellence, which includes safety programs, pricing systems, preventative maintenance programs and total quality management/ continuous improvement programs. Fisher joined the company in April 1999 with the acquisition of Lancer Label, where he served as president for four years. Allen Conway continues to serve as executive vice president of PrintXcel's Label Group. He's responsible for sales, operations, and profits and losses at all Label Group facilities. Charles Hester was named plant manager of the Terre Haute, Ind., facility of manufacturer DealerLabel, a PrintXcel brand. Previously, he served as shipping and warehouse manager. Paul Luneke was named regional sales manager of DealerLabel's Terre Haute facility. Previously, he served 15 years with Moore Business Forms, including the positions of label marketing manager, product manager for thermal products, national sourcing manager and marketing programs manager.
Tom Socha was promoted to packaging vice president of business development for North America at Brooklyn Park, Minn.-based supplier SICPA North America Inc. He's responsible for marketing the company's packaging portfolio and focusing on key accounts and end user relationships. He also continues his general management role at the company's Cincinnati plant. A 20-year ink industry veteran, Socha has experience with manufacturing, quality control, technical sales and marketing, plant management, and operations. Gordon MacKenzie was named Eastern region general manager. A 25-year veteran of the liquid inks packaging industry, he's experienced with the manufacturing, technical management, sales and customer support management aspects of the business.
Gene Foster was elected vice president of Minnesota operations for Boise, Idaho-based supplier Boise Cascade Corp.'s Boise Paper Solutions division. Foster, who joined the company in 1990, most recently served as regional manager of Minnesota operations at the company's paper mill in International Falls, Minn. Previously, he served as general manger of the company's Wallula, Wash., paper mill; operations manager of its Jackson, Ala., paper mill; and maintenance manager of the Boise Cascade Canada paper mill in Kenora, Ontario.
Ron Urbanczyk joined the Buffalo, N.Y., branch of manufacturer Newtown/CPC, based in Fredericksburg, Va., as vice president of manufacturing. He's responsible for managing daily operations; establishing new manufacturing standards; managing employee performance programs; acting as a liaison between the firm's sales and manufacturing departments; and leading quality, productivity and waste-reduction efforts. Urbanczyk, who has 28 years of printed product and technical knowledge, previously served Moore Corp. Dennis Hayward was promoted to plant manager of the Buffalo office. He's responsible for scheduling jobs to maximize on-time delivery and customer satisfaction. Hayward, who has 28 years of experience in plant operations, previously served as first shift supervisor. Lawrence Seibert was promoted to traffic control and bindery supervisor in Buffalo. Seibert, who has 17 years of manufacturing experience in the areas of bindery, material handling, encoding and label production, has extensive collator, press, inventory, releases, shipping and receiving experience. Greg McClure was promoted to prepress and planning supervisor in Buffalo. He's responsible for planning and scheduling orders, and supervising the firm's composition and plate-making departments. McClure has 16 years of industry experience and 15 years of press operator experience. Jim Cronin joined the firm as controller. Cronin, who has 18 years of accounting experience, served 12 years as a certified public accounting audit supervisor specializing in manufacturing and consulting, and six years as a manufacturing controller.
Terry Gould was named director of sales at Atlanta-based supplier Georgia-Pacific's commercial papers group. He's responsible for driving the company's continued focus on delivering high-quality papers and best-in-class services to commercial printers, digital printers, book publishers, converters and other high-volume printing customers. Previously, Gould served more than five years as director of sales and marketing for the firm's kraft paper group.
NEW HIRES
William Deford was named Southeast division vice president of operations at Dallas-based distributorship IDS (Integrated Document Solutions Inc.) In this newly created position, he's responsible for the daily management and direction of the firm's Tennessee operations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville, Cleveland and Dayton, and Georgia operations in Dalton and North Atlanta. Previously, he served as managing partner with BMA LLP, a mergers and acquisitions consulting group. Deford is based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Stuart G. Putnam, MAS , joined manufacturer Prime Resources Corp., Bridgeport, Conn., as senior account manager. Putnam, who has more than 20 years of sales experience, previously served as vice president of sales for Diport USA, where he was responsible for key account activity and managing and supervising the company's multiline reps nationwide. He also served as vice president of sales for the Norwood Collection, regional vice president for Advertising Unlimited Inc. and as national sales manager for American Calendar Co. Putnam is based in Florida. Ben Black was named Midwest regional sales manger, serving Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. Black previously served a distributorship and a business information firm. Michael Leone joined the company's sales force. Leone, who has several years of industry supplier sales/service experience, manages sales in Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Peter March joined Andover, Mass.-based Standard Finishing Systems, a division of print finishing systems and reprographic equipment supplier Standard Duplicating Machines Corp., as director of sales for print-on-demand products. He's responsible for all sales activities for the division's Hunkeler and Horizon finishing and paper processing products, sold through its direct sales team. Previously, March served as director of sales for Moore North America. Mark Turner was named field sales manager for the Western region. He's responsible for all sales activities for the division's line of digital duplicating and desktop print finishing solutions for independent distributors. Previously, he served as branch manager for California Office Systems Inc., Los Angeles.
Anna Lundberg joined Redmond, Wash.-based manufacturer Puget Sound Envelope as a project manager and customer service representative. Lundberg, who has more than 10 years of printing and customer service experience, previously served Telepress Inc., Issaquah, Wash.
AWARDS
Ray Roper , president of Printing Industries of America (PIA), was awarded the Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) 2003 North American Award by the Printing Industries Association of Florida Inc. GALA recipients are chosen for their leadership in management, technology, business and quality, as well as their contributions to the graphic arts industry, their community and society in general. Roper, who was named president and CEO of PIA in 1987, serves as secretary of the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation and chairman of the Paper Industry Association Council. He also serves on the Industry Advisory Committee of the Rochester Institute of Technology, is a member of The Organizing Committee of Comprint International, and has held leadership positions with The Boy Scouts of America, The United Way, The Rotary and The Chamber of Commerce. Roper will receive his award Jan. 24, 2003 at the 20th annual GALA Award Banquet and Reception in Miami Beach, Fla., during Graphics of the Americas 2003.
Jay Vento , owner of Proforma Spectrum Graphics Unlimited, West Caldwell, N.J., received the first Co-CEO Champion Award from Proforma, a network of 600 independently owned printing and promotional products distributorships in North America and Puerto Rico. Vento was recognized for his company's June 2002 billings--a record amount for monthly billings within U.S.-based Proforma companies. Vento, a 15-year industry veteran and past president of Proforma's Owner Advisory Council, received the award at the 2002 Proforma annual convention, held July 24-27 in Baltimore.
IN MEMORIAM
Paul T. Black, CFC , 74, vice president of Fullerton, Calif., distributorship Paragon Print Resources, died Aug. 22 of cancer. A 40-plus-year industry veteran, Black served Sterling Tag, Ohio; Beard Business Forms, Pittsburgh; Johnson Business Forms, Pittsburgh; Currie Systems, New York; Consolidated Graphic Communications, Bridgeville, Pa.; and Pioneer Business Forms Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., before joining Paragon Print Resources in 1985. Black was among the first group of professionals to pass DMIA's CFC (now CDC) exam in 1976, earning CFC certificate No. 12. He is survived by his wife Pat; sons Terry, Shawn and Shane; daughter Shannon Oswald; and mother Pauline. A memorial service was held Aug. 27 at McAulay and Wallace Mortuary in Fullerton.
