NPES Presents 2014 Harold W. Gegenheimer Awards for Industry Service at Its Annual Conference

RESTON, VA—November 4, 2014—NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies awarded its 2014 Harold W. Gegenheimer Individual and Corporate Awards for Industry Service to DJ Burgess and the Eastman Kodak, respectively. The awards, named for the former NPES president and Baldwin Technology chairman emeritus, recognize leadership and participation in NPES and industry activities, civic leadership and technical innovation. They were presented at the NPES 2014 Annual Conference and PRIMIR Winter Meeting, held Nov. 2-4, in Charleston, SC.

DJ Burgess, president/CEO of Burgess Industries, has been a longtime and dedicated supporter of NPES and the graphic communications industry whose many years of volunteer contributions and active participation in Association activities go beyond his two terms on NPES' Board of Directors. Elected as NPES chairman in 2009, he simultaneously served in this capacity for the Boards of Directors of the Graphic Arts Show Company and also the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation. Over the years, DJ shared much of his time and expertise serving on a wide range of NPES committees and also lent his expertise for the "World-wide Market for Print" study 2012 update. Each year, in addition to dedicating his time to association leadership and committee work, DJ also participated in a variety of NPES programs and events including: NPES Industry Summits, PRINT OUTLOOK programs, Regional Meetings, the Vision 3 Summit and has been an active industry advocate during the annual PRINT'S VOICE Capitol Hill Fly-in.

"Few members can match the commitment DJ has exhibited to NPES," said Ralph Nappi, president of NPES. "NPES owes a tremendous debt of gratitude for his service. We are honored to be able to recognize him for his longstanding dedication to NPES and our industry."

Eastman Kodak, the Corporate Award recipient, was particularly recognized for the past support and many contributions the organization and its leaders have made to NPES, and to the industry. Over the years, Kodak has been an industry leader providing technological innovations that have served to drive our industry forward. Among its involvement with NPES and its research arm, PRIMIR, Kodak has provided service on the NPES, GASC and GAERF Boards of Directors and actively participated in Association meetings and events. Additionally, the company's commitment to our industry extends deep and companywide with Kodak's knowledgeable staff sharing their expertise to benefit the work of NPES' Standards Committees.

"Over many years, Kodak has been a leader in innovation working to provide efficient and cost-effective systems to the graphic communications industry," said Nappi. "We are grateful for Kodak's meaningful contribution to the industry—and to NPES."

Burgess and Kodak each received plaques, and their names will also be added to a plaque of past awardees on display at NPES headquarters. NPES has also established two Harold W. Gegenheimer Award scholarships with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, to which two thousand dollars is given each year. These scholarships are awarded to the employees, or children of employees, of NPES members who are pursuing studies in graphic communications.

About NPES
NPES is a U.S. trade association representing more than 600 companies that manufacture and distribute equipment, software and supplies used across the workflow of printing, publishing and converting process. NPES is a co-sponsor of the global PRINT exhibition, and GRAPH EXPO—the largest and most comprehensive exhibition in the Americas of inkjet, digital, offset, flexo, gravure and hybrid technologies, products, and services for the commercial, transactional, converting and package printing, publishing, mailing, in-plant, photo imaging, marketing and industrial printing industries.

Source: NPES.