Ralph Nappi Announces Departure from NPES, GASC After 10 Years as President

RESTON, Va.—October 30, 2015—At the NPES Board of Directors Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, this week, NPES President Ralph Nappi advised the board of his intention to transition out of the organization. "After 10 years at the helm, it is time for NPES to find its next leader and for me to find my next passion." Nappi continued, "As we consider a new strategic planning process, it became apparent to me that this would be the right time to bring in a new executive. Along with NPES' very strong balance sheet and the most committed and innovative staff I have worked with in my 35 year association career it was clear that now is a very good time to go."

The timeline for Nappi's departure is still being developed but he has agreed to continue for 90 days after the new president is hired. Besides serving as president of NPES, Nappi serves as president of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), and president of the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF). He will resign all three positions at the same time.

After the announcement, Mal Baboyian, chairman of NPES and GASC, and executive vice president, Large Format Solutions & Production Print Solutions, Canon Solutions America, stated, "Ralph has guided us very effectively during a time of substantial change. NPES, GASC and GAERF have been fortunate to have had a leader with such strong strategic and fiscal acumen. Ralph will certainly be missed, but he has provided an orderly transition plan that gives us the benefit of time and his expertise and includes him serving on the search committee for his replacement."

Nappi added, "I have had only two jobs in the last 30 years and I am proud that NPES was one of them. But now it is time to write a new chapter that will allow a little more time for family and other pursuits."

About NPES
NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies is a U.S. trade association representing more than 600 companies nationwide that manufacture and distribute equipment, software and supplies used across the workflow of printing, publishing and the converting process. NPES is a partner in the Graphic Arts Show Company that sponsors the global PRINT exhibition and GRAPH EXPO—the largest and most comprehensive prepress, printing, converting and package printing, binding and finishing, mailing and fulfillment, and digital, inkjet, offset, flexo, gravure, and hybrid technologies, products and services trade show and conference in the Americas.

NPES offers members a wide range of services including: informational publications; statistical, market research and education programs; government affairs representation; safety and technical standards development coordination in the national and international arenas; and, international trade assistance.

About Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC)
GRAPH EXPO and PRINT are the largest and most comprehensive graphic communications trade shows and conferences in the Americas and are produced by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC). GASC is owned by Epicomm, NPES-The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, and the Printing Industries of America. GASC is managed and directed by NPES from their headquarters in Reston, Virginia.

About GAERF
The Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation was created in 1983 by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) three founding partners: Epicomm, NPES and Printing Industries of America. GAERF's mission is to develop the next generation workforce for the graphic arts industry. GAERF is managed and directed by NPES from their headquarters in Reston, Virginia.

Source: NPES.