EFI’s Guy Gecht Receives Idealliance Soderstrom Award
Held annually on the eve of the PRINT and GRAPH EXPO shows, the Idealliance (Booth 2067) Soderstrom Awards Dinner recognizes the accomplishments of industry leaders, and gives executives from across the visual media value chain an opportunity to come together for an elegant evening of networking, renewing old friendships, and making new ones.
The 2017 event was held on Saturday, September 9, at Chicago’s Gleacher Center, and featured the presentation of the 57th annual Walter E. Soderstrom Award to Guy Gecht, Chief Executive Officer of EFI, and the induction of 11 new members into the prestigious Idealliance Soderstrom Society.
“Guy Gecht has a distinguished record of leadership in our industry and an unparalleled dedication to its progress and technological innovation,” says David Steinhardt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Idealliance. “He is a singularly worthy recipient of this significant honor, and Idealliance is delighted to present him with its 2017 Walter E. Soderstrom Award.”
Known for his insights and strong vision of the printing industry’s future, Gecht has helped redefine the ways printing companies pursue new markets and refine their production operations, and has guided EFI to become one of the industry’s most successful publicly traded companies.
Gecht joined EFI in 1995 and served in a variety of management and engineering roles, including company President, before becoming Chief Executive Officer in January 2000. From 1996 until 1999, he led engineering efforts for its largest product line, became Vice President, General Manager of EFI’s Fiery Servers Division. He led his team to dramatically expand EFI’s server product line, launching more than 35 products in 1998 alone.
Gecht was named a “Legend of Silicon Valley” in 2013 by the Frost & Sullivan Institute, and a 2015 Game Changer by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. In 2015 he also received the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) Michael H Bruno Award for his dedicated service and contributions to the advancement of the global graphic arts industry. Gecht holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and computer science from Ben Gurion University in Israel.
Society inductees
Eleven men and women representing every aspect of industry service were also honored with induction into the Idealliance Soderstrom Society:
- Robert Barbera, Senior Manager, Production Solutions Division, Canon USA Inc. (Booth 1213)
- John Falconetti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Drummond Press
- Rose Flanagan, Manager of Postal Strategies and Logistics, Data-Mail Inc.
- Tom Glassman, Director of Data Services and Postal Affairs, Wilen Direct
- Hampton Hale, Director of National Programs, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, USA Inc. (Booth 2031)
- Dianne Kennedy, XML Evangelist Emeritus & Editor, XML Specifications, Idealliance
- Chris Lien, President, BCC Software (Booth 642)
- Michael Marcantonio, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Franchise Brands (Booth 4531)
- Anita Pursley, Vice President, Postal Affairs, LSC Communications
- Paula Stoskopf, Director of Marketing and Industry Relations, Fairrington
- Bob Schimek, Senior Director of Postal Affairs, Satori Software (Booth 244)
The Soderstrom Society—an honors association named for Walter E. Soderstrom, one of the founders of Idealliance predecessor association NAPL—recognizes the contributions of professionals whose careers have advanced the visual communications and media industry.
“Our 2017 Soderstrom Society inductees have served with dedication and distinction across print, mail, and digital communications and in a range of expertise in manufacturing, marketing, standards, and technology,” says Steinhardt. “Their accomplishments have had a positive impact on the entire industry, and to make graphic communications more competitive in a changing media landscape. We are pleased to be able to recognize them with induction into our illustrious circle.”
To learn more about the Soderstrom Award and Society or about the programs and services of Idealliance, visit Booth 2067, go to www.idealliance.org, call 703-837-1070, or contact membership@idealliance.org.
