Print Solutions Magazine

Jeffrey Kenny was named president of Bertek Systems, Georgia, Vt. He previously served as president of Standard Register’s document and label solutions strategic business unit, COO for WS Packaging Group and general manager of the prime label business for the Fasson Roll Division of Avery Dennison. In these roles, Kenny initiated business development, strategic planning, innovation, quality improvement, productivity improvement, ISO, Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, team development, and cost reduction.

Steve James was named Southeastern regional sales manager at Prime UV Systems. He directs sales of UV curing equipment and IR drying equipment in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, the Carolinas, Tennessee and West Virginia. James previously served as director of sales, national accounts, at Oxy Dry Corporation and district sales manager at Solna Corporation. Prime UV Systems is headquartered in Carol Stream, Ill.

Dave Knappenberger was named vice president of information technology at Printegra, Peachtree City, Ga. Knappenberger’s experience includes directing information technology teams and enterprise business system projects for more than 15 years, most recently as director of information technology for a printing company.

Adam Slutsky was named CEO at Mimeo.com, New York City, where he is responsible for extending the company’s leading position in online document printing, binding, and delivery. Prior to joining Mimeo.com, Slutsky was a co-founder of Moviefone Inc., a movie information and ticketing service, and senior vice president at AOL.

John G. Bruno was named senior vice president and general manager of Symbol Technologies Inc.’s RFID division. He spearheads the Holtsville, N.Y.-based company’s global RFID initiatives, including technology innovation, product development and go-to-market strategies. Bruno previously served as Symbol Technologies’ senior vice president of corporate development and chief marketing officer.

Alisa S. Brennan was named art director and creative services manager at Prime Resources Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn. Brennan manages a staff of designers and copywriters to develop stronger creative initiatives for distributors. Qing Wang was hired to manage the company’s quality program. She previously managed quality for Jiangling Motors. Melissa Pirkey was named product designer. Mary C. Pugh was hired to direct the company’s marketing program. Pugh served as vice president for several corporations and advertising agencies, managing major marketing initiatives for blue chip brands. Joseph Nehm, an industrial engineer with more than 30 years’ experience, was hired to develop and implement optimal, cost-effective manufacturing and production processes, methods and controls using Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean methodologies. John Lampart was hired as a “non-inventory” buyer to help Prime ensure quality products, competitive pricing and timely delivery. Jim Ryan was named warehouse manager. He has more than 17 years’ experience managing warehouse operations, previously working at Viking Office Products as Director of Operations. Cliff Kempton was named quality engineer. Binh Phung was named software engineering specialist. Michael Mastriano, plant manager, recently participated in a panel discussion titled “The Decorating Process—the How and Why,” at the Promotions East Program in Atlantic City, N.J. He spoke about the capabilities and applications of silk screening and ink imprinting. Mike Leone, Kris Kopka and Don Spencer, regional managers, shared their knowledge at The Premier Group University presentation at Promotions East. They provided distributors with case histories and selling techniques.

Joseph Dawson was named business development manager for the color products division at Roland DGA Corporation, Irvine, Calif. Dawson is responsible for developing alternative markets for the company’s inkjet printers and integrated printer/cutters. He identifies and manages vertical markets and OEM partnerships. Dawson previously directed worldwide OEM operations for major corporations and lead teams of corporate account managers in the public and private sector. Roland DGA Corp. serves as the U.S.-based marketing, distribution and sales arm of Roland DG Corporation of Hamamatsu, Japan.

Mark Stempel was named sales manager at The Garvey Group, Milwaukee. He combines internet-based information systems with conventional and digital printing to serve customers’ needs. Stempel previously worked in sales at several printing and design firms, including The Printery, New Berlin, Wis.

Tom Lathen was named senior partner executive at MICR Express, Jeffersonville, Ind. He promotes distributor sales of MICR Express products in the Plains states, the Midwest and portions of the South. Lathen, who has more than 15 years’ experience in the printing industry, previously served as sales manager for General Financial Supply, Nevada, Iowa. He also has worked as sales manager for Poser Labels (now Dealer Label) in Terre Haute, Ind., and he owned a print distributorship.

Joe Hirschmann was named general manager at Diversified Labeling Solutions’ Reno, Nev., manufacturing facility. The company is headquartered in Itasca, Ill.

Brian Smith was named president and COO at Cleveland-based Proforma. During his 10 years there, Smith helped shape the company’s structure and operations to include $250 million in annual system-wide sales and more than 650 franchises. He now directs the development of operating, accounting and computer systems to meet the organization’s growth. Jeff Elliott was named CFO. He directs the financial reporting, treasury services, accounts payable, cash application and order processing departments. Kevin Ameche was named chief technology officer. He develops technology systems and services. Most recently, Ameche was the director of the Business Solutions Practice at Wolcott Systems Group. Chris Simnick was named chief franchise development officer. He is responsible for the sale of company franchises, support for the recruiting efforts of the franchise developers, and coordination of registration and compliance of franchise documents. Joe Chandler was named chief business development officer for maximizing supplier value and franchise owner mergers and acquisitions. He directs merger and acquisition efforts, and he manages the Proforma PLP Preferred Vendor Network.

Bret Farrah was named vice president, support services for Xitron, an independent developer and integrator of Raster Image Processors and workflow solutions based in Ann Arbor, Mich. Farrah oversees the company’s quality assurance and corporate IT departments. He previously served as manager of the educational services and support department.

Harve Cathey, vice president, finance and secretary at Midlothian, Texas-based Ennis Inc., announced his plans to retire. Cathey, who served as the manufacturer’s CFO for more than 15 years, agreed to remain in the position while the firm searches for his successor.

OBITUARY
H. Howard Flint II, chairman and retired CEO of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Flint Ink Corporation, died in June after a brief illness. Flint was the grandson of the manufacturer’s founder. Flint began his full-time career at Flint Ink in 1964 and was elected president and COO in 1988, and chairman and CEO in 1992. In January 2005, Flint retired as CEO, assuming the position of non-executive chairman of the board of directors. Under Flint’s leadership, the corporation quadrupled in size, expanded into the international marketplace and moved into digital and printed electronics technologies. During his career, Flint served as treasurer of the Gravure Association of America and trustee of the Gravure Education Foundation. He was named Gravure Person of the Year in 1998. A past president of the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers, he received the Printing Ink Pioneer Award in 1991. In 1999, he received the Ault Award, the highest honor bestowed by NAPIM.

Ted Schultze, founder and president of bar code manufacturer Symbology Incorporated, Maple Grove, Minn., was inducted as a member of the AIDC 100. The AIDC 100 is a not-for-profit organization comprising automatic identification and data capture professionals who have contributed significantly to the industry’s growth.

Brock Foster, a Geiger sales representative based in Norfolk, Mass., won an all-expense-paid trip for two to Lenexa, Kansas. The contest, held in conjunction with the Promotions East show in Atlantic City, was sponsored by Lenaxa, Kan.-based manufacturer Gill Studios. Show attendees were asked to complete a short contest registration form.

Cleveland-based Proforma rewarded franchise owners who sold a million dollars or more in calendar year 2004 with a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The “Million Dollar Club” event was attended by 47 of the 68 qualifying owners—a record number of million dollar achievers in a single year.

Janet Cain, director of production marketing at Canon U.S.A. Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., received the High Volume Transaction Output Professionals’ (HVTO) 2005 Women of Distinction award. The award was established in 2001 by OutputLinks to recognize the achievements of women in HVTO. At Canon U.S.A., Cain oversees product planning and marketing activities for the division’s high-volume, black-and-white imageRUNNER and color CLC production systems. She previously served as assistant director of the company’s color systems group.

Jeff Schuetz was named vice president at d.trio marketing group, Minneapolis, where he’s responsible for new business development. d.trio markting group is a full-service marketing agency focused on the financial services industry. Schuetz, who has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services product management, marketing and sales, most recently served as vice president and account executive at Firstar/Elan Financial Services. He also worked as product manager at U.S. Bank, where he helped launch the VISA Business Check Card.

Diane McNitt, president of McNitt Marketing, Lansdowne, Pa., received the 2005 “Silver Dragon Award” from Drexel University, Philadelphia. The award honors McNitt’s “outstanding professional achievement and extraordinary service to her alma mater.” McNitt Marketing serves local entrepreneurs, nonprofit organizations, national companies and international manufacturers. Previously, McNitt was associate publisher of a business-to-business trade journal covering the printing industry.