PROMOTIONS
Rose Virnig was named vice president of sales at distributorship franchise American Solutions for Business, Glenwood, Minn. Virnig, who has been a company sales associate for 20 years, is the first woman to serve in this capacity. She's responsible for coordinating activities of the Sales Steering Committee, working with sales associates to increase sales, and assisting with recruiting and training new sales representatives. Additionally, Virnig was awarded the Dusty DePree Memorial Award, given annually to an individual who exemplifies the highest traditions of the company. One of the company's top 20 sales associates and a recipient of its Award of Distinction, she continues to serve clients in west-central Minnesota.
Thomas G. Brooker was named group president of forms, labels and office products at Missassauga, Ontario-based manufacturer Moore Wallace Inc. (now RR Donnelley). Previously, he led the company's direct sales force. Dean E. Cherry was named group president of commercial print, direct mail, business communications services and print fulfillment. Previously, he served World Color Press, Moore Corporation and Moore Wallace. Thomas W. Oliva, the company's president and COO, left the company.
Rick Parks was named Western region general manager of sheet-fed operations at Westmont, Ill.-based supplier MAN Roland Inc. He's responsible for sales, service and support in 11 Western states. Previously, Parks served as the company's service director in the West, focusing on sheet-fed customers, and as national service director. Harry Vinson was named general manager of the company's Central region. He's responsible for sheet-fed press sales, project management, service, parts and other support functions throughout the Midwest. Vinson, who has 20 years of graphic arts industry experience, previously led the Publication and Directory Group at Moore Wallace Inc.
Peter Morisco was named vice president of sales at Fairfield, N.J.-based Copystar, a Kyocera Mita technology company and a supplier of digital document imaging devices. He's responsible for daily operations and management of more than 300 Copystar dealers nationwide. Morisco, who has more than 19 years of sales management experience, previously served as national sales manager.
Ken Hanulec was named to the executive position of vice president of marketing at Boston-based supplier Creo Americas Inc. Previously, he served as director of marketing, managing daily product marketing, marketing communications, business development and telemarketing activities. Prior to joining the company in 1996, Hanulec served as a client education specialist at Linotype-Hell and as an applications specialist at Mitsubishi Imaging Inc. He has more than eight years of graphic communications industry experience.
NEW HIRES
Gene Toepfer was named to the newly created position of COO at manufacturer Arbor Press, Royal Oak, Mich. He's responsible for direct contact with key clients, sales staff assistance, general supervision of company operating procedures and plant process improvement. Toepfer, who has 30 years of marketing and printing industry experience, previously served as COO of Rockford, Ill.-based The Johnson Group. In that capacity, he helped grow the company from a single-plant operation with $5 million in sales to a 6-plant operation with $50 million in sales.
Chris M. Jensen was named general manager of manufacturer Wise Business Forms Inc.'s facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. Jensen, who has more than 28 years of forms industry experience, previously served Wallace Computer Services Inc.
Rick Hunter, CFC, joined the service team at manufacturer Strathmore Press, Cincinnati. He's responsible for developing color-printing manufacturing, including direct mail/marketing printing, using the company's 10-color, UV dried web press. Hunter has more than 30 years of business forms and printing experience, including operating web and sheet-fed presses, purchasing forms for a major national insurance company, serving as a print distributor, serving as part owner and manager of a small commercial printing facility, and managing sales for a "Top 100" forms manufacturer.
Beth Ann Scullin was named marketing director of manufacturer EnvelopeAmerica LLC, New Castle, Del. The company was created in 2003 after president Mark Monahan acquired manufacturer Cornell Envelope, Wilmington, Del., and changed its name to EnvelopeAmerica.
Michael Mastriano was named production floor manager at promotional products manufacturer Prime Resources Corp, Bridgeport, Conn. He's responsible for ensuring customer orders are delivered to the factory floor, imprinted properly and shipped on time. Mastriano, who has more than 25 years of experience imprinting promotional products, previously served as production manager at promotional products manufacturer Jetline, Yonkers, N.Y.
Jeffrey J. Woloshyn was named to the newly created position of product manager of Hauppauge, N.Y.-based supplier Muller Martini Corp.'s Press Delivery Systems Division. Based out of the company's Midwest regional office in Arlington Heights, Ill., Woloshyn previously served in sales and project management positions at The John Roberts Company, Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses USA and Rockwell International.
IN MEMORIAM
Edward T. Foley, 73, DMIA's 1975-76 president and founder and retired president of distributorship Foley Company (previously Custom Business Forms Inc.), Richmond, Va., died Dec. 16, 2003. Foley, who served the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952, began his forms industry career in 1952 as a pricing clerk for a Newport News, Va., distributorship. In 1965, he joined DMIA after starting Custom Business Forms Inc. as a 1-man distributorship. Foley quickly became an influential industry voice for distributors. He was committed to distributors' independence as well as to receiving the protection and respect of manufacturers. He served as DMIA's first vice president in 1974-75 and was active in supervising the executive direction of the association and in fulfilling his responsibility as officer representative to the Management, Sales and Technical Education committees. Foley's counsel helped bring DMIA and the industry through several difficult situations, including a paper and materials shortage, rising prices, recession and inflation. He conducted meeting and planning sessions and served as supervisor of "Operation Rainbow," a task force that examined the potential for promotional printing sales by manufacturers, and future planning group "Operation Blue Sky." Foley addressed School for New Sales Representatives classes and was chairperson of the distributor/manufacturer group that designed the Standard Order Entry system. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; sons, Edward, Michael, Robert and John; and seven grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services Inc., 700 Hoffman Dr., Watertown, WI 53094-9989, which has served as his son John's home for most of his life.
Edward J. Miersch, 78, co-founder and retired partner of Moorestown, N.J.-based distributorship Delaware Valley Business Forms (acquired by SFI in 1994), died Dec. 26, 2003 from a heart attack after a family Christmas gathering. Miersch, who was a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., in 1949. A football enthusiast, he played the sport in high school and college, then officiated college and high school games for 30 years. From 1963 to 1998, Miersch was a member of the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club, an organization dedicated to promoting South Jersey football, serving on the board of directors and as president for several years. From 1961 to 1980, he served as secretary and treasurer of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame (now the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame), then served as president from 1980 to 1985. The organization promotes the interests of American amateur football. Miersch received numerous honors for his contributions to football, including receiving the National Football Foundation's Distinguished American Award in 1977. Additionally, he served as a lector and Eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Riverton, N.J. Miersch retired from the business forms industry in 1989 after selling his interest in Delaware Valley Business Forms. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Frances; sons, Edward and Robert; daughters, Susan Root and Elaine Lunardi; two sisters; and 14 grandchildren. Services were held Dec. 31 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, with interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Cinnaminson, N.J. Memorials may be made to the Edward J. Miersch Memorial Football Scholarship Fund, Box 2017, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077.
Richard M. Connor, director of corporate accounts and regional sales manager of Westmont, Ill.-based supplier MAN Roland Inc., died Jan. 16. After joining MAN Roland in May 2002, he served as the company's executive liaison with newspaper decision-makers throughout North America. Connor also oversaw newspaper press sales operations in the Eastern region. Prior to joining MAN Roland, he served 13 years as executive vice president of marketing at Bethlehem, Pa.-based supplier GMA, a Muller Martini subsidiary. In that capacity, he was responsible for strategic and tactical marketing and sales, directing the activities of regional sales managers and support staff. From 1967 to 1988, he served in various executive posts at offset press supplier ATF-Davidson Company, including as vice president of marketing, and vice president and general manager.
