KENNEBUNK, ME — The National Council for Skill Standards in Graphic Communications (NC) has announced the formation of a project advisory group to lead the NC in the design and development of the Council’s Binding, Finishing, and Distribution Operators’ Certification Examination Project. The group will be chaired by Mr. Ralph F. Box, Jr., recently retired senior vice president, Muller Martini, and current recipient of the Research & Engineering Council’s John L. Kronenberg Leadership Award. Edmond L. Kelley, Quad/Graphics, Inc., and NC Board chairman, indicated, "The Council is indeed fortunate and honored with his acceptance of this responsibility. He brings to this position unprecedented experience, and is respected as the leading, singular, international authority in postpress operations." Kelley further emphasized, "The Council has worked closely with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) in the design of our present Sheetfed and Web Offset Multicolor Certification Examinations, as the task analysis and curriculum organization of the Foundation’s Sheetfed and Web Offset Press Training Programs are closely related." He continued, "The same is true with the design of our soon-to-be-available National Council Digital Imaging Technician’s Certification Examination series and the new GATF Imaging Skills Training Program curriculum. Now our objectives for the design and development of the Council’s Binding, Finishing and Distribution Operators’ Certification Examination will relate closely to the GATF Binding and Finishing Curriculum, now in development." Kelley concluded, "The three GATF prepress, press, and postpress training curricula provide the credentialing pathway for high-tech operators seeking national certification by the Council." Advisory group members include Michael Houser, vice president operations technology, Ray Corigliano, division technical training, and James Goff, bindery manager, all three from Vertis-TC Advertising; Jack Bendror, president, Megatronics, Inc.; John Carlson, training director, McNaughton & Gunn; Bob Crist, finishing specialist, Cadmus Communications; Dr. Twyla Cummings, assistant professor, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT); Charles Dine, manager, corporate industrial engineering, Banta Corp., representing the R&E Council; Christy Holstead, training curriculums coordinator, GATF; Bruce Jacobsen, vice president, Bridgeport National Bindery, representing the Library Binding Institute; Chris Kular, president, CK&A; Debbi D. Neff, HRD specialist, Perry/Judd’s, Inc.; Timothy Perkins, president, Old Ridge Bindery and adjunct professor, bindery, RIT; Werner Rebsamen, professor emeritus, RIT; Mortimer Sendor, binding/finishing consultant; Keith Starke, corporate manager, finishing, Quad/Graphics, Inc.; and Robert N. Kuehl, marketing director, Polar Cutting Systems, Heidelberg USA, Inc. Industry associations endorsing the project to date include Binding Industries Association International, Donald Dunham, executive director; Binding, Finishing & Distribution Magazine, John S. Favat Jr., publisher/editorial director; GATF, George H. Ryan, president; and R&E Council, Ronald Mihills, executive director. The National Council’s goal to recognize accomplished, high-tech skills in prepress, press, and postpress operations through certification based on its Imaging, Press (Litho), and Finishing-Distribution Skill Standards, developed under a U.S. Department of Education grant to GATF, will be realized with the availability of the postpress certification examinations. The National Council, in conjunction with the StaffingTools.com division of Digital Media, Inc., is presently in the final stages of producing the Digital Imaging Certification Examination (DICE) series enabling Expert Digital Imaging Technician (EDIT) credentials in image capture, job engineering, composition, and digital output. Upon successfully passing all four prepress examinations, Master Digital Imaging Technician (MDIT) credentials will be awarded. The National Council is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors, established to maintain and improve the competitiveness of the graphic communications industry through the development and maintenance of skill standards; the promotion and dissemination of skill standards; and the voluntary testing and certification of technical professionals in industry. For additional information contact Managing Director, National Council for Skill Standards, 408 Lafayette Center, Kennebunk, Maine 04043. Phone: 207-985-9898; Fax: 207-985-6347. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.ncssgc.org. See also the Graphic Arts Information Network (GAIN) Web site, www.gain.net.