CHICAGO, Ill., GRAPH EXPO 2004 (Oct. 10, 2004) — For her pioneering work in the graphic arts industry, Suzanne Morgan was honored with this year’s Edwin S. Wise Award from the Graphic Arts Sales Foundation (G.A.S.F.). “Suzanne has created an environment in which manufacturers, distributors, printers and educators have joined in an open forum for exchange of industry-specific information,” said G.A.S.F.’s Dick Gorelick, upon presenting Morgan with a scroll and a medallion to commemorate the honor. “Our board has sought to recognize individuals and organizations that have provided effective, meaningful education throughout the supply chain.” “She is a pioneer in our industry,” agrees Frank Rosenberg, chairman of G.A.S.F. “She identified print buyer education as a major need and, through writing, consulting, a national conference and an online service, has made a major impact on our industry.” Morgan is the founder and editor of Print Buyers Online.com (PBO), a free educational e-community dedicated to print buyers that now boasts more than 7,000 members nationwide. PBO provides tips, articles, Q&As, tools and resources to help print buyers learn new and existing technologies and best practices for the business of working with print suppliers. Morgan is also founder of the annual Print Oasis Conference, the only independent conference focused on the needs and challenges of print buyers, specifiers and production professionals. The 2005 Print Oasis Print Buyers Conference will take place in Chicago on May 22–25. “Print Buyers Online.com was created outside of traditional industry structure, eschewing involvement by one or more trade associations. The online ‘print community’ addresses a first-order marketplace need,” continues Gorelick. “Equally as important, the content is fair and balanced. Print Buyers Online.com has created credibility, an impartial forum in which valuable information can be shared.” “I’m truly honored and would like to accept this award on behalf of all print buyers,” says Morgan. “Historically, print buyers have been overlooked as an important group in the graphic arts and it’s only been recently that the industry is realizing just how powerful this grassroots group is. “I’m thrilled with the success of Print Buyers Online.com and that we’re able to provide daily and weekly educational content to help print buyers sort through the myriad technologies and resources available to them,” continues Morgan. “Arming print buyers with the knowledge and training they need not only empowers them to work better, faster and more productively, but also is the foundation for profitable and peaceable business relationships with their suppliers.” The Edwin S. Wise award, which is given for contributions to graphic arts education, is named after the late president of an Alabama advertising and marketing agency, who invested heavily in and publicly championed the cause of graphic arts education. Previous recipients include: • Professor Philip Ruggles, Cal Poly State University • Hank Hatch, former president, International Prepress Association • Fred Rogers, former president, Research & Engineering Council of the Graphic Arts • Don Sundquist, former governor of Tennessee and president, Graphic Sales of America • Diane Koch, director of member services, Printing Industries of America • Dr. Page Crouch, Clemson University • Dr. J. Michael Adams, president, Fairleigh Dickinson University “Suzanne has educated print buyers in an even-handed manner, without creating an adversarial relationship between buyers and their suppliers,” Rosenberg added. “Her efforts have won the support of manufacturers, distributors and printers.”