Alexandria, VA (January 17, 2002) — The Printing Industries of America (PIA) and The Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) have announced the initiation of the search for a single Chief Executive Officer for the two organizations. In a joint statement, GATF’s Chairman Jerry Williamson and PIA’s Chairman Chuck Stay, noted that with the impending retirement of PIA’s President, Ray Roper, it was time to select one chief staff executive to lead PIA and GATF. Roper will retire at the end of April, 2003. Robert E. Murphy, Chairman of the Japs-Olson Company, St Louis Park, MN has agreed to chair the selection committee which is charged with screening the candidates and selecting a finalist. Serving with Murphy on the committee are: David Bacon, President of Printing Industries Association of the South; Randy Camp, Walton Graphic Media, Monroe, GA; Laura Gale, priNexus, Inc., Norgross, GA; John Green, Automated Graphic Systems Inc., White Plains, MD; Eileen Hall, American National Ltd., Miami, FL; James Herbst, Henry Wurst, Inc., Apex, NC; Hans Peetz-Larsen, Heidleberg Americas, Inc., Kennesaw, GA; Mike Marcian, Corporate Press, Landover, MD; Chuck Stay, Bert-Co Industries, Los Angeles, CA; Jerry Williamson, Williamson Printing Corp., Dallas, TX; and Chuck Zunk, Cincinnati, OH. Ray Roper will provide staff support for the committee and serve as an ex-officio member of the committee. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for February 1 in conjunction with the Graphics of Americas Show in Miami. At that meeting the committee will give final approval to the job description for the position, discuss and agree on the selection process and discuss the sourcing of candidates for the position. Chairman Murphy noted that it was his intent to have the field of candidates narrowed down to a group of finalists by the PIA and GATF Board Meetings scheduled for April 16. Preliminary and final interviews will then be conducted with the finalists and the committee’s recommended candidate will be submitted for the approval of both association executive committees at their meetings on September 20. Murphy noted that while there are excellent candidates currently serving on the GATF and PIA staff, it was the expressed desire of the GATF and PIA Officers to open the search to any and all candidates who might be qualified. Therefore the Committee encourages all who are interested in being considered for the position to submit their credentials to: CEO Search; 100 Daingerfield Road; Alexandria, VA 22314.