Chicago — Dscoop (Digital Solutions Cooperative) announces the addition of three new members to its board of directors. Newly elected members, whose two-year terms begin today, are:
 Randy Bice, Taylor Corporation, North Mankato, Minn.
Jim Blee, Graphic Tech, Fullerton, Calif.
Howard Owen, Stafford Printing, Stafford, Va.

“We are pleased and extremely fortunate to have Randy, Jim and Howard join our team,” said Larry Vaughn, Dscoop chairman. “Randy provides invaluable support as our North American liaison to the Dscoop Asia-Pacific Steering Committee, which was formed earlier this year. Jim has helped build the large-format community from the ground up by leading the Dscoop Large-Format Committee in providing educational content to members in this new segment. Howard has served as the editor of the Dscoop Quarterly newsletter for the past year and consistently brings in fresh ideas and solutions to help us meet our members’ needs.”

In addition to the three new board members, Jan Riecher, vice president and general manager, Americas Graphics Solutions Business, HP Imaging and Printing Group, will replace Boris Bel on the Dscoop board of directors.

“The growth of Dscoop has been phenomenal for all members of the cooperative—digital print service providers, third-party vendors and especially HP,” Riecher said. “I look forward to working with the Dscoop board of directors to continue the momentum that has made Dscoop the preeminent resource for everyone in the Graphic Arts business.”

Continuing Dscoop board members are:
Larry Vaughn, Ideal Printers, Houston, Texas
Yogev Barak, HP, Rehovot, Israel
Craig Curran, Nosco, Waukegan, Ill.
Rod Key, R and R Images, Phoenix, Ariz.
Susan Moore, Digital Printing & Imaging Inc., Kennesaw, Ga.
Mark Sarpa, Progressive Solutions, Santa Clara, Calif.
David Smith, Williams Visual Solutions, Chattanooga, Tenn.

About the Incoming Board Members
Randy Bice is the vice president digital solutions for Taylor Corporation. Bice joined Taylor Corporation in 2005 as the director of research and development. He is responsible for leading the digital growth and transformation of Taylor. Bice embraces technology and sits on HP advisory boards for their Indigo and inkjet technologies as well as numerous industry associations for Taylor.

Jim Blee is the chief operating officer of Graphic Tech, a large-format commercial digital and screen printing company located in Fullerton, Calif. Blee and his business partner have transformed Graphic Tech from its modest beginnings into a multi-faceted manufacturing plant, complete with its own pre-press, finishing and creative departments serving the marketing needs of many Fortune 500 companies.

Howard Owen is the owner of Stafford Printing, which offers a mix of offset and digital printing. Following a four-year stint as a reporter for a daily newspaper, he started a weekly newspaper, which he sold after five years to start Stafford Printing, his labor of love for the past 23 years. In the past, Owen has been active in the Printing Industries of Virginia, serving as chairman for two years. Owen currently serves as editor on the Dscoop Newsletter Committee.

Dscoop Honors Outgoing Board Members
Dscoop is grateful for the leadership of Chris Petro of Global Soft Digital Solutions, who is stepping down from the board of directors, and Boris Bel, whose second year of his two-year term will be served by Barak. Their vision and commitment since Dscoop’s inception have established the high standards and precedents that the group now uses as a foundation for continued growth.

“We thank Chris and Boris for their years of service, and are confident that they will continue to be an integral part of the Dscoop community,” Vaughn said.