Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Six industry leaders were formally inducted into theBen Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America at a black-tie induction and awards ceremony held Friday, November 12, in San Francisco, California.

Kenneth Kaufman of Omniprint, Inc and Printing Industries Past Chairman--Since 1973 Ken has been involved with his local affiliate of Printing Industries, serving as President of the Printing Industry of Metropolitan Washington in 1989–90. He is also the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award in 1991. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors of the Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic until 2008. Ken is the President of Omniprint, Inc., a print and mailing firm in Lanham, Maryland. In business since 1971, the company specializes in the production and distribution of newsletters of businesses, political advocates, and trade associations in the Washington, DC market.

Ken can take credit for numerous accomplishments during his term as chairman, but one which bears particular recognition is the leadership role he took with NAPL in ensuring that our two organizations could come together, along with NPES, to host a joint management conference next March.

Diane Koch, retired from Printing Industries of America--Diane Koch served Printing Industries of America for 25 years in a variety of capacities. Recently Ms. Koch served as the Director of Education with major responsibilities for managing numerous and prestigious programs such as the Ben Franklin Honor Society, Presidents Conference, Executive Development Program (EDP), SkillsUSA, Print Industry Financial Executives (PIFE), and the Printing Executives Network (PEN), just to name a few. Through EDP, Ms. Koch was instrumental in influencing the educational development of numerous young printers who would later become primary leaders not only in their company, but within the printing industry as well. She has effectively served each chairman who served on the Board of Directors as well as three CEOs during her tenure.

Robert Lindgren, PIA of Southern California--Robert Lindgren is the President and CEO of Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC). He has spent a lifetime in the printing industry, beginning with the Neely Printing Company in Chicago. In 1982 he became President and CEO of PIASC. During his tenure the Association has grown to 1,460 member firms and 73 staff members. Today PIASC is the largest local printing industry association (out of 25) in the United States. He was named PIASC's Executive of the Year in 1991. Nationally, he is a Manager Representative on the Printing Industries Disabilities Trust and Treasurer of Printing Industries Consolidated Trust. Bob has also served as the Chair of the Affiliate Managers Operating Group twice. He serves as a Trustee of the Don Bosco Technical Institute and as President of the California Association of Small Employer Health Plans. He is Employer Co-Chair of the GCU National Health and Welfare Fund and a Trustee of the IBT/GCC National Pension Fund.

David Pitts, Classic Graphics--David Pitts has served 12 years on the PICA Board of Directors and as chairman in 2002. Since that time he continues to be active in PICA activities and serves as a lifetime Trustee of the PICA Educational Foundation. David is also often called upon as an industry speaker for his local affiliate. David was also inducted into the NAPL Hall of Fame (2009) and was a winner of the NAPL Management Plus Award for 13 consecutive years. David's company was also honored with the Printing Industries of America's Best Workplace Award.

Jim Tepper, President of PINE--Jim Tepper is the President of PINE, a 400-member affiliate of Printing Industries of America covering the New England states. Since joining PINE in 1977, Jim held the positions of Education Director and Associate Executive Director before being appointed President in 1984. Since then PINE has grown from 125 members with a staff of 5 to 400 member companies served by a staff of 12, having developed numerous additional services and activities for members. Jim has served on the Printing Industries Board of Directors representing the affiliate managers and has also served the national association on countless committees and task forces. He currently serves as a long-time Finance Committee member.

Doug Yeager of Alcom Printing Group--Doug is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Chairman of Alcom Printing Group, Inc. in Harleysville, PA--a company he has worked with for more than 33 years. Doug began his career with Alcom while still a junior in high school, working under a cooperative education program with the local vocational technical school. Upon graduating high school, Doug continued his education at Rochester Institute of Technology, earning a BS degree in Printing Management. Doug became a member of the Alcom Board of Directors in 1989. He was Vice President and Chairman of the Scholarship Fund in Lehigh Valley Club of Printing House Craftsmen and is currently Chairman of PGSF.

The Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America recognizes and honors industry leaders who have made lasting contributions to advancing the printing and graphic communications industries. This includes, but is not limited to, Printing Industries of America and its affiliates and the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF). Industry visionaries who have rendered outstanding or meritorious service to those associations or the industry are eligible for membership.