May 30, 2002 -- The Alliance of Consultants and Educators (ACE) for the Printing Industry recently awarded the Ascender Award for the central region to Brent Hospers, owner of Hospers & Brother Printers in Iowa City, Iowa and Union Printing in Ottumwa, Iowa. Winners of the Ascender Award exhibit superior business practices and go above and beyond to share their knowledge and experience with industry peers. Hospers is a mentor within the Crouser Professional Performance Alliance where he gives his time to work with other printshop owners. He is very active in his community as a member of Rotary International. As an Ascender Award winner, Hopsers will receive a 6 month subscription of the Printips newsletter, the Digital Original on CD: How to Handle Customer Files Without Becoming a Service Bureau by John Giles, PrintSmith software (The Crouser Pricing Module or a $395 discount on purchase), a one year subscription to a PrinterPresence Web site, Prospering: Putting Your Business to Work for You and Your Family and Dead Printer Working: A Printer's Financial Survival Guide, both by Tom Crouser. The winner also received a free registration to a workshop facilitated by Tom Crouser entitled "Prospering in the New Economy." Hospers joins Keith Einstein of Einstein Printing in Dallas, Texas, Rod Bristol of Sudden Printing in Seattle, Wash. and Wayne Yada of Premier Color Graphics, Inc. in Visalia, Calif. who received the Ascender Award in the south central, northwest and California regions respectively. The awards are being presented through June to printers from seven regions throughout the United States. The Ascender Award is sponsored and presented by ACE - the Alliance of Consultants and Educators. ACE is a group of industry professionals who specialize in helping printers grow their business and improve their bottom line through educational seminars and consulting engagements. The Alliance is comprised of Tom Crouser of Crouser and Associates, Nancy Dediemar of Printips, John Giles of the Giles Group, and Tawnya Starr of Digital IMS.