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New Year, New Adventures: Marc Olin, Ken Garner and Michael Makin Make Their Exits…for Now

Cary Sherburne speaks with three printing industry veterans who have chosen to make a new beginning: Marc Olin, former COO at EFI; Michael Makin, former CEO of PIA and EVP at PRINTING United Alliance; and Ken Garner, former SVP for Content Creation at the Association for Print Technologies. As they start the new year with new adventures, we wanted to give them special recognition for all of their contributions and years of service to the industry.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

As a year wraps up and a new one begins, many people choose to make a new beginning. We spoke with three printing industry veterans who have done just that. While the three individuals we are recognizing here—Marc Olin, former COO at EFI; Michael Makin, former CEO of PIA and EVP at PRINTING United Alliance; and Ken Garner, former SVP for Content Creation at the Association for Print Technologies—are not the only printing professionals who are starting the new year with a new adventure, we wanted to give them special recognition for all of their contributions and years of service.

I’m pretty sure all of our readers know or have interacted with Michael Makin over the years. Back in 1995, he was President of the Canadian Printing Association, and then joined PIA in 2001 as COO, ultimately becoming CEO, a role he held for almost two decades. In May of 2020, he became Executive Vice President at PRINTING United Alliance, when PIA and PRINTING United Alliance completed their much-expected merger.

As we move into 2021, Makin takes a look back and a look ahead. Over the years, there have been several attempts at mergers of printing industry associations that have not made it over the finish line. Makin notes that this one made the most sense, and the board agreed with him. Getting the merger done was not easy, but they persevered and made it happen.


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About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

Cary Sherburne is available for speaking engagements and consulting projects. To get more information contact us.

Please offer your feedback to Cary. She can be reached at [email protected].

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