SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. (Nov. 3, 2004) — The 117th Awards Gala hosted by Printing Industries of New England will be highlighted with an award presentation to one of the founding officers of Presstek Corp. of Hudson, N.H., and a keynote address by Thomas Hicks, owner of Victor Graphics in Baltimore, the largest privately-owned printing company in Maryland. Separate awards will be presented to five companies that have reached 25 years of continuous membership in PINE. An education award will be presented to Bay State Envelope for its commitment to training over the past year. The annual gathering will be held Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the Boston Marriott Hotel, in Newton, Mass. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. The banquet and program begins at 7 p.m. PINE will host its annual business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Richard A. Williams to be honored Richard A. “Dick” Williams, who served as chief scientific officer for Presstek, Corp. and retired in 2002 as chairman of the company’s board of directors, will receive PINE’s Honoring an Influencer Award for his work in developing digital laser imaging and chemistry-free plate technologies. PINE’s Influencer Award is given to an individual who has promoted the industry with integrity and determination. It is sponsored by Heidelberg. Keynote speaker to talk about phenomenal company growth The evening’s keynote speaker will Thomas Hicks, senior president and owner of Victor Graphics of Baltimore — the largest privately owned printing company in Maryland. Hicks will share his business philosophy and discuss how his book printing and manufacturing company has constantly adjusted to changes in the industry. He’ll talk about the importance his company places on individual employees, and how they have helped Victor Graphics grow from a small seven-employee company in 1983 to a company with more than 200 employees and $23 million in annual sales in 2003. PINE Education Award Bay State Envelope, an envelope manufacturer in Mansfield, Mass., is the 2004 recipient of PINE’s Unfaltering Dedication to Education Award, given annually to the association member that demonstrates a commitment to advancing the competency of their employees. “A key component to our success as a company is the constant investment we make in our people,” said Russell Frizzell, president of Bay State Envelope. “Ongoing training, education and professional development help us maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace. PINE’s training programs offer a unique opportunity for our people to keep their skills sharp, whether it is in customer service, learning about new industry trends, or developing new account collection skills. Our trade association serves us well in that regard. From the perspective of a company president, it is an easy decision to send our people to PINE for training. We’re proud to accept PINE’s education award for 2004.” 25-year PINE membership awards Several PINE member companies will be honored for 25 years of continuous membership in the trade association. They are American Paper Recycling Corp., Mansfield, Mass.; ProPrint, Boston; Sheahan Printing Corp., Woonsocket, R.I.; The Pressroom, Gloucester, Mass.; and Wolf & Company, Boston. Tickets are $50 each or $450 for a table of 10. Call Carole Taylor at PINE at 508-804-4109 to purchase tickets.