Sewickley, PA., February 21, 2007 -- Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) has announced Stuart McMichael, former president of Custom Print in Arlington, Virginia, as the recipient of its 2006 William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award. The award, named for former GATF research director and pioneering environmental advocate William Schaeffer, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions toward environmental awareness, education, and best practices in the printing and graphic communications industry. Mr. McMichael has been involved in the printing industry for over forty years. He joined Custom Print in 1979, became President in 1986, and subsequently began making steps to turn the company totally “green,” including: - Producing 90% of jobs on recycled paper - Printing 100% of jobs with soy ink - Reducing on-site chemicals from eighty to twenty-eight - Achieving an 80% reduction of VOCs These successful changes at Custom Print were the catalyst for many other printers to implement more environmentally sound practices. The plant was sold by Mr. McMichael in 2002. Mr. McMichael and Custom Print have been recognized as environmental leaders in many ways. In 1995, the plant was visited by President Clinton and Vice President Gore along with eighty VIP guests for a news conference on regulatory reform. Custom Print received first place for the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award of Virginia in 1997. The company also won a “Benny,” the highest honor in PIA/GATF’s Premier Print Awards, for environmentally sound materials. Mr. McMichael worked with Carol Browner, Administrator of the EPA, on the Design for the Environment and Common Sense Initiative (CSI) printing sub-committee as well as serving on the CSI Council representing the printing industry. He also served as president of the Printing and Graphic Communication Association, a PIA/GATF affiliate now known as Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic (PGAMA). Mr. McMichael will be honored at a luncheon during the National Environmental Health and Safety Conference, Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida. The engraved Schaeffer Environmental Award plaque will be presented to him at this time.