Smyrna, GA -- The Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) has announced Mr. Jefferson R. Riley, President and CEO of THP Graphics Group in Conyers, Georgia, as the 2009 Benjamin Franklin Award recipient. The announcement was made April 3rd during PIAG’s 2009 Celebration of Print Gala, held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta with more than 350 industry professionals in attendance. The Benjamin Franklin Award is the highest honor bestowed in Georgia's printing and imaging industry.

The award recognizes Mr. Riley as a major contributor to the graphic arts industry in Georgia for more than thirty years and was bestowed in recognition of the level of commitment and excellence he has shown to his family, business, industry and community. Jefferson Riley was nominated for the Benjamin Franklin Award by his peers and selected by the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia’s Benjamin Franklin Nomination Committee.

About Mr. Jefferson R. Riley, 2009 Benjamin Franklin Award Recipient
Mr. Riley has worked in the printing industry for over 31 years. At 20 years old he started Commercial Printing Services. He acquired half interest in THP in 1987 and subsequently merged his company with THP at their facility. At that time Jefferson became President of THP, and by 1988 they moved to their current Conyers location and quickly became ranked among the top 50 fastest growing companies in North America for five years in a row.

The company has grown to become THP Graphics Group, allowing Jefferson to provide his customers with promotional products and quality corporate apparel, graphic design, sign solutions, and digital copy services - all in addition to a wide variety of printing services.

Mr. Riley has served on the PIAG Board for 13 years, serving as Chairman in 2003 and 2005, and he has also served on the Printing Industries of America Board for the past three years. Jefferson was awarded the Phoenix Award at The 2006 Celebration of Print Gala, an industry award with extraordinary criteria.

Mr. Riley currently serves on several other boards including Lt. Governor’s Roundtable on Manufacturing, the DeKalb Technical College Foundation, the Conyers/Rockdale Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He has a passion for politics and served as Chair of PIAG’s Government Affairs Council for 8 years. He serves on Government Affairs councils for PIA, the Georgia Chamber and the Conyers/Rockdale Chamber. He is also involved in his church, First Baptist Church of Conyers.