Orlando, FL - The Printing Association of Florida (PAF) proudly announces this year's recipients of the 2011 Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) Award.  This is the GALA's twenty-eighth year.

James Mayes, Jr., president of Colorcraft of Virginia, Inc., and Juan Marinetti Verderau, president of Marinetti Packaging in Chile; will each receive PAF's prestigious GALA Award during the annual reception held in conjunction with the Graphics of the Americas Expo & Conference being held in Orlando, Florida, on February 24-26, 2011.

Both Mayes and Marinetti Verderau will receive the award before an international audience of graphic arts industry leaders and guests at the annual awards banquet and reception at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando at 7 p.m. on February 24, 2011.

Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA)
Established in 1982, the GALA Award is one of the printing industry's most prestigious recognitions awarded to outstanding industry professionals each year. GALA recipients are nominated by Printing Industries of America affiliates and CONLATINGRAF (Confederación Latinoamericana de la Industria Gráfica) members and are chosen for their leadership in areas of management, technology, business and quality; as well as their contributions to the graphic arts industry, their community and society in general.

Since its inauguration, the GALA Award symbolizes not only industry excellence but also the linking of the Americas and two major industry associations.

James Mayes, Jr. - North American Graphic Leader 2011
James Mayes, Jr. is president of Colorcraft of Virginia, Inc., a mid-sized, high-end commercial printing company in Sterling, VA. He began his printing career in 1974, and acquired the company in 1986. Since then, the company has grown from 23 employees and $2.5 million in sales to 74 employees and sales of $14 million. 60% of Mayes' current employees have been with Colorcraft for more than 10 years.

Mayes has dedicated years of service to the American printing industry. He has served as chairman of the PIVA local affiliate (1997-98 and 2006-07), as well as serving with the Printing Industries of America at the national level (2005).

Mayes is currently chairman of the research committee and the Premier Print awards. He also chairs the C.S. Monroe Technical Center's graphic communications advisory board, a post he held in the 2004-05 period, as well.  In addition, he has served on the Printing Industries of America Finance Committee for 3 years. In 2008, Mayes was inducted into the Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame. He has since that time chaired the Printing Industries of America's Premier Print Awards Committee.

Mayes is also active in his community. He is a member of the advisory board of BB&T Bank in Loudon County, VA and works closely with the Monroe Technical Center - Loudon County, Virginia's technical school - and has served as chairman of the advisory board for the Graphic Arts Department, from 2006-2007.

Jim holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the American University in Washington, D.C.

Juan Marinetti Verderau - Latin American Graphic Leader 2011
CONLATINGRAF, the Latin American Graphic Industry Confederation, is proud to announce that Juan Marinetti Verderau has been named the 2011 Latin American Graphic Leader. Marinetti Verderau is the president of Marinetti Packing in Santiago, Chile, a leading packaging and label printer.

Marinetti Verderau is from Santiago, Chile, where he received his primary and high school education at the colegio del verbo divino. He completed his studies at the University of Chile.

Marinetti Verderau's career began with his family's business, Marinetti S.A., in 1972. He there held various positions until he was elected general manager of the company in 1985, and served in that role until 1997. Marinetti Verderau eventually became president of the board of directors of Marinetti S.A. Chile.

Marinetti Verderau has been involved with Chilean printing association ASIMPRES since 1987. He served as director and became the association's president from 1999 until 2003.  He currently holds the title of vice president. He is also vice president of CENEM, the Chilean Center for container and packaging industries, where he has held various leadership roles since 2000.

Graphics of the Americas 2011 in Orlando
Graphics of the Americas 2011 is scheduled for February 24-26, 2011 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center.