Orlando, FL - The Printing Association of Florida (PAF) is proud to announce that Andres Valdivieso, Chief Operations Officer at Imprenta Mariscal in Quito, Ecuador, has been named recipient of the 2011 Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) Young Entrepreneur Award.

The GALA Young Entrepreneur Award, established in 2009, recognizes a particularly exceptional individual, in the next generation of Latin America's business leaders who has made significant efforts to further the graphic communications industry. The award recognizes the efforts of a young professional who sets an example for his or her peers, as well as addresses and manages the marketing and technology challenges in today's competitive marketplace.

Valdivieso will be honored along with the two 2011 GALA honorees, James Mayes, Colorcraft of Virginia, Inc. (North America) and Juan Marinetti Verderau, Marinetti Packaging, Chile (Latin America), before an international audience of graphic communications industry leaders and guests. The presentation will be made at the annual awards banquet and reception, scheduled to take place at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, at 7 p.m. on February 24, 2011.

Andres Valdivieso - 2011 GALA Young Entrepreneur award recipient
Andres Valdivieso has served as the Chief Operations Officer at Imprenta Mariscal in Quito, Ecuador since 2005. He began his career there as production manager, just after spending a year as a cruise ship printer on the Queen Elizabeth 2.

Prior to that, he was a Color Lab teaching assistant at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he also received his B.S. in Print Management and Science. He also attended the Heidelberg Print Media Academies in Germany and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Valdivieso received a Six Sigma Green Belt from Cotecna Quality Resources in Quito, and attended several important courses in the United States and Ecuador.

Andres Valdivieso leads a dynamic organization.  Imprenta Mariscal was one of the first printing companies in Latin America to invest in a CTP system, as well as various other new technologies.  He has led the implementation of projects in sales, prepress, press and finishing areas, varying from stochastic screening, Hifi printing, digital printing, PUR perfect binding, pop-up books, hand assembly, selling and worldwide distribution of high quality hard cover books, as well as other marketing initiatives. 

All of these implementations have made Imprenta Mariscal a print leader in Ecuador and Latin America.  Since Andres started with the company, Imprenta Mariscal has expanded rapidly and sales have increased by 30% annually.

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.