The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) presented the 2011 Harold W. Gegenheimer Annual Achievement Award to John Berthelsen, President and CEO, Suttle-Straus, Waunakee, WI. The Achievement Award was presented by Michael Makin, President and CEO, Printing Industries of America, at the PGSF Board of Directors meeting during GRAPH EXPO 2011 in Chicago, IL. The award was established in 2003 in honor of Harold W. Gegenheimer, former Baldwin Technology Company Chairman. The award is given to an individual for outstanding service and continued contribution to the overall mission of PGSF in the areas of development, education, and sharing knowledge. It represents the highest order of sharing knowledge and promoting education.

John Berthelsen started his first printing company as a teenager in Minnesota. John has been at Suttle-Straus for 32 years and has been responsible for growing the company from 6 employees to 200 with sales of $47 million today. Throughout this time he has constantly given back to the local community, schools, and the printing industry. Suttle-Straus is a multiple-time winner of Best Workplace in the Americas from Printing Industries of America. The company continues to receive the highest industry awards for printing and design. John was named Sheetfed Executive of the Year and in 2010 and received the North American Leadership Award from Graphics of the Americas.

“It has been a pleasure working with John at PGSF,” states Ted Ringman, Vice President of Development at PGSF. “As former Chairman of the Board of Directors, he is a strong leader with a keen focus on the importance of education in our industry.”

Two hundred students, attending 70 colleges, receive scholarships through PGSF. However, many more of the scholarship applications are turned down due to lack of funds. For information regarding tax-advantaged donations, establishing a scholarship through PGSF, or a scholarship application, contact Bernie Eckert, PGSF Program Administrator, at [email protected].