Mr. Edward Chalifoux, President of The Printing Industry Association of the South in Nashville, Tennessee, was named by the Printing Industry Association of the South, Inc. (PIAS) as their Person of the Year. This honor was bestowed at a banquet held on June 26, 2012 during the PIAS Annual Convention at the Hilton SanDestin Beach Resort in Destin, Florida.

Edward Chalifoux has been in printing all of his life in one form or fashion. Whether it was working summers at the print shop, working on weekends or school nights inspecting products. Ed’s family owned a Sheetfed/Web operation in Broadview, IL. At the time, it was as the High Price-High Quality printer in Chicago. Unfortunately while in college, his grandfather sold the company.

After graduating from Iowa State University in 1987 Ed took his first full time position in the Graphic Arts industry at Mills American Envelope Company as a customer service rep and sales trainee. He received numerous awards and was promoted to Outside Sales in less than a year. After 5 years in the Envelope Industry, Ed wanted to get back to his roots and went to work for Hinz Lithographing, a Half Web/Sheetfed Printer in Mt Prospect, IL.

In 1994, Ed received a call from the PIAS President at that time, David Bacon. He proposed for Ed to come to Nashville, TN and work for him as Director of Membership, where upon taking the position, he increased the membership by 100 new members in his first year. Soon after, Ed took over all of the educational duties of the Association and in his third year, he was made Vice President along with having more responsibility which included the Annual Graphics Award Program, the Association’s monthly publication, PrintSouth magazine as well as the MidSouth Graphic Expo Trade Show, held in Nashville, TN, which Ed oversaw in 1997 and 1999.

In 2000, Ed was name Executive Vice President. In 2003 PIAS President, David Bacon announced his retirement. Ed was one of over 125 resumes that were submitted to a search committee to become the next head of the Association. He went through the process of a phone interview, a committee interview and in June of 2003 was unanimously elected by the PIAS Board of Directors to be come the next President of PIAS.

Ed has devoted countless hours to the Holy Family Catholic Church. He serves a Eucharistic Minister, was a member and founder of the Men’s Bible Study Group and has taught Sunday School. He currently sits on the boards of the PIAS Credit Union, Nashville Catholic Wrestling Club as well as on the Murray State University Graphic Arts Advisory Committee.
Ed and his wife, Carrie, recently celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary. They have two children, Mackenzie who is 16 and is a Junior at Father Ryan High School and loves to dance, sing and read and Trey who is 14 and is a Freshman at Father Ryan who is an avid Wrestler.

The PIAS Person of the Year is chosen for service to the printing industry, community and betterment of the graphic arts industry as a whole.