Honoree is an Established Leader in the Graphic Arts Industry in Panama

GALA Awards Luncheon Celebration Held in Conjunction with Graphics of the Americas in Miami

Orlando, FL - Conlatingraf, the Latin American Graphic Industry Confederation, together with the Graphics of the Americas, today announces that E. Antonio Hernández has been named the 2015 Graphic Arts Leaders of the Americas (GALA) Award recipient. A special GALA luncheon award presentation will be held on February 26, 2015 during GOA 2015, taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center on February 26-28, 2015. Reservations for the luncheon are required. Tickets may be purchased at: www.goaexpo.com.

History of the GALA Award
The annual GALA Award, established in 1982, is one of the printing industry's most prestigious honors. It is given to professionals who excel in management, technology, business and quality; and those who significantly contribute to the graphic arts industry as well as back to the community. Members of the Printing Industry of America and Conlatingraf associations nominate the award recipients.

"It is because of future-oriented leaders like E. Antonio Hernández that our industry has continued to progress towards next generation technology and adaptation," says George Ryan, GOA President. "We, and the members of Conlatingraf, thank him for his contributions towards this growing market segment, and are proud to be able to honor him during the luncheon celebration."

About E. Antonio Hernández
E. Antonio Hernández is an industry veteran who currently serves as the Commercial Director of Servigraficos in Panama. Originally from San José, Costa Rica, he began his career in the graphic arts industry in 1992 at the Costa Rica Today newspaper.

He was later commissioned to coordinate the activities of the newspaper with the newspaper's printer, La Nación de Costa Rica, where he was instrumental in establishing -- for the first time there -- the link between Mac and PC platforms. He was also credited for moving the company from analog to digital prepress. He went on to direct the newspaper's commercial division.

From 1996 to 1999, he moved to Panama to establish the first office of the newspaper La Nacion, outside of Costa Rica, naming it Servigraficos Panama. He participated in the installation of the equipment, earning him much prestige in the market and helping positioning the company as a leader in prepress in the country.

From the 1999 to 2001, he worked at Graphic World, a commercial printing operation, leading the company to be one the first Panamanian printers offering multicolor services. From 2001 to present, he serves as the Commercial Director in Servigraficos Panama, which was sold by the newspaper La Nacion, in which he is a stakeholder.

He returned to Panama to participate in the re-engineering of Servigraficos, when it changed owners, to become a commercial printer. In 2003, Servigraficos Panama expanded from prepress services to include printing, achieving an important role in the Panamanian graphic arts market.

E. Antonio Hernández is an active member of ADIGRAP, the Panamanian printing industry association, since 2003, and has been president from 2009 to date. His core focus has been on training to align with suppliers. Don Antonio has been a member of Conlatingraf since 2005, and currently serves as Conlatingraf's Vice President of Industry Training.

GALA Luncheon Reservation
All are invited to attend the luncheon celebration and reservations are required. To purchase GALA Award banquet tickets, please visit: www.goaexpo.com.

For more information about exhibiting at, or attending, GOA 2015 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, please visit: http://www.goaexpo.com, or call: 1-800-331-0461.