New York, NY and Alexandria, VA - Printing Industries Alliance and IDEAlliance® have selected Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator from New York State, as the recipient of the 2015 Franklin Award for Distinguished Service—the highest honor given an individual by the graphic communications community.  The coveted award, which has been bestowed for more than 60 years upon U.S. Presidents, diplomats, military leaders, and other renowned titans of industry and the arts for their outstanding contributions to society, will be presented to  Senator Gillibrand at the Franklin Luminaire Event on October 1, 2015 (5:30-10:00 pm) at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, New York, NY.

Since entering the United States Senate in 2009, Kirsten Gillibrand has made her mark as a “Voice for the People of New York State”, representing her constituents in a most passionate and professional manner. She has shown leadership, and a willingness to “reach across the aisle” on a number of difficult and challenging issues. For these reasons, Senator Gillibrand is being recognized as the Franklin Award for Distinguished Service honoree.

“We are delighted to salute Senator Gillibrand with this prestigious honor and celebrate her achievements in front of more than 300 prominent CEOs and senior executives from the printing, publishing, digital, advertising, and graphic communications community” said Event Co-Chair Donna Georgio, Senior Vice President Sales, HighRoad Press. “The exciting evening carries on a long-standing tradition of offering close networking opportunities with new and potential clients, building professional relationships, and most importantly, investing in the education of our future workforce,” she added.

Event Co-Chair Laura C. Reid, Vice President of Production, Hearst Magazines, agreed. “Our Committee members are working diligently to make the program a spectacular event which no one will want to miss.  Franklin Luminaire is now the most prestigious awards program in what is arguably the most important visual communications market in the world. We will also salute, as IDEAlliance has for the past 25 years, four outstanding individuals with Best of Communications Awards in recognition of their creative excellence and personal dedication as media production leaders.”   

The 2015 Luminaire Award Honorees are Charles Blanchard, Jr., President and CEO, Blanchard Systems, Inc.; Meghan Fitzgerald Milkowski, Vice President, Production & Circulation, Prometheus Global Media; Veronica H. Simmons, Vice President, Director of Print Production, MMR//McCann; and Michael J. Simon, Executive Vice President, Publishers Press, Inc.

Diane Romano, President & CEO, HudsonYards, active for many years in both awards programs, will once again serve as Chair Emeritus of the Franklin Luminaire Awards.  Proceeds from the program support the next generation of media professionals, offering student scholarships through the Graphic Communications Scholarship Foundation (GCSF).   

Current Platinum sponsors include Adobe, Blanchard Systems, Inc., Candid Worldwide, Canon Solutions America, Condé Nast, Dalim Software GmbH, EarthColor, Hearst Magazines, HudsonYards, Konica Minolta, MRM//McCann, Phoenix Litho/HighRoad Press, Polaris Direct, Prometheus Global Media, Publishers Press, Inc., Quad/Graphics, RR Donnelley, Time Inc. and Xerox Corporation.  Gold sponsors are Camby & West Inc., Case Paper, Continental Web Press, Coral Color Process, Ltd., Data-Mail, Design Distributors, Fry Communications, Graphic Paper, Heidelberg, Intelisent, INX International Ink Co., Mohawk, Trend Offset, Veritiv, and Worcester Envelope Co.

To become a sponsor or register, visit http://www.PIAliance.org/franklin-luminaire-event.html, download the registration form, or contact Kim Tuzzo  [email protected], (716-691-3211) or Enid Palazzolo [email protected], (703-837-1086) for information.