Cohoes, NY – Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, is pleased to announce Tom O’Connor Jr., Mohawk’s Chief Executive Officer and Ted O’Connor, Mohawk’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Envelopes and Converting have been named 2017 Peyton Shaner Awards recipients by AIPPM.

AIPPM’s Peyton Shaner award was established to commemorate the founder of the Association of Independent Printing Paper Merchants. The recipients are recognized as someone who has shared Shaner’s passion for the industry.  

“I have always been a big fan of the O’Connor family and feel they run a top notch family business that is not afraid to explore new markets or reenergize traditional ones!” say Don Clampitt of Clampitt Paper. Bayard Tynes of Strickland Paper adds “Tom and Ted are a dynamic duo. They are lions in our industry that represent the first family in paper with old fashioned values and exciting new products and services that make this crazy business fresh and fun. When the O’Connor family succeeds, we all succeed.”  

Tom O'Connor Jr. joined Mohawk in 1986 and was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2004. During his tenure, Mr. O’Connor has grown the company to become North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes which are preferred for commercial and digital printing, photo specialties and high-end direct mail. As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. O’Connor has doubled Mohawk’s business and positioned the organization for the future by leading Mohawk into new areas of growth. Through a series of strategic initiatives, Mr. O’Connor has expanded global sales, operations and distribution channels; diversified Mohawk’s product portfolio to include envelopes and specialty substrates for digital printing; upgraded IT and operational infrastructure; and has expanded Mohawk’s distribution base through strategic initiatives including the acquisition of several companies, including the iconic Strathmore line of fine papers which was acquired in 2005. Mr. O’Connor has served as chairman of the National Paper Trade Association, and on the boards of the American Forest Products Association, St. Gregory’s School, and the Advisory Board of M&T Bank. He is also a former member of The Capital Region Economic Development Council (CREDC).

Ted O’Connor has been in the paper business on and off since 1980. From 1980-1982 he worked for the Carter Rice Paper Company as a Sales Representative for their Boston and West Haven, CT divisions. In 1982 Ted came to work for Mohawk Fine Papers as a Specification Sales Representative for the New York City market. In 1985 he became the District Sales Manager for upstate New York and Canada. In 1987 Ted was promoted to National Sales Manager. In 1992 he left Mohawk to work in Bond Sales for Lehman Brothers in New York City. From 1998-2008 Ted continued his career in Bond Sales at First Albany Corporation. He returned to Mohawk in 2008 as National Sales Manager for the Eastern Region and in 2011 was promoted to Senior Vice President Sales, responsible for sales of fine paper across the United States and Canada as well as Mohawk's growing envelope business. In 2016, Ted was promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager, Mohawk Envelope and Converting. In this new role, Ted leads Mohawk’s sales and marketing efforts for envelopes, while working closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to enhance Mohawk’s rapidly growing envelope and converting businesses.