Ernest Ohlig, Chairman of the OLEC Corporation, and Agfa Corporation received the 2000 Harold W. Gegenheimer Awards for Industry Service at the Annual Conference of NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies November 6 in Phoenix, Arizona. The awards, named for a former NPES President and Chairman Emeritus of Baldwin Technology Company, recognize in a member company and an individual qualities which Harold Gegenheimer continues to stand for - a lifelong commitment to technical innovation, sound management, support for education and research and working for the good of the whole industry. The winners receive plaques, and NPES contributes $1,000 in the name of each winner to the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation for scholarships offered to the employees or children of employees of NPES member companies to pursue studies in graphic communications. Ohlig was recognized the for the leadership and service he provided to NPES as a member of the Board of Directors, chairman of the Audit Committee and Annual Conference Chairman, and his community leadership, especially in the area of education, where he worked closely with the Don Bosco schools in California. Ohlig's resignation from the board because of illness was announced at the meeting, and the award was accepted on his behalf by his sons, Don and Bert Ohlig. NPES Chairman Stan Freimuth noted that Ohlig emigrated to the United States in 1951 and founded OLEC Corporation, one of the world's leaders in the manufacture of UV exposure systems, in 1977. "He and his wife Lottie and their sons Don and Bert have built the firm from small beginnings to a major group of organizations employing more than 400 people," Freimuth noted, adding that Ohlig was honored in 1989 as a finalist Entrepreneur of the Year for the company's accomplishments, and in 1999, he was honored as the Small Business Person of the Year by the Santa Ana, California District Office of the Small Business Administration. Agfa was recognized for its long-term membership and active participation in the Association and its participation in Graphic Arts Show Company events. The company was one of the early supplies companies to join after the Association changed its name to National Printing Equipment and Supplies Association in 1978 and has provided strong representation for NPES Market Data and Market Research Committees, as well as members of the board. Senior Marketing Manager Vincent Naselli currently chairs the association's market research program. AGFA's Marketing Director Susan Wittner, a member of the NPES Board of Directors, received the award. Nominations for the Gegenheimer awards may be made by any NPES member company. Nominations for the 2001 awards will be due August 15.