April 8, 2002 -- The Alliance of Consultants and Educators (ACE) for the Printing Industry recently awarded the Ascender Award for the Northwest region to Rod Bristol, owner of Sudden Printing in Seattle, Wash. Winners of the Ascender Award should exhibit superior business practices and go above and beyond to share their knowledge and experience with industry peers. "I think we have tried to stay in touch with the two most important elements essential to staying in business -- our customers and our employees," Bristol says. Bristol served as PrintImage International president in 1991 and served on the association's Blue Ribbon Task force that created the "Fast Forward" report on the future of the quick printing industry. Bristol was named the PrintImage International Printer of the Year in 1996. Bristol has served as the Washington State delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. He also served on the board of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. As an Ascender Award winner, Bristol will receive a 6 month subscription of the Printips newsletter, the Digital Original on CD: How to Handle Customer Files Without Becoming a Service Bureau by John Giles, PrintSmith software (The Crouser Pricing Module or a $395 discount on purchase), a one year subscription to a PrinterPresence Web site, Prospering: Putting Your Business to Work for You and Your Family and Dead Printer Working: A Printer's Financial Survival Guide, both by Tom Crouser. The winner will also receive free registration to a workshop facilitated by Tom Crouser entitled "Prospering in the New Economy." Bristol joins Wayne Yada, winner of the Ascender award in the California region and president of Premier Color Graphics, Inc. in Visalia, Calif. To nominate printers in other regions, visit www.crouser.com or call 888-388-5778. Nominations are due by May 1, 2002. The awards will be presented from March to June to printers from eight regions throughout the United States. The Ascender Award is sponsored and presented by ACE - the Alliance of Consultants and Educators. ACE is a group of industry professionals who specialize in helping printers grow their business and improve their bottom line through educational seminars and consulting engagements. The Alliance is comprised of Tom Crouser of Crouser and Associates, Nancy DeDiemar of Printips, John Giles of the Giles Group, and Tawnya Starr of Digital IMS.