NPES Presents 2013 Harold W. Gegenheimer Awards

NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies awarded its 2013 Harold W. Gegenheimer Individual and Corporate Awards for Industry Service to William "Kip" Smythe, Jr. and Canon Solutions America, respectively. The awards, named for the former NPES president and Baldwin Technology Company chairman emeritus, recognize leadership and participation in NPES and industry activities, civic leadership and technical innovation. They were presented at the NPES 2013 Annual Conference, held November 11–12, in Orlando, FL.

William "Kip" Smythe, Jr., recently celebrated 33 years with NPES, having joined the organization in 1980 as Director of Member Services. When he started at NPES, in his early 30s, Kip brought with him the drive, versatility and energy that helped to shape NPES initiatives ranging from its PRINT OUTLOOK Conference and Market Data Program to market research efforts and also the Association's international services and programs. Additionally, with his guidance of the organization's standards programs and his role as executive secretary of the International Color Consortium, Kip gave everything to ensure the success, versatility and effectiveness of NPES programs and services for our members.

"NPES owes enormous thanks and gratitude to Kip," said Ralph J. Nappi, president of NPES. "We are honored to be able to recognize him for his dedication and commitment to our members and our industry."

"Canon Solutions America, the Corporate Award recipient, is an industry leader with a distinguished track record of technological innovations, in fact most recently receiving two Must See 'Ems recognitions at PRINT 13. Canon Solutions America has over the years within our industry, first as two individual organizations—Canon and Océ—and today, as a unified powerhouse, been a steady force, both in good and bad times, always supporting industry organizations like NPES, NAPL and Printing Industries of America. Particularly recognizing the past support and contributions of Océ, among its involvement with NPES and our research arm, PRIMIR, Canon Solutions America has provided service on the Board of Directors, participated in events including NPES Annual Conferences, PRINT OUTLOOK and the Vision 3 Summit, and provided invaluable input for the NPES/PRIMIR "World-wide Market for Print" study update. Receiving the award on behalf of Mal Baboyian, was Francis McMahon, vice president marketing at Canon Solutions America.

"Canon Solutions America has been a leader in technological innovation, working to provide efficient and cost-effective systems to the graphic communications industry," noted Nappi. "We are grateful for Canon/Océ's meaningful contribution to the industry—and to NPES."

Smythe and Canon Solutions America each received plaques, and their names will also be added to a plaque of past awardees on display at NPES headquarters. NPES has also established two Harold W. Gegenheimer Award scholarships with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, to which two thousand dollars is given each year. These scholarships are awarded to the employees, or children of employees, of NPES members who are pursuing studies in graphic communications.

About NPES
NPES is a U.S. trade association representing more than 400 companies that manufacture and distribute equipment, software and supplies used across the workflow of printing, publishing and converting process. NPES is a co-sponsor of the global PRINT exhibition, and GRAPH EXPO—the largest and most comprehensive prepress, printing, converting and package printing, binding and finishing, mailing and fulfillment, and digital, offset, hybrid, and flexo equipment trade show and conference in the Americas.

Source: NPES.