Just as new types of printing and multimedia companies have been formed through mergers and acquisitions, long-time printing associations are joining forces to better serve the owners and employees of 21st century printing businesses.
The newest consolidation of associations was announced May 1, 2020 when the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and the Printing Industries of America (PIA) officially combined to create PRINTING United Alliance. The new alliance is the largest, most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in the United States.
Members of PRINTING United Alliance will have access to extensive education, training, workshops, events, and research as well as government and legislative representation and guidance on safety and environmental sustainability issues. Plus, PRINTING United Alliance members can tap into the resources of NAPCO Media, which SGIA acquired in August 2019.
SGIA CEO Ford Bowers was elevated to President and CEO of the PRINTING United Alliance. The President and CEO of Printing Industries of America Michael Makin is now the Executive Vice President of the unified organization
“PRINTING United Alliance is a reflection of the invaluable partnerships and industry convergence that has evolved over time,” said Bowers.
“PIA is thrilled to join forces with SGIA, combining resources to serve every segment of the printing industry,” said Makin. “Pooling the extensive talent of both organizations, along with the media expertise of NAPCO Media, is a game-changer.”
PRINTING United Alliance brings together two forward-thinking associations that have long histories of adapting to ongoing changes in printing technologies and markets.
SGIA History
Founded as a screen-printing association in 1948, SGIA was among the first to recognize how the evolution of short-run, on-demand printing technologies might affect the graphic, textile, apparel, and product decoration markets traditionally served by screen printing firms. First, they changed their name from the Screen Printing Association to Screen Printing & Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA).
After consolidating the Digital Printing and Imaging Association and the Screen Printing Technical Foundation, the SGIA became the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and broadened its membership to include early adopters of wide-format digital printing equipment.
Today, SGIA membership includes professionals from multiple types of printing businesses, including industrial, graphic, garment, textile, printed electronics, packaging, and commercial.
In 2019, SGIA acquired NAPCO Media, a business-to-business publishing company serving the printing, packaging, publishing, marketing, retail, non-profit, and promotional products markets. NAPCO builds community between its clients and audiences through integrated media programs, research, video services, events, marketing services, and e-learning.
SGIA worked with NAPCO Media in 2018 and 2019 to produce the first PRINTING United expo, Oct. 23-25 in Dallas, TX. PRINTING United was an immediate hit, attracting more 680 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees from all segments of the printing business.
Since the acquisition, SGIA has operated NAPCO Media as an independent media arm. NAPCO publishes Printing Impressions, Wide-Format Impressions, In-Plant Impressions, and Packaging Impressions. as well as Promo Marketing, and Total Retail.
PIA Background
Founded in 1897, the Printing Industries of America and its local affiliated associations deliver services and products that enhance the knowledge, growth, and profitability of members through advocacy, research, education, and networking.
In 1999, PIA consolidated resources with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF), the premier research, technical, and education association in the commercial printing industry.
PRINTING United Alliance Board of Directors
The new PRINTING United Alliance board of directors reflects combined leadership from the previous SGIA and PIA boards of directors, and compromises the following industry executives:
- Chairman of the Board: Scott Crosby, Transcontinental Holland & Crosby;
- First Vice Chair: Paul Cousineau,Dow Jones and Company, Inc.;
- Second Vice Chair: Christopher Bernat, Vapor Apparel/Source Substrates LLC;
- Third Vice Chair: Michael Marcian, Corporate Communications Group;
- Treasurer: Dean DeMarco, IDL Worldwide;
- Secretary: Brooke Hamilton, NPI;
- Immediate Past Chair: Thomas Cooper III, WestRock;
- Chair of Chairmen’s Advisory Council: Edward Cook, Jr., ECI Screen Print Inc.;
- Associate Vice Chair: Scott Schinlever, Gerber Technology;
- Ex Officio: Ford Bowers, President and CEO, PRINTING United Alliance.
Directors at-large include:
- Brian Adam, Olympus Group;
- Nick Buettner, American Cut and Sew;
- Roger Chamberlain, The Cincinnati Insurance Company;
- Kristen Danson, MitoGraphics Inc.;
- Chris Feryn, Premier Press;
- Kevin Gazdag, KG Graphics Décor;
- Bryan Hall, Graphic Visual Solutions;
- Lane Hickey-Wiggins, Douglass Screen Printers Inc. dba DPRINT;
- Brian Hite, Image Options;
- Michael Magerl, Trabon Group;
- Brent Moncrief, FUJIFILM;
- Joseph Olivo, Perfect Communications;
- Edward Pidcock, Chillybears;
- Heather Poulin, Ricoh USA;
- Timothy Saur, Durst Imaging Technology US LLC;
- Elaine Scrima, GSP Companies;
- Michael Wagner, Butler Technologies Inc.;
- and Joseph Lyman, President, Great Lakes Graphics Association, serving as Affiliate manager.
“In this time of consolidation, printer members and the supplier community at large are looking for a unified solution to the challenges they face in this era of rapid change,” said Scott Crosby, Chairman of the Board of PRINTING United Alliance. “The new Association will become the place to find answers for everything related to printing. It is a great honor and privilege for me to serve the industry as we look forward to a new beginning.”
PRINTING United 2020
Meet leaders of PRINTING United Alliance and see the results of their merger by attending the PRINTING United 2020 show October 23-25 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
You can also expect to see the widest array of printing technologies at any U.S. expo, including printing, and finishing equipment, supplies, and prepress and workflow software for commercial, functional, textile, apparel, wide-format, and package printing.
Whether you are seeking printing equipment for an in-plant printing shop or full-service integrated printing and marketing company, you will find plenty of options and ideas at PRINTING United. For more information about the Expo, visit https://www.printingunited.com/
Additional Information Sources
What they Think: Alphabet Soup of Trade Association Mergers by Mark Hahn
Printing Impressions VIDEO: Ford Bowers and Michael Makin Discuss Merger of SGIA and PIA