Academy Members
Meet Our 2022 Initiates
The Academy's newest initiates — Mark Suhaldonik (left) and Ray Work (right) are both accompanied by the Academy's past Chair; Laura Maybaum at the Academy luncheon during PRINTING United Expo 2022.
In 2004 he wrote 'Anything Goes at the Screen printer's' a book aimed at the layman and a marketing tool for the screen-printing industry. This well-illustrated book is unfortunately only available in Dutch now. Today he is an independent consultant and free-lance journalist, writing for several magazines, and photographer with a life-time passion for the process of screen printing'. Ad Versteeg is married with three children and three grandsons (and one underway), and since 1998 owner of Evident, based in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2018. Alan Howe is a native of Detroit Michigan with 33 years of industry experience. He entered the industry in 1987 with the Former Harco Graphic (now Brown Mfg) and has since held technical-sales positions with well-known companies including Jay Products, Saati Usa, and Tech Support sps.
As a seminar speaker, with many articles published he is a familiar face at trade shows and industry events.
Alan has been a Screen Print Judge for the Skills USA National Competition.
In 2018 Alan was inducted in to the ASDPT Academy of Screen and Digital Print Technology.
Alan resides in Davison Michigan and is a Technical Sales Representative for Easiway Systems.
FIMOR has patented in various countries approximately 10 different inventions, mostly developed by Zuckerman. In 1998, FIMOR pioneered the "triple hardness squeegee" and the non-bending construction known as "serilor® COMBI." Besides squeegee rubber and sharpeners, FIMOR has separate divisions devoted to electronic keyboards, miscellaneous passive electronic components, and PU rubber industrial applications. Alex Zuckerman was, until 2001, vice president of the European Screen Printing Manufacture Association (ESMA) and chairman of the Industrial Application Committee.
He has since retired as of July 1, 2019, his son Manuel Zuckerman taking over as the new CEO. Alex Zuckerman, in cooperation with Don Marsden, to organize a world exhibition of the works of the Domberger father and son, and Michel Caza, to account for their lives dedicated to promoting contemporary art through screen-printing.
In Edmonton, Alberta, with a daughter on the way, he took a job driving a truck for Davis Automotive, a retail automotive chain. His lettering skills came to the owner's attention, and he was put to work making sale signage, which led to the position of advertising manager, where he was soon producing newspaper ads, radio & TV commercials, and POP signage for the chain of stores. During this time, he began screen-printing with a small in-house set-up to produce show cards and other marketing material.
Finding the hands-on, creative process of screen-printing much more interesting than designing bi-weekly newspaper ads for car parts, he took a series of jobs as an apprentice and then as a printer and shop manager at sign and screen companies in Edmonton & Vancouver. In 1984 he started his company, MacDougall ScreenPrinting Ltd. He worked for Expo 86, producing pavilion display signage, along with other customers in the emerging software industry, manufacturers requiring printing of 3D parts, and ad agencies producing signage for gas stations, restaurants, and banks. During this time, he fought and won a battle over unfair taxation of screen printer’s stencil materials in the Province of British Columbia, eventually winning a ruling from the Minister of Finance and saving B.C. screen shops thousands of dollars per year.
By the early 1990s, growing tired of large shop management and commercial work, he sold the operation and moved with his wife and two daughters to Courtenay, a small town on Vancouver Island. He built a custom low-tox studio and printed limited-edition art there, experimenting with water-based inks and solar exposing. He continued with the development, sales, and marketing of the Parapress line of large-format screen presses. He also started teaching night and weekend courses in screen-printing, developing a text of instruction for the students.
Since the late 1990s, MacDougall has contributed numerous articles and columns to screen-printing Magazine, Screen Graphics, Printwear & Promotion (UK) Signmedia (Can), and Printing Review (India) focusing on practical applications and tips, and in 2003 published ‘Screenprinting Today – the Basics.’
Inducted into the ASDPT, 1998. Art Dobie has been in the screen-printing industry for 40 years. He received his BS in Graphic Communications, specializing in Screen Printing Technology, in 1980 from California University
of Pennsylvania. Art is a Life Member and Fellow of the Society of the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society (IMAPS) and was the 2006 recipient of the IMAPS John A. Wagnon Technical Achievement Award for outstanding technical contributions
to screen printing technology as related to microelectronics. Art was inducted into the SGIA’s Academy of ScreenPrinting Technology in 1998, and received the SGIA David Swormstedt Sr. Memorial Award, recognizing the best published article or technical
paper written for any aspect of the screen-printing industry in both 2010 and 2019.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2019. Beppe began his career in 1972 as a Graphic Designer and Screen Printer at Serigrafica Bergamasca. He later owned TIMS Serigrafia in Bergamo, Italy which was a screen-printing company specializing in production of stickers, plates, electronic circuits and garment decoration.
In 1977, TIMS merged with Serigrafica Bergamasca to facilitate the strengthening of their services and to grow the garment decoration segment. In 1980, Beppe founded Quaglia Pubblicità, a Company specializing in pre-press services (color separation, films and screens), inks, materials and tools for screen printing.
In 1988, Quaglia Pubblicità set up Elabora, a fully computerized Company segment to provide graphic skills and new printing solutions to the garment decoration industry. In 1993, Quaglia srl is established through the merger of Quaglia Pubblicità and Elabora. In the early 2000’s, Quaglia srl becomes the exclusive distributor in Italy for Wilflex plastisol inks, M&R printing equipment, Nazdar UV and Digital inks, and Stretch Devices retensionable Newman Roller Frames. In 2007, VIRUS® INKS was launched and the brand has become an internationally recognized leader in water-based inks.
Inducted into the Academy, 2017. Bill Hood was born into screen printing technologies in the mid-1940s as the son of a screen printer, the late Tom Hood. As a child, he worked in the family screen printing business in the Dallas, Texas, area, learning the process. He worked in the family screen printing business until entering the military during the Vietnam Conflict in 1961, where he worked as a Cryptology Operator, Radarman, and finally as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. Hood opened his first screen printing shop, Windmill Screen Printing, producing fine art serigraphs and posters while attending Sam Houston University, majoring in fine art and printmaking. He has been fortunate to gain expertise in most screen printing segments and various departments; business operation, marketing and sales, art creation, screen making, ink transfer process, and press production. He is a proficient author, having written over 100 books and authored thousands of articles. Over the past five decades, he has consulted globally with over 12,000 screen printers. He received the 2016 Dave Swormstedt, Sr. Memorial Award for outstanding writing ability and exceptional industry insight. Hood is an internationally recognized speaker at numerous events and has judged screen printing awards in the USA and India. He writes technical articles and monthly columns on screen printing for trade magazines in North America and India. As a serial entrepreneur, Hood has founded Bill Hood Consulting, The School of Screen Printing, Solutions Publishers, Solutions Journal Magazine, Screen print Books, Who's Who in Screen Printing, Screen print Process Technical Research Center, Screen print Research Journal, Screenprint Magazine, and Serigrafía, published in Spanish.
In 1985 Hoag took a course from Bob Webster at Rochester Institute of Technology where his love of screen-printing began. 1987 Hoag left education and went to work as an operations manager for a commercial graphics company called Azimuth Corporation in St. Paul, MN. Azimuth Corporation began franchising instant sign stores called Signtific.
Eventually Signtific was in 14 states. While working at Azimuth he finished his master’s degree. In 1990 Hoag left Azimuth Corporation and began his own commercial sign company called ProSign. ProSign specialized in vehicle graphics for: police, fire, public works, public transit and commercial vehicles. 1991 Hoag returned to education at Roseville Area High School while continuing his full-time sign company. In 2000 Hoag sold ProSign to dedicate full time to teaching and his school run business called Raider Grafix.
The school’s student run printing company has grown to a six-figure income that now allows the program at Roseville to be financially self-sufficient. Since 1991 the Media Arts program at Roseville has undergone tremendous growth. A new facility was built in 1996 and now another new facility will open in the Fall of 2021.
Hoag has consulted in the design of new graphic arts educational facilities, developed curriculum, hosted numerous teacher seminars and has had several teachers from all over the country come see how they can replicate the success of Roseville’s Media Arts program. Future plans are to develop a teacher training institute at Roseville where graphic arts educators can come and learn best practices that they can take back and apply in their own programs.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2004. Bruce Ridge is the Director of Technical Services at Nazdar which includes ink, equipment, and consulting technical support and training for ink jet, screen, and narrow web flexo printers. He contributed to the education of the screen-printing industry by leading the Masterprint Color Training Program that was presented to more than 2,500 printers in North America which brought control and measurement to the 4-color printing of images. As a printer, his company was awarded Golden Squeegee awards in the fine art and poster categories.
Taublieb graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Art. He was Vice President at Great American Screen Designs for six years and President of Bullseye Screen Printing Supplies for 13 years. Taublieb is a repeat instructor for several popular SGIA workshops. He is also a member of the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technologies (ASDPT).
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2002. With a B.S. in Industrial Technology (Graphic Arts Management concentration) from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1992, Dan began his screen-printing career as Production Operator at Kings Graphics, Inc. (Mendota Heights, MN). Following a Laboratory Technician internship at Tetko, Inc. (Briarcliff Manor, NY), he was recruited by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M)/Imation. In 1992,
Dan worked as an Artwork Specialist in the company's Optical Recording Division, CD Replication Department (Menomonie, WI); between 1993-1995, he served as Graphic Communication Analyst in 3M's Optical Recording Division, Process Engineering Department (Menomonie, WI); from 1995-1997, he became Advanced Printing Technologist in the Optical Recording Division, Optical Technology Center (Vadnais Heights, MN); and in 1997, he worked as Advanced Printing Technologist in the company's Printing and Publishing Division, Matchprint Laser Department (St. Paul, MN).
Also, in 1997, he was an adjunct ScreenPrinting Instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Menomonie, WI). Since 1997, Dan has been the ScreenPrinting Laboratory Manager at Sefar America, Inc./Tetko, Inc. (Burnsville, MN). After relocating the laboratory from New York to Minnesota. He has developed and implemented a training program, managed the development of mesh and adhesive products, provided technical support to customers, and undertaken a series of marketing initiatives.
A frequent speaker and contributor to industry publications, Dave is a two-time Swormstedt Memorial Award nominee. Once in 2006 for his article "Standardization in Screenmaking" and again in 2017 for his article "Stencil Making in the Age of CTS," both published in Screenprinting magazine.
Dave was inducted into the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technologies (ASDPT) in 2006. He has served and continues to serve on several SGIA committees. He also helps instruct SGIA’s screen making workshop.
Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in visual communications technology from Bowling Green State University.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2003. Dawn currently consults for Uncommon Enterprises LLC, offering technical training and consultation on screen-printing. Prior to consulting for Uncommon Enterprises, Dawn worked for the ScreenPrinting Technical Foundation for 18 years, a SGIA affiliated organization dedicated to advancing the screen-printing industry through process related research and educational programs. She served as the Technical Training Manager and was responsible for developing technical information for SPTF’s educational products and training programs.
Among her many educational accomplishments, she developed an extensive online Troubleshooting Guide, a detailed ScreenPrinting Process Model Poster, initiated SPTF’s e-Training program, and completed SPTF’s Work Instruction series. Additionally, she has served on California University of Pennsylvania’s Graphic Communication Advisory Committee, Pennsylvania College of Technology Graphic Advisory Board and Skills USA Technical Committee for ScreenPrinting.
During her tenure at SPTF she helped develop, refine and conduct SPTF’s “Screen Making” and “Graphics Four-Color Process” seminars, as well as developed and conducted “Color Theory” and “Statistical Process Control for ScreenPrinting” seminars. She oversaw the Textile workshops sessions at SGIA ’03 through ’07, and SPTF’s “Special Effects” workshop.
The author of over thirty research reports and magazine articles Dawn has been published in ScreenPrinting, Sign Media Canada, Screen Graphics, The Press, SGIA Journal and Grafica News India. She currently serves on the editorial advisory board of Sign Media Canada. Additionally, she has presented numerous industry seminars at SGIA’s Exhibition, FESPA and other events over the years. She also has given presentations and technical support at several schools including Fauquier High School, Pennsylvania College of Technology, 2009 PICA Educator Seminar, and 2009 IGAEA ScreenPrinting Workshop.
On the research side, Dawn was instrumental in building and promoting SPTF’s research agenda, completing over two dozen major research projects for the Foundation. Prominent among them are projects dealing with screen washout, heat vs. tension,
reclaiming, exposure light distribution testing, color control testing, ink estimating formulas and calculations, ink deposit testing on 27 mesh counts, stencil thickness effects on ink thickness, bolt to bolt mesh variation effects on ink deposit,
capillary application variable study, changes in polyester mesh during tensioning,
electronic thickness gauge techniques, sample preparation techniques for ink, and polyester mesh capability study.
In addition, Dawn was responsible for the development of the electronic off-contact gauge, ink estimating software program, and helped in the development of two screen-printing probes for thickness gauges. Dawn has developed and administrated
several government research project contracts during over the years, including work for the EPA and CIA.
Dawn graduated with a B.S. in Graphic Communications and Technology, with a ScreenPrinting option, from the California University of Pennsylvania located in California, PA in 1989. She was inducted into the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies in 2003.
Inducted into the Academy, 2017. Debbie Thorp is the Business Development Director at Global Inkjet Systems Ltd (GIS), a leading developer of RIP software, drivers, electronics and ink system components for industrial inkjet printheads.
She has spent more than 25 years in digital printing. In the late 1990s, Thorpe was Head of Group Marketing at Xaar Plc, and then moved on to be Director of Business Development at AIP Ltd, a liquid toner technology development project. Before joining GIS, Thorp was Vice President, EMEA Operations at iTi, an inkjet integrator and materials deposition device manufacturer.
Earlier in her career, Thorp spent over 10 years in senior positions at specialist digital printing consultancy companies BIS Strategic Decisions, IT Strategies and CAP Ventures (now InfoTrends).
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2003. Denise has contributed technical articles to industry trade journals, presented seminars and workshops at trade shows, and was recognized for her educational contributions to our industry with the Key Award from SGIA. In addition to serving as Technical
Associate for SGIA, Denise has served in domestic and international technical capacities with several manufacturers, allowing intense focus on prepress and printing equipment; stencils, screen chemicals, and industrial films; screen frames, mesh,
tensioning, and squeegees; inks and color management; and resins and raw materials.
Denise has served on the SGIA Board of Directors and has participated on various SGIA committees, including the Education Committee for which she served as chair. She has served on the Board of Advisors for various university printing programs
and as adjunct faculty for workshops and training programs, including those offered by the SPTF. Denise has served as a technical judge in printing competitions including SGIA’s Golden Image Competition. Denise continues to offer consulting services
and process analysis for printing operations worldwide.
Inducted into the ASDPT,1990. Don Newman is President of Stretch Devices, Inc., and is best known as the inventor and worldwide patented manufacturer of the Newman Roller Frame and its many related worldwide patented technologies. Don received his education at Penn State University where he received a degree in structural engineering. Don also pursued graduate research at the University of Pennsylvania and Hospital in both psychophysiology and engineering.
He continues his educational pursuits through continuing education in psychology and is a private doctor in psychology. In addition to inventing and designing the welding process for pipe fabrication for the Newman Roller Frame, Don designs children’s playground equipment for schools, parks and recreation areas. Additionally, over 100 US and Worldwide patents and trademarks have been granted and held.
Through research conducted between 1976 and 1980, Don discovered that printing color balance, thickness of ink deposit and registration of images are most dependent on the screen tension. In 1983, Don received the International Intertec Award from the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (Pittsburgh, PA) for the Innovation of a product that will have the largest influence over the graphic industry.
He has also received the 1985 International Interior & Architectural Product Design Award for Table Design from the Resource Council (New York, NY); and in 1999 was recognized by the Michigan ScreenPrinting Association for contributions made to the Michigan screen-printing industry. In September 2005 to December 2005, the Detroit Institute of Art held a national serigraphy exhibition of 70 prints, produced by 15 artists. All prints were printed using Newman Roller Frames.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2018. Ambitious print specialist with 35 years’ experience in screen and digital printing industries, with knowledge acquired through hands-on design, production, sales and operations management in graphics, industrial, commercial and textile sectors.
I have a comprehensive understanding of printing processes, leading both staff and clients in the goal of creating outstanding print that stimulates brand engagement through practical innovation.
As FESPA’s Technical Support Manager I present internationally
on technical topics at conferences and seminars. I also provide in-house expertise to support the Print Make Wear, Printeriors and the new Colour L*A*B* features at FESPA’s exhibitions.
With a regular blog on FESPA.com, an obsession with Colour Management, I still manage to continue printing fine art reproductions at Eye 4 Colour which I’ve done for the last 16 years.
I am able to guide on the appropriate use of production methods across all printing techniques to achieve the highest quality at the right price. I am a member of ISO TC-130 Printing and Graphic technologies, The Fine Art Trade Guild, ASDPT, SGIA
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2016. Greg Kitson is the founder & President of Mind’s Eye Graphics, Inc. of Decatur, IN, founded in 1978 as a back-room operation of a small-town family shoe store. By 1984 the one-man screen-printing operation had replaced the shoe store and hired its first employee. Since then, Mind’s Eye Graphics has grown to provide custom & contract screen-printing to decorated apparel professionals worldwide. Kitson and Mind’s Eye Graphics offer industry-specific technical training & business consulting at their 22,000 sq. ft. Indiana production facility as well as at client locations. This 42-year industry veteran has regularly contributed to industry publications and seminar presentations since 1990. Kitson sold Mind's Eye Graphics, Inc. in May of 2022 and has retired.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2008.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2008. After graduating from the University of Western Brittany (at Brest, France) in 1986, with a Doctor of Chemistry, Guy entered the inks and varnishes world in 1988. From 1988 to 1996 he served as R&D UV Manager at Brancher (a French offset inks manufacturer, renamed Brancher-Kingswood and now owned by the Têtu Group) He specialized in UV offset, dry offset, waterless offset, letterpress and flexo printing inks.
In 1996, he joined ENCRES DUBUIT as R&D Manager, where he was in charge of the formulation and development of new products in different areas : Label market, Direct printing on objects, Packaging market, Automotive dials (2D and 3D), Membrane switches, Card market, Special effect and functional products (for Printed Electronics).
He wrote some articles on labels, DVD, glass and special effects printing and spoke at worldwide conferences on label, optical disc and glass printing.
Since 2018 he has held the position of Global Innovation Project Manager and took over the Field Service, the Color matching Service and the Innovation Projects (Products for Printed Electronics and Products for Security Applications).
Thanks to his creativity and a perfect understanding of the screen-printing process he has created an innovative and reliable screen-printing house in Poland focused on special effects printing. PASJA has successfully entered their prints into many national and international competitions recognizing this level of the work. The company is developing new business all the time as well and for a few years have also developed a digital printing branch. Now they are working on some printed electronics projects as well as implementing industrial print standards to get new markets for the future.
In 2005 Jacek Stencel became the president of Polish Screen and Digital Printing Association, a member of FESPA, and he holds continuously this position till today. After hours Jacek is a keen golfer, a sailor, a skier and a guitar player and all those hobbies helps him to recharge his "batteries" quickly and remain in full power for a long time. He loves to travel around the world and meet new people to get inspirations and new horizons for his life and business.
As an educator, Ortolani has taught screen-printing seminars throughout the US and internationally and helped write the curriculum for the SKILLS USA National ScreenPrint Competition. In addition, James has authored hundreds of Textile Screenprinting articles for Industry publications including IMPRESSIONS Magazine, THE PRESS, Printwear, SGIA Journal and more during his tenure.
Jim was inducted into the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technology in 2012 and joined the RadTech Board of Directors in 2019.
Prior to joining EIT in 1993, Jim spent ten years in technical sales, marketing and management and six years as a high school science educator.
He holds a BS in Science Education from The Ohio State University.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2011. Johnny Shell served as the SGIA Vice President of Print Technology & Training for twenty years. In this role, he was responsible for developing community focused training and educational opportunities to keep the industry moving forward. Some of his
activities included delivering seminars at industry events both domestically and internationally, and his articles appear regularly in industry publications.
He has received numerous awards throughout his 30-year career and is a member of the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technology, an international body of experts which honors qualified individuals through election to membership for
their distinguished, long-term contributions to, and application and promotion of, screen and digital printing and associated imaging technologies for graphic, textile, industrial and electronic printing applications.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2008. Laura Maybaum is the market segment manager at Nazdar. She is responsible for managing screen ink portfolios for Industrial, Container, Electronic, Graphic and Specialty Screen Ink.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2013. At the age of 21, Lon R. Winters was the Production Manager for Ocean Pacific. He learned screen printing from the ground up, starting his 30+ year career reclaiming screens. His companies have won more than 50 international, SGIA, industry publication and FESPA garment decorating awards and honors, has served over 15 years as an honorary Golden Image Judge, published hundreds of articles and columns, led a multitude of industry seminars and workshops, and consulted on projects large and small throughout the world. He is a master creative problem solver.
Winters is the president and founder of Colorado-based Graphic Elephants, an international consulting firm and apparel decoration studio specializing in screen printing technical advances, plant design, layout, troubleshooting, productivity, quality analysis and complete apparel decorating solutions. He was inducted into the Academy of Screen Printing Technology (ASDPT) in 2013 and is recognized for his contribution to the graphic printing industry. Learn more at www.graphicelephants.com.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2001. Born in Solothum, Switzerland, Lorenz received his training in screen print as an advertising painter during the 1980s. He taught screen printing at the Superior School of Art in Bern from 1988 to 1993. In 1991, he spent a year at Michel Caza's Graficaza firm in France where he became familiar with UV technology and direct screening, working in high tech POP and limited art editions produced with UV inks and direct emulsions. Boegli then conducted his own research on the relationship between the technologies of screen printing and offset lithography.
When he founded Atelier fur Siebdruck, in 1992 in Zurich, he began to relate the two technologies to take advantage of both. Lorenz has been honored with several industry awards for the quality of his production work at both FESPA and SGIA International's Golden Image Award competitions and has sat on the jury at SGIA, FESPA and Screen Printing Asia awards programs.
During this time period, Mark was fortunate to learn from some of our industry's great talents who invested their extensive time and knowledge in him. In 2005, Mark moved to China and began the "Asian" chapter of his employment experience working for some of the world’s largest "Sports Brand" apparel manufacturers designing and setting up their modernized screen-print operations. Over the years Mark has won several Golden (Squeegee) Image Awards and a few FEPSA print awards including the 2015 FESPA Hall of FAME Award.
Inducted into the Academy, 2020. Mesa, AZ-based Marshall Atkinson is one of the decorated apparel industry's leading production and efficiency experts. He is the owner of Atkinson Consulting, LLC. As a coach, Atkinson focuses on operational efficiency, continuous improvement, workflow strategy, business planning, marketing, employee motivation, management, and sustainability. He hosts the YouTube show for Jerzees, “Adventures in Apparel Decorating,” and the podcast “Success Stories with Marshall Atkinson,” which S&S Activewear sponsors. He hosts the popular “Q&A with Alan and Marshall” weekly industry show with co-host Alan Howe.
Marshall co-founded the decorated apparel industry sales and marketing education company Shirt Lab with industry entrepreneur Tom Rauen, which they operate with partner Alison Banholzer. In 2023, Atkinson began publishing the “Midjourney Elevating Print Creativity Newsletter,” which focuses on best practices for using the AI-based tool in a commercial print setting. He can be contacted by email at marshall@marshallatkinson.com or (850) 445-3155.
In 1967, Michael assumed control of the Domberger screen-printing company from his father. From 1968 to 1978, he served in the screen-printing section of the German BVD. And from 1979 to1981, Michael was Chairman of the screen-printing section of the German BVD. In 1980, Michael was appointed to the FESPA Board. In 1982, Michael was a Svecia prize-winner. In 1986, he served as FESPA Vice-Chairman, and in 1988 to1992, as FESPA President. He then served as FESPA Past President from 1992 to 1996.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 1982. Michel Caza (DOB: 1935) is a multiple award-winning leading light in the global screen-printing industry, and one of the ‘founding fathers’ of FESPA in 1962 and has been a Board Member since 1990. Michel established the French ScreenPrinting Association (GPSF) in 1959, was FESPA’s delegate on the board of the American SGIA for many years, and is Past-Chairman of the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technology (ASDPT).
Michel first became a screen-printer in 1954, going on to found a series of screen-printing businesses. These culminated in the launch in 1983 of Atelier D’Art Michel Caza, devoted to fine art, posters and postcards, alongside Graficaza SA, specialized in high quality general screen-printing for advertising, POP, industrial and decorative applications.
The two businesses were integrated under the Graficaza brand in 1996 and grew in size and turnover until the business was sold by Michel and his wife Therese in 2004. As a pioneer of fine art screen-printing, Michel has collaborated with many world-famous 20th Century artists, including Dali, Lichtenstein, Matisse, Miro and Warhol, as well as numerous illustrators, studios and comic designers.
Michel’s workshops have been used as an ‘open door’ training school for foreign printers wanting to develop their technical knowledge, and he has personally initiated and developed significant innovations in screening, inks, substrates and digital prepress for screen-printing, as well as undertaking substantial research into the use of screen and digital printing in industrial applications. Michel now works as an expert consultant for a global client base of printers and equipment manufacturers.
He has edited and contributed to dozens of trade publications worldwide and has authored and contributed to numerous technical books and CDs, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. He has presented technical seminars in more than 50 cities around the world.
He is currently the President of Mike Ruff Consulting LLC. Ruff’s education in the graphics space began at Art Instruction Schools in Minneapolis, MN. He has since gained numerous certifications including Color Management for Flexography Certification from R.I.T., Color Theory and Color Management Certification from Greytag-MacBeth, and Digital Color Professional Instructor from SGIA.
He is also a dignified member of many organizations such as USTAG, CGATS, National Association for Printing Leadership, and Idealliance from which he earned the Leadership Circle Award. During his membership in ASDPT, he has been honored with the Swormstedt Award twice for his best print industry technical articles.
He has published more than 50 technical articles and contributed approximately 40 technical and business articles for SGIA International's monthly membership newspaper. As SGIA's Technical Resource Associate, he was responsible for editing, reformatting and reissuing the Association's definitive Technical Guidebook in both hard copy and CD-ROM formats.
Working at Association headquarters in Fairfax, VA from 1994-1997, he also served as Director for Education, instituting regional workshops, in plant seminars and a plant audit program. Mike expanded the core workshop program offered by SGIA, and its research and education affiliate, the Screen Printing Technical Foundation, to incorporate more current technologies. Now, although “technically” retired, he is still active as a consultant to the industry in both technical and business matters.
Young operates Imagetek Consulting International, a Connecticut, USA-based consulting firm, which trains, troubleshoots, problem-solves and enhances the performance of high-definition graphic & industrial screen-printing operations worldwide.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2007. Neil has been employed by Autotype and now MacDermid Enthone for 36 years and involved in the printing industries for almost 40 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from London University (Queen Mary College) and a Master of Business Administration degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago.
Neil has experience in marketing, production, quality control and technical service functions. For the past 33 years, he has worked in the United States, primarily in the technical field of customer support, quality requirements and regulatory compliance, helping customers with their product and manufacturing requirements, handling how-to questions and product development. In his latest position, Neil handles the company’s technical service in North America for their High-Performance Film Systems which includes the Film insert molding process. Neil actively supports the technical printing, forming and molding needs of their customers, and the development of the products required for printed and flexible hybrid electronics applications.
Over the years, Neil has been a regular contributor to the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association’s (SGIA) training programs and numerous trade publications. Neil was elected to the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technology in 2007. He is currently an active member of the SGIA’s Ink & Chemical Advisory Board.
Neil also supports numerous IPC technical standard development committees for printed electronics and is the co-chairman of the Printed Electronics General Committee (D60). Neil has been a long-time member of the ASTM F01.18 Subcommittee on Printed Electronics developing testing standards for membrane switches and printed electronic circuitry.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2008. Ralph Rhein was born, raised and completed his education in Germany, which included a business degree in printing. In 1996, Ralph, his wife and daughter moved to the United States.
He then began working at a large printing and graphics company in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1997, Ralph had the opportunity to move to Racine Wisconsin, where he became VP of Operations at Colorarts/Duracolor. In 2015, Duracolor was purchased by Federal Heath, one of the largest exterior sign companies in the United States, where he continued his work as the Operations Manager. In 2016, he became the R&D Manager for Federal Heath and is responsible for six production plants in the United States.
Ralph says the most rewarding part of his job is having a large impact on technology in the sign and printing industry and working with a team of 600 dedicated, loyal people who work together to satisfy customer needs.
When not working, Ralph enjoys spending time with his family and traveling. To date, he has visited more countries in his life than there are states in the USA.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2015. Currently, Ray Greenwood works as a high precision screen-printing and production technology consultant within the industrial, medical and printed electronics imaging industry with a primary focus in high precision industrial screen-printing. Ray also has work experience in flexography, offset lithographic printing, injection molding, bindery operations, cutting/die-cutting, process fixturing, packaging, quality control and testing, plastics technology and converting.
During his tenure in the industry, Ray worked for Stretch Device as a regional technical representative; SunPower Corporation as a solar screen process engineer; Katecho Inc as a medical device process design manager; and SGIA as a technical associate. Ray received his BFA in Visual Communications/Product Design from the University of Oklahoma.
Ray Weiss began his career in printing after an eight-year stint in the US Air Force military police. Ray joined a DC nonprofit in the typesetting department, which led to his own prepress and design firm in downtown DC and later a printing operation in MD. Ray then went into wide format inkjet sales, service, and support with customers from PA to VA. Ray joined SGIA (now PRINTING United Alliance) in 2014 and is the project manager for the PDAA and Digital Color Professional Certification programs. Ray speaks at industry conferences and events, including Digital Textile Printing, Digital Print for Packaging, PICA’s Fall meeting, AICC Digital Seminar, GPI Meeting, Textile World USA, Wide-Format Exchange, and the Wide Format 101 event at PRINTING United.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2000. Mr. Greaves is the Special Projects person at Lawson Screen Products and the head of the Librarians/Press Service Committee and the Technical Review Committee for the ASPT. He has been in the screen-printing industry since 1979 and has consistently shown his willingness to help advance the industry through his hundreds of articles, seminars presented in the USA and abroad, consulting, and his overall high visibility in the industry.
He has worked hard to help improve screen-printing and printers worldwide and is a respected author and seminar leader, as evidenced by the numerous awards and recognition he's received. He's been a regular speaker at the Imprinted Sportswear Shows and at nearly every SGIA Convention and technical conference since 1985.
Moreover, he has spoken and taught about screen-printing around the world including England, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Colombia. Greaves was voted "Best Industry Columnist" by readers of The Press magazine for the monthly column, "Greaves on Garments," he wrote for Screen-printing magazine. He has written for Impressions magazine and writes regularly for the British textile magazine, Images.
He was also Technical Editor for Printwear magazine, contributed to the Art and Screen chapters of the Control Without Confusion book, and created and presented the first three-day Textile Process Printing workshop for the ScreenPrinting Technical Foundation, for which he's also taught Screen Making seminars.
From 1987, until he joined Lawson in 1999, Greaves has worked as an independent consultant, specializing in garments and pre-press. He has helped screen printers design business and technical systems to increase production, improve computer systems, create training programs, and enhance quality control programs. An expert in all aspects of garment printing and screen systems, he's also worked closely with many industry suppliers.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 1998. Rick Davis a veteran of the textile manufacturing and screen-printing industries. His present background includes manufacturing, plant management and operations, consulting, plastisol printing and troubleshooting. He has published over 200 papers on all aspects of the industry and printing processes and is a regular contributor to current trade publications. Rick is also a member of the Academy of Screen & Digital Printing Technology.
Inducted into the Academy, 2020. Roberto Gonzalez Ojeda started his journey in his father’s textile manufacturing operation. He is considered a master in screen making, inks and coatings, press production, and curing/drying operations. Now, as Invoacrom Screenprinting's owner, he works with name brands worldwide. He also owns the largest ink company in Mexico, Ultrasol Ink Company. Roberto is known for his ability to share his knowledge through the publication of books, papers, and articles on different aspects of screen printing of textiles. Roberto’s efforts extend beyond screen printing to his local community where he is known for his humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the earthquakes that have hit both Mexico City and other areas.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2016. Ross Balfour is presently Global Technical & R&D Director at Saati Chemicals, a division of Saati SpA., and is based at the Company’s North American headquarters in South Carolina.
Prior to joining Saati he spent ten years working for Autotype in the UK as R&D Manager.
Ross has contributed to many advances in the development of stencil materials and screen making chemicals over his 30+ year involvement in this field, as well as sharing this knowledge through technical articles and seminars.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2003. Dr. Sam T. Ingram is a Professor Emeritus of Graphic Communications (GC) and Department Chair at Clemson University, where he has been a faculty member for 33 years. He received his undergraduate BS degree from Appalachian State University in 1978. He received his Doctorate from Clemson University in 1985. He began employment with Clemson in 1986.
Previously, Duccilli was the editor-in-chief and/or publisher of ScreenPrinting, Big Picture, Visual Merchandising and Store Design, Industrial and Specialty Printing, and S&S en español. He has chaired or co-chaired numerous educational conferences in the visual communication fields including the Wide-Format Summit, the Wide-Format Exchange, the International Retail Design Conference, the Signage and Graphics Summit, the Big Picture Conference, and Serimundo. He serves on the executive committee for the North American Specialty Printing Manufacturers Association and has done committee work for a variety of associations and institutions, including SGIA.
In his previous capacity as Technical Director for SVECIA, a well-known Swedish manufacturer of screen-printing machines and equipment, Sylve has been instrumental in many revolutionary developments in screen-printing machines and dryers for the graphic, industrial and glass markets, with more than 20 patented inventions.
Sylve, a multilingual member of the SGIA Academy of ScreenPrinting Technology since 1983, has also served as a member of the ESMA (European ScreenPrinting Manufacturers Association) TDS Committee. Sylve Ericsson is well known through his articles and lectures and is a recipient of the prestigious Swormstedt Award.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2001. Terrance Kaiserman has been a recognized expert in the field of offset printing, screen-printing, heat transfers, t-shirt dying, screen inks and printing inks manufacturing for more than 30 years. As co-founder and chief technology officer of T+ink, Mr. Kaiserman has been responsible for adding many new patents and concepts to the company's portfolio. He has been a member of the Academy of Screen and Digital printing Technologies since 2001.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2017. Tim Quinn is a process control expert with 3 decades of experience. Tim is known for his unique communication skills in training printers to solve complex color problems and to use innovative technical solutions for all printing processes.
Tim's expertise is in prepress, workflow file automation, color control, and print production analysis. He is one of only 15 certified PSA auditors (Print Standards Auditors) chosen by the Rochester Institute of Technology, recipient of the distinguished 2011 Idealliance Circle of Leadership Award and inducted into the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies (ASDPT) at SGIA 2017.
He actively participates on the Committee for Graphic Arts Technology Standards and is listed in four printing standards documents, including tolerances for G7. Tim has qualified hundreds of G7 Master printing companies in Screen, Digital, Offset, Flexo & Proofing processes. He is the leading G7 screen-print qualifier worldwide and considered an expert at color control on non-standard substrates.
Inducted into the ASDPT, 2014. Vince Cahill began screen-printing in 1969. In the mid-1970s, he developed a small table method for printing silk fabric for his wife’s textile decoration business. From 1977-1979, Vince managed a screen-printing operation in Frederick, Maryland, and in 1980 he established The Colorworks, a custom screen-printing business with his wife Claire. Vince and Claire sold The Colorworks in 2008. In the spring of 1980, they were introduced to digital carpet printing at a textile design conference at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and Vince began tracking digital print developments. In 1995, he established VCE Solutions as a print consulting business.
From 1996 through 1998, he consulted and wrote reports for IT Strategies about wide format inkjet and digital textile printing technologies. In 1997, he joined the Board of Datametrics Corporation, a company that manufactured rugged digital printers for challenging environments.
He became President and CEO of Datametrics from 1999 to 2000, having helped the company successfully reverse its decline. In 1998, Vince helped to form Newhill Technologies LLC and Specialty Materials Inc, distributors of transfer materials to the sign and garment decorating industries. He sold his interests in both companies in December 2010. In 2003 he formed Industrial Printing Solutions (IPS) to distribute digital printing printers and chemistry.