Date
November 10-12, 2026
Location
BOBST Competence Center
2715 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Cumming, GA 30041
Price
Member: $2,500
Non-Member: $3,250
FIRST Live: Press Operator Certification At The BOBST Competence Center
This November 10-12, FTA will host FIRST Live with an emphasis on Process Control and Efficiency—a brand-new, in-person version of FTA’s popular FIRST training program with added process control case studies and IoT curriculum. Designed for the Press Operator Certification track, this hands-on workshop brings the online curriculum to life with interactive exercises and real pressroom activities that reinforce key concepts. Led by Kenny Tucker and other industry experts, participants will benefit from expert, live instruction paired with immediate, practical application—ensuring the skills learned are directly transferable to their own press operations. Held in Alpharetta, GA at the BOBST Competence Center, this immersive training experience will not only deepen technical knowledge but also sharpen problem-solving skills for achieving consistent, high-quality print results.
Speakers

Kenny Tucker
Kenny serves as the Director of Technical Education at the Flexographic Technical Association. Previously, he held the position of Assistant Director at Clemson University's Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics. A 2004 graduate of Clemson University with a bachelor's degree in Graphic Communications, Kenny began his career at Sealed Air Corporation, where he worked across various roles, including prepress, color management, inkjet and remote proofing, workflow automation, expanded gamut printing, press characterizations, and managing graphic technologies. He later joined Anderson & Vreeland as a Technology Specialist, focusing on the installation of plate-making equipment, RIP software, and inkjet proofing solutions. Before working for Clemson, Kenny worked as Production Manager at Frontier Label, now Sttark Labels, overseeing inventory procurement, label production, project management, and maintenance operations. In 2019, he returned to Clemson University, coordinating industry-focused projects, seminars, research initiatives, and training workshops. In his free time, Kenny enjoys fishing, camping, and spending quality time with his family.