Two Recipients Honored With FTA’s 2014 President’s Awards

BALTIMORE, MD – April 27, 2014 –At tonight’s Annual Awards Program and Banquet, Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) named Robb Frimming, print services director at SCHAWK! and Paul Teachout, technical/OEM accounts manager at Harper Corporation of America as the recipients of its 2014 President’s Award. The honor is given annually to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward the collective good of the flexographic community and the Association.

In bestowing the awards, FTA President Mark Cisternino praised the two for their tireless efforts in time and talent toward the advancement of the flexographic industry and the Association.

Robb Frimming was recognized as a key contributor in a variety of diverse areas, including his work with the TEST (Technical Education Services Team) staff to implement a custom data collection process for the FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) Company Certification Program. Robb also serves on the FQC (Flexo Quality Consortium) Executive Committee and its Standards Working Group Subcommittee and is co chair of FTA’s FIRST Committee. Robb’s work has been instrumental in past revisions to FIRST documents and he is spearheading its most recent update, due out later this year. Robb has also been a very active presenter at a number of FTA Annual Forums and Fall Conferences, most recently as chair of the Forum 2014 Expanded Gamut Session.

Paul Teachout was recognized for his valuable contributions that have supported FTA’s growth in membership and in educational development. As an FTA certified FIRST Implementation Specialist, Paul maintains the value and importance of training and education to printers. During 2013, Paul invited members of the TEST staff to participate in a very active road show circuit, which helped FTA to spread the word about FIRST Certification to hundreds of people outside of its traditional contact network. Additionally, Paul has been a strong proponent of developing the industry’s “next generation” of flexographers at the high school and college levels and has participated as a judge for the Phoenix Challenge High School Program. Paul is also a member of the FTA Excellence in Flexography Awards committee and the Association’s Membership Committee.

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About FTA: Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), chartered in 1958, is a professional society dedicated to bringing all members of the flexographic printing community—printers, suppliers, consumer product companies, institutions, prepress houses and others—together by providing opportunities for the free exchange of technical ideas and discussion of mutual concerns. It is a proponent of maintaining and advancing quality standards and includes 1,650 member sites that represent more than 1,400 companies and 60,000 individuals. Foundation of FTA, founded in 1974, is the educational arm of FTA and is dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry.