The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) is proud to announce the recipients of its third annual Women in Print Excellence Award. The Women in Print Excellence Awards supports GLGA’s ongoing quest to recognize the contributions of women in the Midwest print, graphic arts, finishing and print packaging community as well as those women who support the print industry in a vendor or supplier capacity. Any woman working directly in print or in a vendor role supporting print who was in good standing with her company in Illinois, Indiana or Wisconsin was eligible to be nominated. The nominations were reviewed by a panel of female print professionals outside of the Midwest, who selected one recipient per state.

Fifty years ago, Richard Wilen founded a small business creating program guides for the then-burgeoning cable television industry. His foresight into the promise of new technology laid the foundation for a company that would, by 2021, be at the forefront of direct mail innovation. Today, the Wilen Group is one of the nation’s leading direct mail companies — using data-driven creative solutions to power cutting-edge printing technologies and create some of the most impactful, targeted, personalized and innovative direct mail in mailboxes across the country. From our humble beginnings in 1971, we’ve grown into one of the most respected full-service direct marketing agencies in the U.S., employing a diverse group of team members and experts in everything from data, strategy and creative development to production and variable technology. And with three locations across the U.S., we are now uniquely positioned to be faster and more responsive than ever before, reaching homes in 1-2 days nationwide.

The Clemson Graphic Communications program has proven to produce knowledgeable, experienced professionals ready for the work place after graduation. SPC is always looking for ways to grow the future of print and is committed to the success of young professionals in the industry. In an effort to fill the gaps between college print programs and the industry itself, we asked a series of questions to Clemson staff and alumni. Associate Professor for the Department of Graphic Communications, Doctor Eric Weisenmiller, along with alumni and current SPC employees, Kiki Heron, 2016 graduate, and Audrey Prochaska, 2021 graduate provide their insight below: HOW DO COLLEGE PRINT PROGRAMS HELP PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY? Eric W: College Graphic Communications programs are promoting the industry by building upon fundamental knowledge of the production practices taught in the core curriculum. Awareness about the industry is key, I believe, as many students are not necessarily aware of the industry’s scope. WHAT CAN THE PRINT INDUSTRY DO MORE OF TO HELP PRINT PROGRAMS SUCCEED? EW: Three things come to mind in regards to this: 1. Having industry provide meaningful internship opportunities for our students 2. Keeping open doors to welcome our students for site visits, sponsored attendance, mentorship relationships, and collaborative projects 3. Providing a bit of material support to allow for hands-on experiences to continue to take place on campus for student projects.