PIASC Announces Selection of Don Burdge as Executive of the Year

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Printing Industries Association, Inc. of Southern California (PIASC) announces the selection of Don Burdge, President of BurdgeCooper, as the recipient of the highly-regarded Ben Franklin Executive of the Year Award. PIASC's Public Relations Committee reports that their unanimous endorsement of Burdge was due to his strong and successful leadership in his own company, the printing industry, and the community at large.

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In 1980, one year after graduating from the University of Southern California with a BA in Public Relations, Burdge became the third generation of his family to join Burdge, Inc. In 2010, Burdge and David Overgaard purchased the 83-year-old Stuart F. Cooper Company and merged it with Burdge, Inc. to form BurdgeCooper. Burdge immediately took over as president of the new organization, which is now the world's largest engraving company and one of the largest small-format commercial printing companies in North America. In spite of today's challenging economy, BurdgeCooper is thriving with over 120 employees operating plants in California and Georgia.

Known for his vision and passion, Burdge has held numerous leadership roles within the printing community. He has served as both Board Member and Chairman of PIASC. Burdge has also served as a Board Member of the Printing Industry Credit Union, International Engraved Graphics Association and Engraved Stationary Manufacturers of America.

During his tenure as PIASC Chairman, Burdge initiated a local campaign to dispel the commonly held misconceptions and negative reputation that were becoming associated with print. The Choose Print campaign, which promotes print as a powerful medium with surprisingly strong environmental credentials, has been so successful that it has been expanded nationwide.

As a community volunteer, Burdge has been heavily involved with the Boy Scouts of America as an Assistant Scout Master of a local troop from 2001 to 2008. In 2011, he helped create a "merit badge day" to enable scouts to earn their Graphic Arts and Pulp and Paper merit badges. The event proved so popular that four Merit Badge Days were held at the International Print Museum in 2011 with over 350 boys coming from as far away as Virginia to participate.

Presentation of the Ben Franklin Executive of the Year Award will take place at PIASC's annual Graphics Night/Print Excellence Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at the Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry.

SOURCE PIASC