Visual Print’s MD moves To Solopress
Graham Hunstone, managing director of recently acquired print provider, Visual Print & Design, has been hired as head of partnerships by fellow UK printer, Solopress
Three awards were presented as part of the Girls Who Print Day conference, an online event that included a range of sessions and talks from women in the industry
Members from across the print industry virtually gathered online for the 12th annual Girls Who Print Day conference on November 7th.
The online event organised by Girls Who Print, reportedly the largest network of women in the print and graphics industry, had a theme of “#GIRLPOWER” this year, with participants and the wider industry encouraged to share stories of female empowerment within print online.
A range of sessions and talks were presented during the event from women in the industry, including a Q&A session with former Print Monthly editor, Carys Evans.
Evans spoke about channelling confidence, creating industry visibility, and building career opportunities through personal branding and recognition.
There were also three awards presented during the conference, namely the Rising Star Award for young members of the print industry, the Ally Award for an individual seen to encourage gender inclusion, and the Girlie Award for an individual demonstrating leadership and community service.
The 2024 Rising Star Award was presented to Kiki Heron, account manager, training and development leader at Specialty Print Communications. The award was presented by Kelly Mallozzi, principal at Success in Print, who also runs the Girls Who Print mentorship program.
Speaking of her win, Heron says: “I am honoured to receive recognition as a young woman in the print industry. I hope my journey can inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in this space, confidently share their ideas for innovation, and embrace leadership opportunities.”
The inaugural Girls Who Print Ally Award was presented to Ryan LeFebvre, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Specialty Print Communications (SPC).
LeFebvre has supported the Girls Who Print initiative for the last decade, including creating initiatives and events to celebrate Girls Who Print Day. LeFebvre also provides internships for students and has reportedly cultivated a positive and inclusionary culture at SPC.
LeFebvre states: “I am truly humbled and honoured to receive the first ever Girls Who Print Ally Award. I am passionate about growing the next generation of print professionals and proudly support Girls Who Print. I believe in its importance to the industry now and in the future.”
The Girls Who Print Girlie Award was presented to Christine Hagopian, president of the Printing Industries of New England (PINE).
According to the Girls Who Print organisation, Hagopian was given the award for being “a staunch supporter of women in the industry, producing and hosting an annual event providing women and allies an opportunity to network and strengthen their relationships.”
Discussing her award, Hagopian says: “As the first female president in PINE’s 137 years, it is with pride and passion that I lead this organisation and the amazing team at PINE. I work on behalf of our membership without question or hesitation, and to be recognised for that is truly humbling.”
Speaking of the award recipients, president of Girls Who Print, Deborah Corn, comments: “The 2024 Girls Who Print Day award recipients stand out for their dedication to the industry and the company, customers, and members they serve.
“On top of that is their dedication to supporting women across their careers in print, making the industry more welcoming for women and students, giving back to their communities, and advocating the Girls Who Print’s mission to ‘empower long and prosper’ through their partnership.”
The Girls Who Print Day Awards ceremony as well as recordings of the various sessions from the conference are available to watch on the Girls Who Print YouTube channel.
