Jeff Ekstein, President and CEO of Willow Printing Group in Concord, Ontario, has been elected as the 2014 Chairman of the Board for Printing Industries of America, one of the world’s most-powerful printing associations.
Ekstein has been an Officer on the Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) Board and a member of its Executive Committee since 2011. He currently serves as a Premier Print Awards judge, has served as the Education Committee Chairman from 2009 to 2011, and is a current Finance Committee member.
In addition to his involvement in the PIA, Ekstein has served as Co-chair of the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council (CPISC), OPIA Government Affairs Committee Chair, and as a long-time Director of Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA). He is a recipient of the CPIA Distinguished Service Award.
Ekstein is a third-generation printer currently leading Willow Printing, which was established more than 60 years ago in today’s Greater Toronto Area. Willow was started by his grandfather and great uncle, Ralph and Ludwig Ekstein. The founding brothers were soon joined in the family business by Jeff’s father, Lew, who remains as Chairman of Willow. Jeff joined Willow in 1983 after graduating from York University.
The installation ceremony for the PIA new board took place on November 17, 2013, at the association’s Fall administrative meetings in Chicago. The other members for PIA’s 2014 board include: First Vice Chairman David Olberding of Phototype in Cincinnati; Second Vice Chairman Bradley Thompson II of Inland Press in Detroit; Secretary to the Board Curt Kreisler of Gold Star Printers in Miami Beach; Treasurer Michael Wurst of Henry Wurst Inc. in Kansas City; and Immediate Past Chair Timothy Burton of Burton & Mayer Inc. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Also joining the Board of Directors in 2014 are: Chip Smith of Marshall and Bruce Company, representing Printing Industry Association of the South; Chris Feryn, Premier Press of Portland, representing PPI Association; and David Radziej, Printing Industry Midwest, representing the affiliate managers.
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