Alexandria, VA - The Printing Industries of America (PIA), Incorporated Board of Directors has agreed to a proposal to spin off its Special Industry Group, the Graphic Communications Association (GCA), as an independent association, effective on June 30. The GCA Board of Directors unanimously approved the proposal at its meeting on April 4.

"As an independent entity, GCA will have the ability to grow and to support its diverse membership base in the rapidly emerging world of information technologies," said Diane Romano, GCA Chair and President, Applied Graphics Technologies, e-business Publication Division, New York, NY. "It is the goal of GCA to be the organization which represents all industries working together to enable the information process and to help to direct the technology application process that can advance the total industry, including, but not limited to, print media. We will, of course, continue to work with PIA in those areas that are mutually beneficial to both membership bases."

"In recent years, GCA has become the dominant provider of programs dealing with XML. As a result, GCA has placed a lot of its resources in the information technologies arena," said Randy Camp, PIA Chairman and President of Walton Graphics Media of Monroe, Georgia. "PIA has determined it will be in the best interest of both organizations to form a new relationship which will give GCA greater flexibility in serving its information technologies markets while preserving access by PIA members to GCA's print-media programs on a preferential basis."

GCA will establish itself as a separate 501(C) 6 association. The proposal calls for the transfer of assets to GCA by PIA in return for certain considerations. The transfer of assets will take place June 30. For the immediate future, GCA will continue to lease offices in the PIA headquarters building in Alexandria, VA.

As an independent association, GCA will continue its core mission of cross-industry coordination and communication, representing print media publishers and vendors, while expanding its role in information technology. GCA and PIA will continue to cooperate in many areas, including standards and eCommerce.

To help lead GCA in this effort, GCA President Norman W. Scharpf has named David J. Steinhardt as GCA's Chief Operating Officer. Throughout his accomplished career in executive positions for printing and imaging associations, Steinhardt has forged solid business relationships with all segments of the industry, including printers, dealers, manufacturers and associations. Most recently, Mr. Steinhardt was Vice President of Industry Relations for PrintNation.com. Before that, Steinhardt served as President of PrintImage International (formerly the National Association of Quick Printers-NAQP). He also served as the first President and CEO of the North American Graphic Arts Suppliers Association (NAGASA), Vice President of GCA and Director of Member Programs for PIA.

In making the appointment, Mr. Scharpf said, "From the time that he first joined GCA in 1985, David has continued to demonstrate the leadership abilities that will be of tremendous value to us as we approach this moment of profound change in our organization. GCA has doubled in size in the last five years; we welcome David's help to keep this momentum going."

About GCA
The Graphic Communications Association (GCA), now in its 35th year, formed as a PIA SIG to help member companies apply the latest computer-related technologies to all forms of print and electronic publishing. Now, GCA is the leading global membership organization that advances the processes of information interoperability and dissemination of knowledge. Founded with 14 member firms, GCA has grown to become a worldwide organization of more than 300 member companies.
http://www.gca.org

About PIA
Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, Printing Industries of America, Inc. (PIA) is the world's largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with more than 1 million employees and $163 billion in sales. PIA promotes the interests of more than 13,000 member companies. PIA consolidated with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) in 1999. GATF is a scientific, technical and educational organization dedicated to the advancement of graphic communications industries worldwide. For 77 years, GATF has developed leading-edge technologies and practices for printing, and each year the Foundation develops new publications to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
http://www.gain.net