DECATUR, ILL. – The Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) recently announced that Stephen Frantz, Chief Operating Officer of Huston Patterson is the ninth recipient of the LPIA Hall of Fame. Frantz was inducted during the November 2008 LPIA Fall Management Conference. 

“I am so honored to have been selected to enter LPIA’s Hall of Fame. It has been a privilege to serve on the LPIA board and work along with so many talented people who are truly dedicated to our organization. That makes this milestone very special to me,” Frantz says. 

DECATUR, ILL. – Tonya Kowa-Morelli has been named vice president of Huston Patterson Corp. and Sigma Graphics, and will be responsible for sales and marketing functions at both the Decatur and Ottawa, Ill., printing facilities. Kowa-Morelli will work hand in hand with the company’s client service managers nationwide.

“I’m excited to serve Huston Patterson and Sigma Graphics and our clients in this new capacity. A successful sales and marketing program is one of the crucial driving forces behind growth in thriving companies,” she says. “I look forward to advancing our unique offerings to current and new clients and expanding our market opportunities.”

Kowa graduated in 2002 with a B.S. degree in communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago. From 2002-2003, she was a sales associate for AFLAC, where she moved into management as a district sales coordinator during the summer 2003. Kowa left AFLAC in 2004 to join Huston Patterson, where she served as client service manager for Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. In late 2006, she was promoted to director of sales for the special products division.

“The addition of Tonya to our sales efforts brings both excitement and enthusiasm to our business,” says Huston Patterson President/CEO Thomas W. Kowa. “As many folks already know, Tonya has done a fabulous job since joining our company four years ago. She has worked very hard in developing new clients, and has tremendous respect and contacts throughout North America in the packaging industry that will benefit us all.”

As a world-class printing organization, Huston Patterson provides unparalleled value and performance through effective use of technology and craftsmanship by incorporating the unifying principles of trust, integrity and commitment. For more information, visit <a href=http://www.experiencetheevolution.com target=_blank>www.experiencetheevolution.com</a>.

DECATUR, ILL. – Huston Patterson Corp., a Decatur-based large format package printer, was honored last week by the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) and Board Converting News as the 2007 “Innovator of the Year.” The award was given during the AICC’s annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minn., in recognition of Huston Patterson’s unique employee, client and vendor training program, the HPx Academy.

“This was the first year that AICC “Innovator of the Year” competition solicited entries in the Information Technologies and Training area”, says Steven Young, President of AICC. “Training is vital to our industry and efforts like Huston Patterson’s is what it will take to be competitive today, and into the future.”

“Creating the HPx Academy was truly one of our best decisions,” says Huston Patterson President/CEO Thomas W. Kowa. “Having our program recognized by the leading trade organization and its members legitimizes the value of our effort to expand the knowledge and capabilities of our exceptional employees.”

Ideas for the HPx Academy were conceived less than two years ago. Since that time, the HPx Academy has developed into a full educational program for employees, offering more than 25 courses with classroom and hands-on training.

The innovative training program was further expanded in May 2007, with the opening of the Robert G. Kowa Theatre at Huston Patterson’s headquarters. The theatre provides the opportunity for the company to expand and offer training to Huston Patterson clients and industry partners as well.

“Through our innovative educational program, the HPx Academy, we are now able to share knowledge and insight with our clients and industry partners,” says Kowa. “Huston Patterson is steadfast in our commitment to excellence and adding value to our clients and industry in every way possible.”

As a world-class printing organization, Huston Patterson provides unparalleled value and performance through effective use of technology and craftsmanship by incorporating the unifying principles of trust, integrity and commitment. For more information, visit www.experiencetheevolution.com.