Charlotte, N.C., February 27, 2007 -
The Phoenix Challenge Foundation is proud to announce that Stephen Gerhardt,
Harper National Flexographic Center Coordinator at the Harper Campus of Central
Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in Charlotte, N.C., has joined its board of
directors.
"I'm honored to join the board," said Gerhardt. "The Phoenix Challenge
Foundation serves a function that is integral to the future of the flexographic
industry. As a flexo educator, I believe in the importance of creating a
trained and talented future workforce for flexography - it's the basis of my
career."
"Stephen is a perfect addition to our board," said Bettylyn Krafft, Phoenix
Challenge Foundation chairman. "His experience falls in line precisely with our
mission and we will draw on his expertise as we work to expand the Foundation's
scope to include PC College, our new annual competition for college students."
A seven-time PICA (Printing Industry of the Carolinas) award-winner,
Gerhardt began his career in graphics while managing two business service
centers that offered design work and quick printing. He later joined PostNet as
a Graphic Specialist, where his pre-press skills proved a valuable asset. With
his sights set on furthering his formal education in flexography, he enrolled
in the graphic arts program at CPCC's Harper Campus. While attending CPCC, he
was hired as a part time Lab Facilitator, giving countless press and
plate-making demonstrations, teaching pre-press skills, and helping students
and teachers trouble-shoot press operations. Along the way he developed a love
for teaching flexography and computer graphics.
He has taught Flexography I, Flexographic Applications, Image
Manipulation I, Graphic Arts I, and Computer Graphics II, III and IV. His
teaching methods are very popular with CPCC's graphic arts students.
|
|
Major supporters of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation include All Printing
Resources, Anderson & Vreeland, Avery Dennison, Benton Graphics, Canadian
Flexographic Training Committee, Central Piedmont Community College,
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Dunwoody College of Technology, Flexographic
Technical Association, Harper Corporation, JetUSA, J.R. Cole, Krafft Printing
Systems, Mark Andy, Rotometrics, and Water Ink Technologies. Other sponsors
include Appalachian State University, Environmental Inks, FlexoExchange,
Graymills, Mastergraphics, RB COR and Williamson.
For more information on how you can support the Phoenix Challenge,
or to inquire about advertising in the Phoenix Challenge newspaper, contact
Bettylyn Krafft at 704-309-3748 or bkrafft@carolina.rr.com
.
For more information on the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, the Flexo
Skills Competition and PC College, please visit
www.phoenixchallenge.org
.
About the Phoenix Challenge Foundation Founded in 1998, the Phoenix Challenge
Foundation is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization of industry
professionals dedicated to the recruitment and development of the future
workforce of flexography. Each year, flexo high school students and teachers
from throughout the U.S. and Canada are invited to the Phoenix Challenge, a
two-day skill-based competition with hands-on and written testing in operating
a flexo press, prepress, plate-making, and overall flexo knowledge. Winners are
eligible for scholarships funded by the Phoenix Challenge Foundation.
In 2007, The Phoenix Challenge Foundation will host its first PC College
competition.
To date, $21,000 in scholarships has been awarded to encourage
students to pursue further education and a career in flexography. For
additional information or to make donations, please visit
www.phoenixchallenge.org
.
The Phoenix Challenge Foundation - 6805 Pleasant Grove Road,
Waxhaw, NC 28173
|
