Moderator:
Michael Makin

Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America, was born and raised in Montréal, Canada. He graduated with honors with a degree in Journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, and also holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Makin began his career in association management after a brief stint as a reporter and public affairs officer with the Canadian government. Prior to joining Printing Industries of America, Mr. Makin was President of the Canadian Printing Industries Association and served as an executive with the Canadian Construction Association.

He serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Graphic Arts Show Company as well as Secretary to the Graphic Arts Educational Research Foundation. He is also President of the Printing and Graphics Scholarship Trust Fund (PGSF). In 2005, Mr. Makin was honored with the Earl Sundeen Award for contributions to education and in 2006 he was named a member of the Ben Franklin Honor Society. Mr. Makin is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the Pittsburgh Society of Association Executives and the Society for Human Resource Management. He is a former National President of the Carleton University Alumni Association and a past Governor and Senator of the University. He currently serves as the Chairman of the World Print and Communications Forum, based in Brussels.

Panelist:
Benjamin Cooper

Ben Cooper joined Williams & Jensen as a principal in 2006. He has extensive lobbying experience in environment, health issues, federal contracting and postal issues. He created and chaired the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service. Mr. Cooper also co-founded and serves as Executive Director of the Print Council, the industry’s first print marketing alliance. He also served as founding Executive Director of Mail Moves America, a coalition of associations, companies and postal labor and management groups organized to fight do not mail legislation.

In the environmental area, Cooper developed the small business amendments to the Clean Air Act which resulted in the establishment of the Small Business Ombudsman program at EPA and every state. He was also active in developing legislation to improve the ability of small companies to avoid needless litigation in Superfund sites. Because of his work in the 1990 Clean Air Act, he was named as one of the original members of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee where he served until 2005.

Mr. Cooper is a member of NAPL’s Soderstrom Society, recipient of the Mailing and Fulfillment Service Association Miles Kimball Award, and recipient of NAPL’s 2008 Technical Leadership Award.

Panelist:
Bob Lindgren

While working at Neely Printing Company, Bob eventually earned his Master’s Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. After serving as General Manager for the Printing Industry of Illinois Association, Bob joined Printing Industries Association, Inc. of Southern California (PIASC) in 1982 as Executive Director and now holds the title of President and Chief Staff Executive.

PIASC was recognized by the Printing Industries of America as the Local Affiliate of the Year in 1990 and Bob was given PIASC’s Ben Franklin Award and named Executive of the Year in 1991. He was inducted into Printing Industries of America’s Ben Franklin Society in 2010. Bob has served as a member of the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, numerous committees and task forces of Printing Industries of America. He is a Trustee of Don Bosco Technical Institute; Treasurer and Trustee of the International Printing Museum; as well as Trustee for several organizations’ Trusts and Funds. He is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the California Society of Association Executives. He is a frequent speaker and seminar leader on management of the printing industry and author of numerous articles for the trade press.

Panelist:
Kerry C. Stackpole

Kerry C. Stackpole is president of the Printing and Graphics Association MidAtlantic and an architect of the Print Grows Trees education campaign. Kerry began his graphic arts career selling print and photographic supplies in Boston. He was appointed director of education at Printing Industries of New England, eventually promoted to vice president of programs and administration. He has served as CEO of four other associations and foundations. Kerry delivers executive education programs and speaks at major association conferences and business events. Kerry has shared his technology perspectives with the Diane Rehm Show, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, and CNN. His writings have appeared in association publications, the Wired 4 Leadership blog and BusinessWeek's Business Exchange portal.

Mr. Stackpole is a member of ASAE's Leadership Innovation Task Force. He served as Chairman of the New England Society of Association Executives and as a member of the ASAE Board of Directors, including numerous Sections and Committees. He is a distinguished Fellow of ASAE and The Center for Association Leadership, holds the highest voluntary earned designation of Certified Association Executive (CAE) and is a graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management (IOM).