PITTSBURGH, PA-Macon made business leader, Wanzie Collins, was formally inducted into the esteemed Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America at a black-tie induction and awards ceremony Friday, November 14, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ben Franklin Honor Society of Printing Industries of America recognizes and honors industry leaders who have made lasting contributions to advancing the printing and graphic communications industries. Acknowledged as a visionary who has rendered meritorious service to PIA, its affiliates and the industry, Mr. Collins has served the Georgia printing industry for many decades.
Wanzie Collins, CEO, Panaprint, Inc. has an impressive career that began in 1961 at Southern Press, where he worked in ad layout and composition. Southern Press grew to acquire the assets of the Burke Company, one of Georgia’s leading printers. Edward Burke, nephew of the founder of Burke Co., requested Collins as his full-time assistant. This proved to be quite an opportunity for Collins, as the accounts he assumed provided the foundation for him to become a business owner. In 1973, Collins purchased a small, four-man printing company and named it OmniPress. Growth continued for Collins in 1979 as he purchased Southern Press, later evolving the name to Panaprint, Inc. From its humbled beginnings in 1973, Panaprint located in historic Macon, GA has grown to become one of the leading printers in the Southeast.
After serving several terms on the PIAG, then PAG, Board of Directors, he was elected Chairman in 1984. One of the highlights of his service to PIAG was the founding of the PIAG Educational Foundation. Today the Foundation provides career scholarship grants, sponsors the SkillsUSA competition, and supports the many PrintED-accredited schools in Georgia. The national PrintED Accreditation Program, created in Georgia and administered by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation, was one of Collins’ many contributions to the industry.
You can find out more from http://www.printing.org/2015_Ben_Franklin_Honor_Society_Inductees_Press_Release and www.printing.org/honorsociety
Wanzie Collins, CEO, Panaprint, Inc. has an impressive career that began in 1961 at Southern Press, where he worked in ad layout and composition. Southern Press grew to acquire the assets of the Burke Company, one of Georgia’s leading printers. Edward Burke, nephew of the founder of Burke Co., requested Collins as his full-time assistant. This proved to be quite an opportunity for Collins, as the accounts he assumed provided the foundation for him to become a business owner. In 1973, Collins purchased a small, four-man printing company and named it OmniPress. Growth continued for Collins in 1979 as he purchased Southern Press, later evolving the name to Panaprint, Inc. From its humbled beginnings in 1973, Panaprint located in historic Macon, GA has grown to become one of the leading printers in the Southeast.
After serving several terms on the PIAG, then PAG, Board of Directors, he was elected Chairman in 1984. One of the highlights of his service to PIAG was the founding of the PIAG Educational Foundation. Today the Foundation provides career scholarship grants, sponsors the SkillsUSA competition, and supports the many PrintED-accredited schools in Georgia. The national PrintED Accreditation Program, created in Georgia and administered by the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation, was one of Collins’ many contributions to the industry.
You can find out more from http://www.printing.org/2015_Ben_Franklin_Honor_Society_Inductees_Press_Release and www.printing.org/honorsociety