Apr. 3, 2006—Approximately 370 people showed up March 23 to congratulate the 2006 Luminaire Award winners. The event was held at the Pierre Hotel in New York City, a change of venue since The Plaza, its former home, is undergoing rennovations for conversion to a condominium complex.

The hotel, rich in history since its grand opening in 1930, gave the ceremony a sense of elegance. The awards are given by the Partnership in Print Production (P3). Proceeds from the dinner go toward scholarship funds—this year P3 set a goal of at least $10,000 in scholarship money, and, according to David Luke, former P3 president, they are close to reaching that milestone.

“The challenge is to attract the next generation of printers to the industry, to reach out to them, and give them reasons to enter our business.”

The winners this year span a range of segments within the industry. Laura Capasso-Fiorenza is director of IT, global publishing technologies, Reader’s Digest Association Inc.; Michelle Daoust is vice president, senior print producer at McCann Erickson New York; Joe Duncan serves Leo Burnett USA as vice president and director of print innovation and technology; Frank Maguire is the former president of Horan and Schawk New York; and David Schirmer is vice president and general manager for Hearst Enterprises.

Ahead of the Curve
Ms. Daoust said, “I am honored and humbled to be receiving this award; no one can carve out a career without a lot of help and guidance along the way. I am proud to count as mentors and friends, past and present honorees. I hope I continue to do them proud.”

Mr. Luke noted that Ms. Daoust “adapted to the ever-changing way we do business.” Besides developing the relationships among creatives, agency print producers, and in-house prepress operations, she has helped design and direct global asset management and fufillment for major clients.

Ms. Capasso-Fiorenza has spent the past 17 years honing her premedia, operations, and technology skills. She is a “leader who takes advantage of new learning experiences,” said Rosemary Sirico, ex-officio of P3. “She has the ability to evolve and adapt.”

Winning the Luminaire award made Ms. Capasso-Fiorenza reflect on her education and career path. She noted that she has “always continued to learn new things, collaborate with colleagues, and partner with vendors. I believe success is an individual activity, but one of collaboration.”

Mr. Duncan, according to Diane Pesce, president of P3, is dedicated to educating others in the industry, and serves as an ambassador among the various segments. “It is a pleasure to work with someone so dedicated,” she noted, referring to a recent project they collaborated on together.

Mr. Duncan took the opportunity to praise P3 for the work it is doing to advance print education. “The challenge,” he said, “is to attract the next generation of printers to the industry, to reach out to them, and give them reasons to enter our business.”

“It is up to all of us to find reasons for [them] to join this business,” he noted. He has used this passion to upgrade Leo Burnett’s print department digitally, saying that, “The science is here, however changing agency tradition isn’t easy. People doubt they can use this technology without giving up creative flexibility. This technology is necessary for our survival.”

All in the Family
Mr. Maguire said in an interview, “I am very honored to be getting this award. As far as changing anything, I would change nothing, I have enjoyed every moment.”

Family tradition was evident at the ceremony, as well, where Mr. Maguire noted that his father and grandfather were his two mentors. “I couldn’t have asked for two better people [to learn from],” he said, adding that the best lesson he garnered from them was respect: respect for his clients, vendors, and even for competitors.

Mr. Maguire has been, and remains, active in the industry, serving on the boards of many industry associations.

Mr. Shirmer ended the night on a light note, joking about the switch he made recently from a print salesman to a print buyer for Hearst. “I appreciate the honor and am delighted that it is on behalf of a good cause,” he said about the award. “My greatest accomplishment is to survive six major mergers in the paper business and benefit from the new blood each time.”