Following a distinguished career that spanned five decades, Printing Industries of America is pleased to recognize the outstanding contributions of Lloyd P. DeJidas Jr., who retired from the organization on December 31, 2013.
"Lloyd is a one-of-a-kind individual whose work ethic was unparalleled and who contributed greatly to the success of both the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) and Printing Industries of America during a stellar 47-year career," noted Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America.
DeJidas joined GATF in 1967 as an apprentice pressman and platemaker. He would go on to hold a myriad of positions, including assistant pressman, lead multicolor sheetfed and heatset web pressman, estimator, production manager, technical service consultant, pressroom superintendent, director of production, and facilities manager.
In addition to overseeing a state-of-the-art pressroom and world-class headquarters building, DeJidas also served as a workshop leader and instructor and co-wrote a number of best-selling technical textbooks, including Solving Sheetfed Offset Press Problems and Sheetfed Offset Press Operating.
"Arguably one of Lloyd's most significant accomplishments was spearheading the search and ultimate move into the headquarters facility in Sewickley, Pennsylvania," added Makin. "Our building was his pride and joy and he maintained it in pristine condition, particularly after the substantial renovations and addition in 2004."
Other notable contributions and accomplishments included:
Contributing to the development of the T-Kap quality control device
Contributing to the 60th Anniversary Edition of the Lithographers Manual
Producing the GATF/LTF Historical Display
Being cited (in 1984) as one of the top in-plant managers in the industry by In-Plant Reproductions magazine
Developing the Adopt-A-Tree program supporting PGSF scholarship efforts
Being inducted into the Society of Fellows (current Ben Franklin Honor Society) in 1998.
A graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School's Graphic Arts OVT program in Pittsburgh, DeJidas attended training programs at Miehle Goss & Dexter, Heidelberg, Miller, Harris, Komori, and Man Roland. He also attended the Mead Paper Knowledge Program, the Dale Carnegie course on Effective Speaking and Human Relations, and the Xerox Learning Systems Managing for Motivation program. He also completed the Executive Training Technology Program at the University of Pittsburgh and attended the Quality Control I and II courses at System Brunner in Locarno, Switzerland.
DeJidas is a past member of the Research and Engineering Council, the Waterless Printing Association, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Pittsburgh Club of Printing House Craftsmen, where he served a term as President and four terms as Chair of the Craftsman Continuing Education Program. In addition, he served on the Advisory Committees for California University of Pennsylvania's Graphic Communications Program and Westmoreland County Community College's Graphic Communications Technology program.
"Lloyd personified professionalism and dedication to his craft and he will be certainly missed at Printing Industries of America," concluded Makin. "We wish him many years of happiness in retirement and look forward to honoring his service at the 2014 Ben Franklin Honor Society Banquet later this year."
