Honoring Top Talent and Projects in the Midwest
PIM’s Annual Star Awards Banquet & Awards Ceremony Recap
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BLOOMINGTON, MN — June 16, 2025 — Printing Industry Midwest (PIM), the nonprofit trade association representing the region’s premier print service providers, proudly hosted nearly 300 industry professionals at the 2025 Star Awards Banquet on June 12, 2025. The Annual Star Awards serve as the Midwest’s premier platform for honoring excellence, innovation, and leadership within the print industry. This year, nine PIM member organizations nominated twenty-five outstanding professionals for leadership awards, while eighteen member organizations submitted a total of one hundred and twelve exceptional print projects, which were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges.
Since 1972, PIM has recognized outstanding leadership in the print industry through the prestigious PIM Graphic Arts Industry Leader of the Year Award. Each year, past recipients select a new honoree from among the industry’s most respected leaders. At the banquet, PIM proudly announced James L. Lundquist as the 2025 Graphic Arts Industry Leader of the Year. James Lundquist retired as CEO and Board Member of AWT Labels & Packaging in 2020. Since then, he has served on several corporate boards and currently holds positions on two active platform company boards. In addition, he is an Operating Partner and investor with Mason Wells, a private equity firm. Mr. Lundquist brings over 45 years of extensive leadership experience in the printing industry, having held executive roles at multiple firms with annual revenues ranging from $50 million to $275 million.
Additional, PIM handed out the following leadership awards:
- Aubree Hunter from Mackay Mitchell received the Customer Service Rep of the Year award
- Steve Nelson from Nahan received the Financial Professional of the Year award
- Debby Boyd from John Roberts received the Human Resource Professional of the Year award
- Sena Kaufman from Cedar Graphics received the Manager of the Year award
- Joe Kipka from Nahan received the Production Professional of the Year award
- Justin McDonald from Cedar Graphics received the Sales & Marketing Professional of the Year award
- AWT Labels & Packaging Ink Department received the Team of the Year award
- Jess Rames from RR Donnelley received the Young Professionals of the Year award
To view a list of all the winning professionals of the year, visit www.pimw.org/pim-awards/.
The announcement of the top Midwest printed projects for 2025 included:
- Best of Show was awarded to the “Dare Me to Be The Girl” produced by ENPOINTE
- Best of Show Runner Up was “Stanley Look Book Mini Zine” produced by ENPOINTE
- Best of Show Honorable Mention went to “Thrivent Art that Unites” produced by Bolger
- People’s Choice winner went to “Dare Me to Be The Girl” produced by ENPOINTE
To view a list of all the winning organizations, visit www.pimw.org/star-2025-winners/.
Congratulations to all the organizations who nominated their team members and the organizations who submitted their printed projects. Every year the Star Awards continues to showcase our members astonishing capabilities and accomplished employees. To learn more about PIM’s Star Awards, visit www.pimw.org/starawards/.
PIM would like to express gratitude to the following sponsors who will help make the Star Awards a successful celebration: Lindenmeyr Munroe the 2025 Signature Star Awards Sponsor, Midland Paper (Beverage Sponsor), FUJIFILM (Appetizer Sponsor), SOVRAN (Best of Show Award Sponsor) Bremer Bank (People’s Choice Award Sponsor), CGS ORIS (Centerpiece Sponsor), Federated Insurance (Program Sponsor), Case Paper (Customer Service Representative Award Sponsor), Littler Law, (Human Resource Award Sponsor), Anchor Paper (Team Award Sponsor), Heidelberg USA (Production Professional Award Sponsor), Canon (Young Professional Award Sponsor), LB Carlson (Finance Professional Award Sponsor), Printers 401K (Manager Award Sponsor), EO Johnson (Sales & Marketing Award Sponsor and Event Materials Printer), Landa (Support Sponsor), Loffler Business Systems (Support Sponsor), CARDSource (Name Badge Printer) and Daily Printing, Inc. (Event Materials Printer).
ABOUT PIM
Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) is a nonprofit trade association representing the Midwest’s leading print service organizations in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Our mission is to be the leading resource to enhance the insights, strength and profitability of the printing, graphic communications and related industries through advocacy, education, safety and environmental information. PIM has proudly been serving the Midwest print industry since 1940. Learn more about PIM and member benefits at www.pimw.org.
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