2013 Naomi Berber Memorial Award Honors NYU’s Bonnie Blake

Bonnie Blake, New York University, NY, NY.

Printing Industries of America (PIA) has announced that Bonnie Blake, clinical assistant professor, New York University, is the recipient of the 2013 Naomi Berber Memorial Award. This award honors outstanding women in the graphic communications industry for compiling exceptional records of achievement, making unusual contributions toward the development of the graphic communications industry, and for furthering the interests of the industry.

With more than 30 years of professional experience in education and media, Blake currently serves as a full-time clinical assistant professor in NYU’s Master’s Program in Graphic Communication Management and Technology (GCMT). The Berber award recognizes her long-standing dedication to education and her leadership in the graphic communications and media industries.

Having served as the GCMT program’s academic director for the last six years, Blake has been responsible for much of the program’s overall growth and success. In this role, she directed curriculum development; recruited top students, faculty, and industry talent; and mentored students and alumni.

She serves as liaison to the program’s 43-member Advisory Board and sits on many of its committees for academic development, scholarships, and career development. She also is a member of the education committee of the Advertising Production Club of New York.

Blake founded her own advertising and promotion agency in 1982. Her clients have included AT&T, Forbes, PepsiCo, CNN, National Geographic Television, NBC, HarperCollins Publishers, BlakeGlobal, Lucent Technologies/Caribiner, Tishman Realty, Chic and H.I.S. Jeans, New York University, and Pitney Bowes/Zabit.

Blake earned an M.A. in Graphic Communications Management and Technology at NYU in 1987 and was the recipient of the NYU Prism Alumni Achievement Award for Graphic Excellence in 1993. She has taught in the GCMT master’s program since 1989 and has advised students since 1995. She has received recognition from NY Women in Communications for supporting educational opportunities and membership. She graduated cum laude from Boston College/Newton College of the Sacred Heart in 1976 with a B.A. in history and a minor in education.

Her award will be presented at PIA’s fall administrative meeting in Chicago next month. For more information about PIA’s awards programs, visit printing.org/awards or contact Michael Packard at mpackard@printing.org.

Sandy Alexander Expands into High-End Retouching and CGI with the Introduction of SALT Studios

Sandy Alexander (Clifton, NJ) has announced its expansion into high-end retouching and CGI (computer generated imagery) with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art firm and the addition of several senior executives from digital and production services. The high-end creative boutique will be rebranded as SALT Studios and will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Sandy Alexander.

Located in midtown Manhattan, SALT Studios offers creative retouching, a full-service CGI studio, in-house services for digital photography, a full prepress department for ad releases, and a full suite of asset management and online ordering tools.

“Expansion into the high-end retouching and CGI is a natural progression for Sandy Alexander’s long-term strategic vision of offering our clients the broadest array of value added services in the graphics communications industry,” said Mike Graff, president and CEO of Sandy Alexander. “From digital workflow solutions to the final printed piece, Sandy Alexander has the flexibility and horsepower to provide the most impactful and efficient output for any marketing campaign regardless of substrate, size, or quantity.”

Several senior executives have also joined the company to lead SALT Studios. They include Dan Anselmi, the former owner-manager of Imagecraft, a high-end retouching firm. “He has brought his outstanding team of retouchers and digital artists to Sandy Alexander,” Graff said. “Their extensive experience in high-end retouching, image management, and the CGI marketplace provides Sandy Alexander with the highest quality, fastest, and most advanced technology in the image-based cosmetic, fashion, and jewelry industries.”