BOHEMIA, NY—For a career steeped in education and instruction, an unmatched devotion to helping others grow their skills, an intense passion for the flexographic industry and being an irreplaceable piece of FTA, Joe Tuccitto is the newest member of its Hall of Fame.
The induction capped off the Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 16 at FORUM & INFOFLEX 2023, FTA’s annual four-day technical conference and exhibition.
Joe’s contributions to the flexographic industry, its practitioners and its Association are nothing short of tremendous. His career has included stops at multiple printers—Phoenix Packaging, Anagram International, AWT, Grief Bros Corp—building a flexography program at Dunwoody College of Technology and being recognized as Harper Corporation of America’s Teacher of the Year, working as manager of training and technologies at Anderson & Vreeland, and joining FTA’s employee roster to build the Technical Education Services Team and the FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances) Certification program.
“From being an FTA member, instructor, founding member of the Twin Cities Flexo Association and currently director of education at FTA, Joe has not only been a mentor to me, but he has also passed that same passion on to countless other students and the flexographic industry as a whole,” said Bjorn Knutson, FTA manager of certification and technical services. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor!”
Miraclon’s Paul Lancelle, also a Hall of Fame member, recalls serving as FFTA Board of Trustees chair during a pivotal time: When the Association’s governing boards would make a decision on the viability of the Technical Education Services Team and give its approval to move forward.
“On the eve of the board meeting where the ultimate decision would be made, I sat down with Joe and asked him to look me straight in the eye and tell me whether or not this program was going to get off the ground,” Lancelle recalled. “I’ll never forget his answer. He said, ‘Paul, I’ve never believed in anything so strongly in my life. This will not fail.’ And the rest, as they say, is history.”
That history has included a training and certification program without peer, thousands of FIRST Certified individuals, and a sea change in the knowledge and understanding among flexographers around the world.
“Joe is a creative thinker, teacher and mentor. I don’t know what my color journey would have been like without his support and guidance,” said Kim Madigan, director of corporate color management at Smyth Companies. “Congrats Joe! You deserve this honor, my friend!”
“It is fitting that during FTA’s 65th anniversary, one of our own is being inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame,” added FTA President Robb Frimming. “Joe has been and continues to be an amplified force for the flexographic industry and a touchstone for our members. I have worked with him for nearly 20 years and I appreciate all he brings to the table. Congratulations, Joe!”
Read a retrospective of Joe’s career, with insights from colleagues and family members, in the April issue of FLEXO Magazine.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, FTA also announced the recipients of its other honors and awards, including the 2023 Excellence in Flexography Awards, 2023 Technical Innovation Award, 2023 Sustainability Excellence Award and 2023 President’s Award honorees.
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