While we’re here to cheer on women all year round, September is always a highlight on the women in print awards calendar. Last month, 12 outstanding women in the wide format digital and textile, industrial, and screen print segments were honored with top industry awards.

The annual Women in Wide Format and Women in Screen Print Awards are hosted by Big Picture Magazine with support from U.N.I.T.E. The honors showcase women who lead in a variety of ways, including technical and creative expertise, national and local leadership, progressive career responsibility, and community awareness. This year’s honorees include:

2024 Women in Wide Format Awards

• Allison Kast Eichenberg, Owner, Signarama Chandler
• Sara Schaeffner, Owner, The Digital Frontier
• Maggie Payette Harlow, CEO/Owner, Signarama Downtown
• Kelley Mattingly, Owner, Signarama
• Shirley Dyson, Owner, Signco
• Kim Howell, VP/Director of Operations, Tiny Mammoth Graphics

2024 Women in Screen Printing

• Corinna Larson, Owner, Torches Design Studio
• Ella Vickerman, Printer, Twin City Tees
• Letisha Allen, Owner, Print Perf
• Megan Griffith, Owner, P&M Apparel
• Kristina Gibbons, Owner, Varsity
• Veronica Anderson, Owner, Okie Print Barn

Marcia Derryberry, a journalist who’s reported on the print community for nearly 40 years, recently wrote about the need for this type of award recognition.

“Women have been part of the [wide-format digital printing] community all along, whether being PSP’s and owning their own companies, C-level executives, women working in print shops whether in marketing, graphic design, installers, press operators…the list goes on,” said Derryberry.

However, she continues, “The problem has been that women were rarely recognized for their outstanding efforts and contributions to their industry and communities until recently. Now, many industry corporations, organizations, and of course us here at Big Picture magazine are committed to making sure these incredible ladies get the recognition they so deserve.”

Women in Print Alliance director Lisbeth Lyons Black agreed.

“Honoring women for their high-caliber achievement accomplishes two goals,” said Lyons Black. “One, it celebrates and elevates women and allows them to be recognized industry wide as opposed to just within their own companies.

Second, featuring the stories of their career paths toward success helps bolster what we know to be true: that the print community is becoming more female and the printing industry is one in which women can thrive and shine.”