PEWAUKEE, WI — June 4, 2026 – The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) has revealed the third and final group of top winners of their 2026 Graphics Excellence Awards (GEAs). The announcements were made at their Chicagoland Excellence Awards Celebration held on June 4 at White Pines Golf Club, Bensenville, Illinois.
The Awards Celebrations are the culmination of the annual GEAs competition, which recognizes companies throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for superb craftsmanship in the design, creation and production of outstanding printed projects they produce for their customers.
New this year, the association hosted award ceremonies in each of the three states it represents so that more members throughout GLGA’s region could attend and celebrate another spectacular year of print. The first ceremony occurred on May 27, 2026, at the Barley Room at Pabst in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A second event was held on June 2, 2026, at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Indianapolis, Indiana.
GLGA president Joe Lyman emceed the ceremony, which also included the presentation of almost 30 plaques to Illinois’ Best of Category and Best of Division honorees. The celebration also recognized this year’s Excellence in Leadership recipients and nominees.
Best of Illinois went to Lake County Press, Inc., Waukegan, Illinois, for their Extra Protect Flipbook Safe-Guard Products Intl. in the Digital Books category.
People’s Choice honors were awarded in each location, with each winner selected by a vote of the attendees at their respective Celebrations. The Chicagoland attendees selected the Mitsubishi: The Randolph 2025 Outlander Launch Self-Mailer in the Self-Mailing Unit category by Specialty Print Communications of Niles, Illinois, for their People’s Choice honors.
Previously announced at the May 27 Celebration were Best of Show, awarded to Fey Printing of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin; First Runner Up, awarded to American Printing Company of Madison, Wisconsin; Best of Wisconsin, awarded to Walsworth-Ripon of Ripon, Wisconsin; and the Milwaukee People’s Choice, awarded to awarded to Suttle-Straus of Waunakee, Wisconsin.
And, on June 2, GLGA announced the Second Runner Up, awarded to Branded by Woods of Holland, Indiana; Best of Indiana, awarded to Tactive of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Indianapolis People’s Choice, also awarded to Tactive.
The GEAs competition was judged over two days in March by a panel of outside graphics experts, who brought almost 100 years of collective print, finishing and converting experience to their evaluation of the contenders. There was a wide range of excellent entries including books and catalogs, labels and tags, posters and calendars, wide format, and packaging.
“For more than 30 years, the Graphics Excellence Awards has shone a light on the companies in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin that manufacture some of the best printing in the United States,” Lyman said. “GLGA is honored to present this year’s GEAs winners and showcase their exceptional craftsmanship.”
About the Great Lakes Graphics Association:
The Great Lakes Graphics Association is the trade association dedicated to representing the graphics manufacturing industry throughout Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin through education, promotion, and public affairs. It represents approximately 13 percent of the total graphics manufacturing market in the United States with its three-state region, accounting for combined annual shipments of nearly $19 billion. Founded in 1886, GLGA is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2026 and continues to be the oldest print and graphics manufacturing trade association in North America.
