PEWAUKEE, WI — June 2, 2026 – The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) has revealed the second group of top winners of their 2026 Graphics Excellence Awards (GEAs). The announcements were made at their Indianapolis Excellence Awards Celebration held on June 2 at Eagle Creek Golf Club, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 is hosting award ceremonies in each of the three states it represents so that more members throughout GLGA’s region can 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 third event will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, Illinois.
GLGA president Joe Lyman emceed the ceremony, which also included the presentation of almost 20 plaques to Indiana’s Best of Category and Best of Division honorees. The celebration also recognized this year’s Excellence in Leadership recipients and nominees.
Second Runner-Up honors were presented to Branded by Woods, Holland, Indiana, for their Best Home Furnishings + Erin & Ben Co. Fall 2025 Catalog in the Product Catalogs (4 or more colors) category.
Best of Indiana featured the Tactive Valentine’s Day Kit from the Direct Mail Campaigns, Business-to-Business category by Tactive, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
People’s Choice honors are awarded in each location, with each winner selected by a vote of the attendees at their respective Celebrations. The Indianapolis vote was won by the Tactive Valentine’s Day Kit in the Digital Printing-Campaigns category, by Tactive, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 Suttle-Straus of Waunakee, Wisconsin.
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.
“Print is an essential and exciting industry, with capabilities that continuously evolve to answer today’s communications needs. GLGA is honored to shine a light on the exceptional companies and their skilled staffs who produce such high-quality work,” Joe said.
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.
