PEWAUKEE, WI — May 27, 2026 – The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) has revealed the first group of top winners of their 2026 Graphics Excellence Awards (GEAs). The announcement was made at their Milwaukee Excellence Awards Celebration held on May 27, 2026, at the Barley Room at Pabst in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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 Milwaukee Celebration is the first of the three to be hosted. A second ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the third ceremony will occur on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, Illinois.
Kristopher Gasch of Fey Printing accepts the Best of Show plaque from Best of Show sponsor Daron Sheldon of Canon USA.
GLGA president Joe Lyman emceed the ceremony, which also included the presentation of more than 60 plaques to Wisconsin’s Best of Category and Best of Division honorees. The celebration also recognized this year’s Excellence in Leadership recipients.
First Runner-Up was awarded to American Printing Company of Madison, Wisconsin, for their 2026 Art of Gold Calendar in the Calendars category.
Walsworth-Ripon, Ripon, Wisconsin, took Best of Wisconsin honors with their Elite Traveler Hotels, Resorts, and Spas 2026 entry in the Architectural/Art/Travel/Other Magazines category.
People’s Choice honors are awarded in each location, with each winner selected by a vote of the attendees at their respective Celebrations. Suttle-Straus of Waunakee, Wisconsin, won the Milwaukee attendees’ vote for People’s Choice for their Unlock Your Campaign Potential Lock and Key Mailer in the Diecuts, Pop-Ups, Unique Folds, and Involvement Devices category.
Top honors still to be announced are the Second Runner Up, Best of Illinois, Best of Indiana, the Chicagoland People’s Choice, and the Indianapolis People’s Choice. These awards will be revealed at the Celebrations coming up on Tuesday, June 2, in Indianapolis, and Thursday, June 4, in Bensenville. Watch for the news posted live from the event on GLGA’s LinkedIn networking group page and posted on GLGA’s website.
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 GEAs have been a showcase that demonstrates just how outstanding the quality of work produced in our region is,” Joe said. “We are extremely proud to represent such outstanding print organizations.”
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.
