May 25, 2026 — The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) is looking forward to three special evenings honoring the winners of the Graphics Excellence and the Excellence in Leadership Awards at their 2026 Excellence Awards Celebrations.
The Excellence Awards Celebrations are the culmination of two annual awards programs. The annual Graphics Excellence Awards competition 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. The Excellence in Leadership Awards competition honors individual achievement.
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. On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, the Milwaukee Celebration will be held at the Barley Room at Pabst in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the Indianapolis Celebration will be at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Indianapolis, Indiana; and on Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Chicagoland Celebration will occur at White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, Illinois.
The Excellence in Leadership Awards recognize those in the industry who exemplify outstanding character, drive company growth, bring teams together and create the environment to help companies succeed:
Again this year, GLGA will recognize an exceptional professional who impacted the industry in a significant way by awarding them with a Living Legend Award.
Now in its sixth year, the Women in Print Excellence Award supports GLGA’s ongoing quest to recognize the contributions of women in the Midwest print, graphic arts, finishing and print packaging community.
Several individual awards will be presented to honor those who currently work in specific function areas throughout the print manufacturing industry:
- Owner/Executive of the Year
- Financial Professional of the Year
- Sales/Marketing Professional of the Year
- Customer Service Representative of the Year
- Creative Professional of the Year
- Production Professional of the Year
- HR Professional of the Year
- Emerging Leader of the Year
New this year, GLA will honor our first inductees into the Ring of Honor. This award commemorates those who impacted the industry in our region and have since passed away.
All Celebrations start at 4:30 p.m. with a networking reception. The award-winning projects from almost 100 GEAs categories will be on display for attendees to examine and to choose their favorite in the voting for that evening’s People’s Choice award.
The ceremonies will first honor the recipients and nominees of the Excellence in Leadership Awards. They will be followed by the presentation of the GEAs category and division winners. We’re building up to the announcement of the year’s top GEAs awards: Best of Show and Runner-Ups, Best of States, and People’s Choice winners.
The 2026 GEAs competition was judged over two days in March with 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.
Nominations for the Excellence in Leadership Awards were accepted in April of this year. A panel of print professionals from outside the Midwest reviewed the nominations and selected the recipients.
“We are extremely proud to represent such outstanding print organizations and individuals,” Lyman said.
