IPC Honors Lifetouch’s Paul Harmel with 2008 Hall of Fame Award
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, March 2008—The International Photographic Council (IPC), a non-governmental organization of the United Nations, has bestowed its highest honor— its annual Hall of Fame Award— to Paul Harmel, Chairman & CEO of Lifetouch Inc. The award honors legendary contributors to the photographic industry. Advertising and marketing executives, manufacturers, dealers, distributors and industry press gathered on February 21st at the United Nations in New York City for the awards presentation.
Hall of Fame Honoree
Fellow IPC Hall of Fame award recipient David M. Ritz introduced Mr. Harmel, who is both well respected and well liked within the photo imaging community. Harmel has been involved in the photography industry for more than 30 years, holding a series of executive management positions before being named CEO in 1997 and elected Chairman of the Board in 2002. Under Harmel’s leadership, the employee-owned Lifetouch Inc. has grown to over a billion dollars in sales and has become the market leader in professional portraiture. His vision has improved industry standards for quality and service, and has raised the level of expectation for the organization’s many customers.
Keynote Presentation
Mr. Matt Knickerbocker, IPC vice president, chairperson of the luncheon, Fuji Photo Film USA vice president and president of the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association, introduced keynote speaker Ted Fox. Mr. Fox, Executive Director / CEO of Photo Marketing Association International (PMAI), delivered a provocative update on the growth of the organization he represents, and on photography’s important role in today’s increasingly digital world.
The IPC thanks the following companies for their support of the 2008 New Year’s Luncheon. (Platinum Level): CSJ Media Inc (Homes & Land Magazine), Cygnus Imaging Group, Fujifilm USA, Inc., Lifetouch Inc., Nikon Inc., Ritz Interactive and ToCad America; (Gold Level): Canon USA, Inc., Noritsu America Corp., Photo Industry Reporter and Stratmar Systems.
###
The International Photographic Council (IPC) is a multinational non-governmental organization of the United Nations, composed of representatives from every major sector of the photographic industry. Founded in 1974, it is dedicated to increasing worldwide recognition of photography as a universal means of communication through the adoption of a motto, “Peace through understanding, Understanding through Photography, the Universal Language.”