FTA Inducts Steve Smiley into Flexo Hall of Fame
Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) inducted Steve Smiley into its Flexo Hall of Fame. He is the 55th inductee into the prestigious society. Through trials, tribulation, turmoil and his relentless pursuit of what is right, Smiley has dedicated his life to the pursuit of bettering the flexographic industry.
Smiley currently serves as FTA’s representative on Committee for Graphic Arts Technology Standards’ (CGATS) Color Reproduction and Process Control for Packaging Subcommittee. Over the years, he chaired FTA’s Color Management Subcommittee for the second edition of Flexographic Image, Reproduction Specifications and Tolerances, later chaired FIRST’s Implementation and Communication Subcommittee and held vital roles with the Flex Quality Consortium, where he now serves on the executives committee. Smiley has left his own indelible mark on the International Standards Organization and the committee for Graphic Arts Technology Standards.
Originally beginning his career in photography, this is where Smiley first learned about light, color and how they can either work together or against each other to cause a reaction inside of a person. As the industry began to evolve, so did Smiley, learning new skills to keep up with the times.
“He has shortened his hair to dress the part,” shares Laura, Smiley's wife of 34 years. “But he loves that business — that has never changed. He has stayed committed to making that world better.”
Many hats were worn throughout his journey, which have made Smiley into the man, the expert, the friend and colleague ready and willing to share his knowledge to this day.
Mark Cisternino, FTA President and 2016 Hall of Fame inductee, said, “Steve has long been a speaker on various color related topics and has an amazing skill of masterfully communicating some fairly involved, complicated concepts in a manner that is appropriate and comprehensible by whatever audience he is speaking to.”
