On an industry level, First Impressions also participates in all the regional and national printing associations through company members and in some cases, on their boards. Its focus is on helping graphic arts professionals increase their expertise in management, sales and marketing, finance, human resources, and operations. NAPL recently rewarded First Impressions' management excellence with the 1999 Silver Management Plus Award. The company was cited for its superior financial record, emphasis on employee participation in management, and consistency in producing quality printing. First Impressions has been honored with awards from NAPL in the past five consecutive years, including the prestigious Gold Award for 1997 and the Silver Award for 1998.
Members range from sole proprietors to firms with hundreds of employees.
Serving the Long Island business community since 1963, ACIT promotes the exchange of business ideas. Members represent such diverse fields as banking, media, education, marketing, law and manufacturing. Last year, First Impressions sponsored an ACIT business luncheon featuring as its guest speaker Congressman Rick Lazio, who is currently New York's Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Two of the most high-profile graphic arts associations consolidated in 1999 to form one powerhouse organization that now serves more than 14,000 member companies in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. The world's largest graphic arts trade organization, Alexandria, VA-based PIA serves to promote the interests of commercial printers, suppliers, and allied graphic arts firms such as electronic imaging companies and equipment manufacturers, through 31 local affiliate organizations.