David Midler Honored with PIAG Benjamin Franklin Award

David Midler, a pioneer in the digital print business, was presented the 2025 Benjamin Franklin Award at the PIAG imPRESS Celebration of Print awards banquet in Peachtree Corners on August 14.

Mr. Midler co-founded Presentech, Inc. in Atlanta in 1990 as one of Georgia’s earliest digital print companies. He has been a PIAG member for more than 25 years and today proudly serves as Chair-Elect on the PIAG Board of Directors, Chair of the PIAG Educational Foundation, and Chair of the PIAG Finance Committee. He also serves as a Trustee and Officer on the Printing Industries Benefit Trust (PIBT) Board of Trustees where he represents the interests of the Georgia print industry.

Mr. Midler and his business partner Joel Berger met at Emory Business School where they also worked at Bellsouth Information Systems together. It was this experience that exposed them to the still emerging concept of digital printing and helped guide them toward co-founding Presentech, Inc. several years later.

“When we started, the printing industry in Georgia was quite different than it is now,” Mr. Midler stated from the podium. “I remember when we were formulating our business plan, folks raised a few eyebrows when we told them that we did not plan to have a single offset press on the floor.”

Mr. Midler told attendees he believes the print industry deserves more credit in today’s high-tech world.

“As I reflect on our journey these past 35 years, I’ve thought a lot about the way that technology has impacted the print industry,” he said. “We went from color copiers to today’s ultra-high-speed presses. Yet, with all this amazing tech, I wonder why the print industry doesn’t get more credit when you think of today’s high-tech industries.”

That said, Mr. Midler encouraged his colleagues to focus more on customer relationships than technology.

“For our clients, it has never been about the tech or the printing process,” he said. “Instead, it’s the personal connections we have with our clients that truly matters. Our technology is merely a means to the end, so thinking of their favorite printer as a tech powerhouse just doesn’t come into play. But thinking about their account manager, CSR or pre-press tech as a miracle worker – now that makes a difference! It’s the people, not the process that matters most.”

In addition to his service to the print industry, David supports several important charitable causes. He holds or has held various leadership positions with Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Lifeline Animal Project.

The Benjamin Franklin Award was presented to Mr. Midler by past winner Phil Scott with Scott Lithographing.