Gene Hindman Honored with PIAG Benjamin Franklin Award

Gene Hindman, a longtime leader in Georgia’s printing industry whose career spanned more than 45 years, was presented with the 2026 Benjamin Franklin Award by PIAG during the association’s annual imPRESS Celebration of Print banquet in Peachtree Corners on August 13.

The Benjamin Franklin Award is the highest honor presented by Georgia’s printing industry and recognizes an individual for lifetime contributions and achievements within the industry and community. Hindman became the 68th recipient of the award and received a standing ovation from the audience before accepting the honor.

In his remarks, Hindman reflected candidly on both the rewards and sacrifices of his career. He recalled the persistence it took to land his first printing job while still in high school and later the challenges that came with building and running his own company. There were sacrifices in time spent with family, he acknowledged, as well as periods when keeping the business moving forward meant foregoing his own paycheck.

Hindman also spoke about the professional relationships and friendships he developed during more than four decades in the industry and the positive role PIAG played throughout his career.

“If you work hard, throw in a little bit of luck that leads to a small amount of success that you get to share with friends and family, then you’ve had a pretty good life,” Hindman said. “The printing industry has given me a pretty good life.”

Hindman’s connection to the industry began while he was still a student at Walton High School in Marietta, GA, where he participated in the school’s graphic arts program and was twice named Graphic Arts Student of the Year. At age 16, he landed his first job with a local commercial printer. His talent, work ethic and leadership quickly became apparent, and by age 23, he had become the company’s general manager.

At 26, Hindman struck out on his own and founded Offset Atlanta. Over the next two decades, the company grew to more than 90 employees and $12 million in annual sales. In 1996, Offset Atlanta was ranked as the fastest-growing commercial printer in Georgia and seventh-fastest in the nation. The company also earned recognition as a “Best Place to Work” multiple times, reflecting Hindman’s longstanding emphasis on employee relationships, customer service and company culture.

After selling Offset Atlanta, Hindman joined metro Atlanta-based ProGraphics Communications, eventually becoming president and part-owner of the company. When ProGraphics was acquired by Drummond Press in 2018, he joined Drummond’s senior management team as Chief Administrative Officer, with responsibilities spanning sales, accounting, human resources and operations. He remained with Drummond until his retirement in April 2024.

Throughout his career, Hindman also devoted significant time to PIAG. He joined the association’s Board of Directors in 2015 and Executive Committee in 2020 and served in several other leadership roles, including on PIAG’s CEO Search Team and as chair of the Governance Committee.

Hindman and his wife, Rhonda, have been married for more than 30 years and have three children. Outside the industry, his interests include woodworking and collecting bourbon. He is also a private pilot with both airplane and helicopter ratings.

“Gene’s career really tells a remarkable story about the printing industry in Georgia,” said Jon Krueger, PIAG President & CEO. “He started working in a print shop as a teenager, built and led his own successful company, and continued contributing to this industry for more than four decades. But the thing that really stands out about Gene is the respect people have for him. You saw that in the room when his name was announced.”