Hale Hawkins, CEO of Lewisburg Printing Company in Lewisburg, Tenn., was named by the Printing Industry Association of the South (PIAS) as its 2022 Person of the Year. The PIAS Person of the Year is chosen for service to the printing industry, community and betterment of the graphic arts industry as a whole.
Born in Lewisburg, Hale joined his family’s local printing company in 1991 after graduating from Murray State University with a bachelor’s degree in Print Management. He was promoted to General Manager in 2000 and was named President and CEO in 2002. Hale has inspired an exceptionally successful business strategy and culture at the company. He has ensured continued success through his ongoing investment in cutting-edge technology, hiring the right people and listening to the voice of the customer, as well as his commitment to LPC’s values: integrity, respect, trust, passion, credibility and continuous improvement.
In addition to his leadership role at LPC, Hale served on the PIAS Board of Directors in 2006 and on its Executive Committee in 2011, culminating as the Chairman of the Board from 2014 to 2015. He currently serves his community as a Printers Disability Trustee and serves on the boards of First Commerce Bank, the Marshall County Economic Development Board, and past Board Member andChairman of the Chamber of Commerce.
In April 2021, LPC and its affiliate companies announced a partnership with Radial Equity Partners, a private equity firm with along standing focus on the print and packaging industry. “Radial has been a terrific partner. They share our goals of being the best supplier to our customers, the best employer for our employees, and a responsible member of our community,” Hale said. “Our partnership with Hale and the entire LPC team has been outstanding and we look forward to continuing to support the company’s growth both organically and through acquisitions,” said Keith Zadourian, Partner at Radial.
In March 2022 LPC merged with Huston Patterson and Sigma Graphics, leading suppliers of high-graphic printed materials based inIllinois. “Our merger with Huston Patterson and Sigma has brought complementary talent, manufacturing capabilities and geographic reach enhancing our ability to deliver exceptional speed to market and customer service,” Hale said.