CPCC names Harper National Flexographic Center coordinator

Dr Tony Zeiss, president of Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced the selection of Stephen Gerhardt to the newly created position of Harper National Flexographic Center coordinator. The flexographic center is located on CPCC’s Harper Campus.

In his new position, Gerhardt is responsible for establishing a complete series of continuing education flexographic symposiums for industry professionals, with the input of Alex James, Eastern technical manager of Harper GraphicSolutions, the technical service division of Harper Corporation of America; and Tony Donato, systems, product and process development engineer at Harper Corporation.

A seven-time PICA (Printing Industry of the Carolinas) award-winner, Gerhardt began his career in graphics while managing two business service centers that offered design work and quick printing. He later joined PostNet as a Graphic Specialist, where his pre-press skills proved a valuable asset. With his sights set on furthering his formal education in flexography, he enrolled in the graphic arts program at CPCC’s Harper Campus. While attending CPCC, he was hired as a part time Lab Facilitator, giving countless press and plate-making demonstrations, teaching pre-press skills, and helping students and teachers to trouble-shoot press operations. Along the way he developed a love for teaching flexography and computer graphics.

He has taught Flexography I, Flexographic Applications, Image Manipulation I, Graphic Arts I, and Computer Graphics II, III and IV. His teaching methods are very popular with CPCC’s graphic arts students.

Gerhardt said, ‘I look forward to providing this great new development to our flexo education program at CPCC`s Harper Campus. Offering enriching and memorable seminars and industry training will further strengthen an already thriving flexographic industry. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’