(Las Vegas, Nev., February 10, 2015) The Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) honored the following members during the PPFA Member Meeting, held January 25 at the PPFA 2015 Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. PPFA President Robin Gentry, MCPF, presented the winners with their respective awards:
PPFA Lifetime Achievement Award: John Ranes II, CPF, GCF, The Frame Workshop of Appleton, Inc., Appleton, Wis.
A Certified Picture Framer and Guild Certified Framer, John Ranes owns The Frame Workshop of Appleton, Inc. in Appleton, Wis., with his wife, Sarah. Their shop has won over 90 framing competition awards, and has long claimed the title of “The most award winning frame shop.” The shop is an excellent example of Ranes’ expertise on marketing, promotion and diversifying into gift and accessory sales; and Ranes was an early pioneer in the framing industry to focus on marketing on-line.
A PPFA member for 36 years, Ranes has served as Vice President of the Upper Midwest Chapter in Minnesota and served three terms as a board member of the Wisconsin Chapter where he was an originating member. He served three years on the PPFA National Board of Directors and has served on the PPFA Education committee, the Long- Range planning committee, and the Advisory committee. Ranes has presented mat cutting classes and seminars in over 15 different countries, and is a global ambassador making tremendous efforts in bridging the gap between the US and European/International framing communities.
He has been one of the top educators and consultants for PPFA, the West Coast Art & Frame show, Décor Magazine and Expos, Fletcher-Terry, Tru-Vue, and Picture Framing Magazine and has assisted distributors around the country with educating customers at Open Houses events/
Ranes travels and visits other frame shops, seeking out ideas and sharing his own insights. This past year, he chronicled several shops and shared their stories in social media.
PPFA Paul Frederick Distinction for Leadership Award: Cliff Wilson, MCPF, Framed In Tatnuck, Worcester, Mass.
After 25 years in the computer industry, including years as the Director of Color Management for Eastman Kodak and Vice President of Engineering for a couple of companies, Cliff Wilson started Framed In Tatnuck in 2002 and has been building and improving the Best Frame shop in Worcester, Mass., ever since.
A long time PPFA member, he has been an active member of the New England Chapter, served as president, and held other offices. He has been an active participant in starting programs that he eventually put into place during his service on the National Board. His involvement at the national level has included the Nominating committee, Consumer Awareness committee, and Membership committee. He was instrumental in the development of the PPFA Member Advantage Program that he started in his New England chapter and brought to an international membership package.
A Master Certified Picture Framer, and an instructor at the national and chapter level, Wilson is known for his generosity and sincere regard for sharing information, ideas and techniques.
He is a member of the Framers Corner Moderator team and contributes to questions and topics on the Forum, offering valuable information and insight.
PPFA Service Award: Greg Norris, CPF, Huntington Hall of Frames, Huntington, WV
Owner of Huntington Hall of Frames for two decades, during his past 10 years with PPFA, Greg Norris has been active in his Tri-State Chapter, including service as president. A Certified Picture Framer, he currently serves as a Director on the PPFA Board. He has been an integral part of the Membership Committee, leading to the new PPFA Member Advantage program of discounts from PPFA suppliers for members. An active member of the Chapter Relations Committee, he has worked tirelessly on the Chapter reorganization. He is a moderator and Board liaison on the Framers Corner forum, one of the most valuable member resources.
PPFA Chapter Volunteer of the Year Award: Cathy Coggins, Needle Craft World, Kissimmee, Fla.
An active member and board member of the Southeast Chapter, Cathy Coggins was instrumental in organizing and coordinating last Fall’s Framefest in Florida, a huge success that required many hours of preparation. She worked tirelessly to include all framers from across the industry, and to provide a welcoming environment for vendors to display products and meet new and current clients. A member of the PPFA Membership Committee and Chapter Relations Committee, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of PPFA and her Chapter.
Awards were also presented to outgoing PPFA Board of Directors members: Immediate Past President John Pruitt, CPF; Treasurer Mike Drury, MCPF; and Director David Lantrip, MCPF, GCF; and former PPFA Executive Elaine Truman has received an award.
“Congratulations to all of our PPFA Award winners,” says PPFA President Robin Gentry, MCPF. “PPFA is made up of many caring individuals who give freely of their time and expertise to grow the picture framing profession. A big thanks to these very deserving award winners for all they do for our association and our profession.”
The Awards and Recognition Committee is chaired by Linda Wassell, MCPF; with Adela Davis, MCPF; Harry Gaston, CPF; Meghan MacMillan, MCPF; and Anthony Tremonto, and PPFA Board liaison Carol Graham.
Robert Gulf,owner of Knollwood Art Frames in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., framed the awards. Larson Juhl donated the frames and Museum Glass.
About PPFA
As the professional trade association for the custom framing industry, PPFA — a member association of PMA®, the Worldwide Community of Imaging Associations — serves over 2,000 frame shops, art galleries and supplier members in North America and overseas, establishing best practices for framing and providing programs and services for entrepreneurial success. Visit www.ppfa.com to learn more.