03.11.16
The 2016 and 54th inductee into FTA’s Flexo Hall of Fame is Mark Cisternino, the organization’s long tenured president and one of the staunchest supporters of flexographic printing that can be found. He has made FTA’s interests his life’s work and is committed and dedicated to the organization’s success. As a result, his and the association’s names will forever be linked.
It seems, at one time or another, he has leant his talent to every committee and working group associated with FTA, from Forum to Awards; Supplier Leadership to Emerging Leadership; Hall of Fame to FIRST, FQC and FLEXO in High School. Also, committees like: Scholarship, Fall Conference, Membership and Marketing; as well as the Consumer Products Company Leadership Council, Corrugated Leadership Council, Latin American Committee, Project Evaluation Committee, Scholarship Committee, Solicitations Committee, Sustainability Committee—and of course, FTA’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, where he continues to hold seats.
Cisternino’s career began with a short part-time stint in FTA’s mailroom, where as a graduate student attending Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, working toward his MBA at age 24, he started looking at packaging very, very differently.
Stop number two on his FTA career ladder: associate editor, FLEXO Magazine, April 1986—Oct. 1986. His byline appears occasionally to this day. Next in progression, as he became FTA’s most familiar face:
• Marketing Manager, October 1986-April 1988
• Director of Programs & Marketing, April 1988-Nov. 1994
• Vice President, November 1994-May 2001
• President, May 2001-Present
“Every year before the Forum, I ask Mark about the Hall of Fame recipient,” said Suzy Cisternino, his wife of 28 years. “He invariably tells me about an exceptional person and of his or her amazing accomplishments, dedication and passion. He has spoken about each and every one with the utmost respect and genuine admiration. For him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and stand with those he holds in such high regards, will be the greatest moment of his career. He will be incredibly honored and overjoyed; and I am sure, overcome with emotion.”
It seems, at one time or another, he has leant his talent to every committee and working group associated with FTA, from Forum to Awards; Supplier Leadership to Emerging Leadership; Hall of Fame to FIRST, FQC and FLEXO in High School. Also, committees like: Scholarship, Fall Conference, Membership and Marketing; as well as the Consumer Products Company Leadership Council, Corrugated Leadership Council, Latin American Committee, Project Evaluation Committee, Scholarship Committee, Solicitations Committee, Sustainability Committee—and of course, FTA’s Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, where he continues to hold seats.
Cisternino’s career began with a short part-time stint in FTA’s mailroom, where as a graduate student attending Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, working toward his MBA at age 24, he started looking at packaging very, very differently.
Stop number two on his FTA career ladder: associate editor, FLEXO Magazine, April 1986—Oct. 1986. His byline appears occasionally to this day. Next in progression, as he became FTA’s most familiar face:
• Marketing Manager, October 1986-April 1988
• Director of Programs & Marketing, April 1988-Nov. 1994
• Vice President, November 1994-May 2001
• President, May 2001-Present
“Every year before the Forum, I ask Mark about the Hall of Fame recipient,” said Suzy Cisternino, his wife of 28 years. “He invariably tells me about an exceptional person and of his or her amazing accomplishments, dedication and passion. He has spoken about each and every one with the utmost respect and genuine admiration. For him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and stand with those he holds in such high regards, will be the greatest moment of his career. He will be incredibly honored and overjoyed; and I am sure, overcome with emotion.”