[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF LOU CIAMPI, SR. FOR BEING THE 2013 ITALIAN AMERICAN 
         ASSOCIATION OF LUZERNE COUNTY'S ``PERSON OF THE YEAR''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2013

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lou Ciampi, 
Sr., who was selected ``Person of the Year'' by the Italian American 
Association of Luzerne County. Lou started his printing career over 
fifty years ago as a teenage apprentice in Pagnotti Coal's in-house 
print shop. After serving in the military and working in several shops 
in both Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, Lou joined the PA Hutchinson 
company in Scranton as a folder operator in the late 1960s. He quickly 
rose from bindery foreman to plant superintendent and was soon on the 
road as a salesman. His experience as a salesman fueled his 
entrepreneurial spirit, so he opened Lou's Bike Shop in the mid-
seventies.
  In January 1980, Lou and his partner Ted Heoffner founded Independent 
Graphics, Inc. At first, Lou did everything for Independent Graphics--
he printed flyers, forms, stationery, and policies for Mr. Heoffner's 
American Independent Insurance Company. In 1984, Lou purchased the 
company from Mr. Heoffner.
  Lou quickly made an impact on the Wilkes-Barre community by founding 
the Craftsman's Club. The club included printing owners and laborers, 
and provided a place where vendors could share cutting edge ideas to 
improve the industry. Business blossomed and the company moved to a new 
facility in Port Blanchard, PA. By the turn of the millennium, 
Independent Graphics, Inc. offered everything from black ink on post 
cards to full color digital printing and wide format.
  In 2002, Independent Graphics was named the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of 
Commerce's small business of the year. When the New York Yankees moved 
their Triple A franchise to Scranton, Independent Graphics became their 
``play ball'' printer, producing program books on third shift for the 
next day's game. Independent Graphics also sponsors the Scranton 
Chamber of Commerce's Momentum Magazine. ``Our Impression Will Sharpen 
Your Image'' is the company's motto, and Lou's company has improved the 
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre community's image for three decades. The company 
Lou built from the ground up now employs 27 people full time, working 
round the clock providing imaging services. In May 2013, Lou was 
inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.
  Over the last four decades, Lou has generously supported many local 
charities. He has donated services to numerous local little leagues, 
youth football teams, high school teams, cheerleading squads, and many 
others. In the 1970s, Lou was the president of the West Pittston Rams 
and the general manager of Greater Pittston Legion baseball. The 
American Heart Association and Garden Village Youth racing have also 
benefited from his generosity.
  Lou is a graduate of West Pittston High School. He and his wife 
Marianne have been married for 51 years. They have four children: 
Louis, Jr., Michelle Reilly, Joseph and Jimmy. They are also blessed 
with six grandchildren. I convey my congratulations to Lou for being 
honored by his community.

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