HOOKSETT, N.H. (May 30, 2025)—PINE has announced that Polaris Direct, a nationally acclaimed direct marketing services and printing company, is an award winner in the association’s New England regional Awards of Excellence competition. The announcement was made to industry professionals in attendance at PINE’s 2025 Awards of Excellence, held at the Broadmoor Ballroom in Natick, Mass. on May 8.
Polaris Direct received the Pinnacle Award for their 2024 End of Year Appeal (produced for NH Lakes) in the Direct Mail Campaign Division 2, as well as an Honorable Mention for their Event Program (produced for NH Book Festival) in the Invitations & Programs Division 2.
PINE’s 2025 Awards of Excellence Competition attracted more than 250 entries from more than 35 printing and imaging companies across New England competing in a variety of printing and graphic communications categories, including best annual report, direct mail campaign, labels & packaging, and more. A panel of judges with extensive experience in printing and print production were brought in to examine the wide range of work submitted. Each entry was judged anonymously on its own merit in a category with similar printed pieces. The judging criteria included: registration, clarity and neatness, sharpness of halftones and line drawings, richness and tonal qualities of color, paper and ink selection, ink coverage, difficulty of printing, effective contrast or softness, overall visual impact and bindery.
“Our judges have a total of 80 years of print production experience and are invited across the country to other PIA associations to judge, so they have seen all levels of print,” said Christine Hagopian, PINE’s President. “The quality of PINE members’ entries can stand up against any others across the country. Our members should be very proud of that.”
Members of Polaris Direct’s Strategic Marketing Services team accepting the 2025 Pinnacle award. From Left to Right: PINE Chair Vinny Piazza, Andrea Manseau, Lindsay Christie, Chris Cote, and PINE President Christine Hagopian.
About PINE
PINE (Printing Industries of New England) is the largest trade association to serve printing and graphic communications companies throughout New England. PINE serves more than 360 member companies through a wide range of products and services that enhance member profitability. The Association is affiliated with the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, Printing Industries of America.