Mark A. Coudray
Mark A. Coudray – (born December 13, 1954) In 1973, Coudray started his first screenprinting shop, Coudray Serigraphics in San Luis Obispo, California, when he was nineteen years old in his family garage and it is still in business today. The textile printing shop quickly became a World Class Operation, producing the finest and award-winning textile printing in the world.
Coudray is also the Founder and President of Coudray Graphic Technologies, a digital imaging and prepress supplier to the industry, as well as TShirtSuccess LLC where he dispenses marketing advice to those in the textile printing segment of the screenprinting industry. And, he has visited over 40 countries as a consultant in the screenprinting industry, helping others achieve higher quality and control over the variables of the screenprinting process.
Since 1978, Coudray has been a popular presenter worldwide at industry trade shows, conferences, conventions and technical symposiums, speaking on technology, quality and management practices. He is best known for his extensive work in controlling color halftone printing and quality management of the screen printing process. His book, “Achieving Quality Graphics on Screenprinted Apparel,” which was published in 1998 is still considered a bible for many textile screenprinters.
Few individuals in the screenprinting industry have been as prolific and innovative as Mark Coudray. Coudray is the recipient of 18 Golden Image Awards, awarded to the best of the best in print quality at the annual Specialty Graphic Imaging Association conference.
He received the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association’s Magnus Award in 1982. The Magnus Award is presented to the most outstanding individual or firm in the industry each year for their work in the promotion of the screenprinting industry.
He is the author of over 300 articles, columns and technical papers on screenprinting.
For his efforts he has received three Swormstedt Awards; his 1992 paper on “Understanding Halftone Moire” and his 1994 paper on “Stochastic Halftones.” and in 2017 for “The Fourth Disruption: Why Venture Capitalists are Eyeing Garment Decoration,” published by ST Media’s Screen Printing magazine in August/September 2016.
The Dave Swormstedt, Sr. Memorial Award is presented, annually, during the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association conference in October, to the author(s) of an article written on any aspect of screen printing or graphic imaging and published in the fiscal year — August 1 through July 31 — immediately preceding the meeting. Coudray was chosen by his fellow members of the Academy of Screenprinting Technology (ASPT) to receive the prestigious Swormstedt Award recognizing him for his outstanding writing ability and exceptional industry insight.
Coudray is a 2001 recipient of the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association’s Parmele Award. The Parmele Award is the highest honor the screen printing and graphic imaging industry has to offer. Named in tribute to one of the Association’s founders, Howard Parmele, the Parmele award is considered the “Oscar” or “Emmy” of the screen printing and graphic imaging industry, and has been awarded each year since 1955. The Parmele Award is conferred upon someone whose dedication and accomplishments reflect an ongoing commitment to improve the industry’s products, services and image.
Coudray is a 1989 inductee into the Academy of Screen Printing Technology (ASPT). Established in 1973 by the Board of Directors of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, the Academy of Screen Printing Technology recognizes individuals who have contributed to the technical growth and/or advancement of the screen printing industry. The ASPT is an international body of experts which honors qualified individuals through election to membership for their distinguished, long-term contributions to, and application and promotion of, screen and digital printing and associated imaging technologies for graphic, textile, industrial and electronic printing applications. Academy members regularly submit, review, recognize and recommend technical papers for publications under the auspices of the Academy. ASPT members are also active in providing technical education, consultation, adjudication of printing image quality, and promotion of the technical and commercial development of the industry.
He served as Chairman of the Specialty Graphics Imaging Association in 2000, and is a two-time Chairman of the Academy of Screenprinting Technology. He has served as an Specialty Graphics Imaging Association Director for over 24 years.
Coudray has served as an expert witness in screenprinting related trademark and patent litigation.
He is a Visiting Professor at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California and was the 2005 California Businessman of the Year for the Republican National Committee in 2005.
And he is a 1977 Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.
Education
1972 – Santa Barbara High School, Santa Barbara, California
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, degree in Printing Management. He graduated Suma Cum Laude in the Graphic Communications Program and is an Honored Alumnus at Cal Poly. Since 1993, Coudray has served on the Advisory Board of the Graphic Communications Board, and was Chairman of the Board for 4 years.