All in the Family

A simple purchase Andrew Carey made when he was 11 years old was his first step on a journey of significant contribution to the diecutting/diemaking industry.

ANDREW CAREY SAID that his father, Kevin Carey, was always involved in the diecutting/diemaking business, so it seemed natural for him to follow in his father's footsteps. And he didn't wait too long to get started, or to move up the ladder of success.

At the age of 16, Carey started his career in the industry working part time in the shipping and receiving department of Lasercomb America. Soon after high school, he went full time as a computer aided design (CAD) programmer and in just two years, was supervising the group. A short time later, he moved into new product development in the company's R&D group.

Lasercomb America was purchased by Atlas Die in 1990 and a year later, Carey left Atlas to join Cimex Corp. (Belchertown, Mass.) as vice president. He was named president in 2000.

Somewhere between these changes and promotions, Carey found the time to be elected to the Board of Directors of the International Association of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD). Now, in recognition for his contributions to the IADD and to the industry as a whole, he is being honored as packagePRINTING's 2004 IADD Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year, following in his father's footsteps after 18 years.

An unselfish, winning attitude

"Andrew was chosen as this year's recipient purely based on his unselfishness and his contributions to making our industry a better place," said Clint Medlock, president of Stafford Cutting Dies and chair of the awards committee. "He does the things he does for others because of the feelings he gets internally for helping, not the outward recognition."

Carey was not named the IADD Diecutter/Diemaker of the Year award recipient just for his work behind a desk, but also for a winning attitude he has demonstrated throughout his entire life.