PMA Distinguished Service Award recipients named

Larry Nitz began in the photo imaging industry in 1959 as a freelance photographer. Nine years later, Nitz joined Beseler Photo Marketing Inc. before entering the photo retail world as owner of Midwest Camera. While owning Midwest Camera, Nitz branched out to also own L-wood Enterprises, a wholesale darkroom supplier. Nitz then began a long career at Woodman’s Food Market in Janesville, Wis., in the role as general manager of 12 photo departments.He has served on the PMA Mass Merchandiser Committee for 18 years.

After graduating from the Technical Institute in Boom, Belgium, in 1976, Bob Noterman began his career in the photo industry with Pako Europe, a subsidiary of Pako Corp., Minneapolis, Minn. In the following years he was promoted to sales manager for Spain and Portugal and sales manager for Latin America, where he later took on additional sales responsibilities. In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles, Calif., as western sales manager for Copal Systems. When Copal merged with Agfa, he became Agfa’s western regional sales manager. In 1998, Noterman formed AAA Imaging Solutions, with Lou Burgess, as they saw a need for a professionally run photographic equipment distribution and refurbishing company.

Dave Reynolds’ career began in 1976 at Howard’s Photo Lab/Guardian Photo in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was placed in the position of general operations manager of Guardian Photo and finished his career there as vice president of sales and marketing. He also worked at Bicknell Photo Service in Scarborough, Maine, as vice president of operations; Genovese Drug Stores in Melville, N.Y., as vice president and general manager; and Fujicolor Processing Inc., Elmsford, N.Y., as senior vice president of operations, customer service, distribution, and technical. Reynolds has participated with the PMA Retail Advisory Committee, Wholesale Photofinishers Committee, DIMA, and the PMA Board of Trustees.

Chris Lydle first gained imaging industry experience managing Camera Corp. of New Jersey. Later Lydle and his wife Thelma, opened the first Chris’ Camera Center in 1974 in New Jersey. By the 1990s, they had three stores. Lydle was president of Photofair Stores and active in the PMA N.Y./N.J. Metro Division Inc. Lydle has been a Certified Photographic Consultant (CPC) for more than 20 years, and is currently chairman of the CPC Advisory Board. He’s a past president of the PMA Dixie Division and president elect of the DIMA board, assuming the presidency at DIMA 2009. Lydle is also author of two PMA publications, "Success Secrets of Minilabs and Specialty Camera Stores" and "31 Profit Modules for Minilabs and Specialty Camera Stores."

Richard Tranchida began his 40-year industry career working in the family camera store, The Camera Shops of New Britain. He took over the reins in 1980 and eventually sold the stores to Ritz Camera Centers Inc., Beltsville, Md., and the processing lab to Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc. He moved to Maryland to take a position with Ritz Camera, and is currently executive vice president of the company. Tranchida has been a PMA Territorial Vice President (TVP), receiving the TVP of the Year Award, and a PMA trustee. He has also served as PMA treasurer and PMA president from 1996-1997.