Bettylyn Krafft, the penultimate student advocate in flexographic printing circles, and co-founder of The Phoenix Challenge and its High School and College skills competitions, a true believer in empowering future generations of package printers, is the 67^th and newest member of Flexographic Technical Association (FTA)’s Flexo Hall of Fame.

Induction came Sunday, May 4, at the association’s Awards Banquet, staged in conjunction with the packaging printing and converting industry’s premiere event—FORUM INFOFLEX 2025. There, Hall of Fame Member Jean Engelke ushered Krafft into FTA’s most prestigious society.

Described from the stage by Engelke as “tireless,” “energetic,” “influential,” “enthusiastic;” “passionate,” and “persistent,” the audience was told, “Her name is familiar to newly minted flexographers and others who have spent upward of 30 years toiling away in pressrooms from coast to coast.”

Many credit Krafft with having a direct hand in launching their career and describe her as being “a true champion of the trade.”

“By profession, she’s not a teacher or formal educator,” Engelke said. “In actuality, she is a student advocate, mentor, and true believer in honing the skills of the young, while they are mere adolescents. Her pursuits transverse academia at every level, where the mark of the Phoenix is easily recognized.”

Paul Teachout, FTA’s Board chairman linked history with her story and forecasted a brighter future. “In 1991, FTA saw the need for an educational endeavor that involved high school programs. At the time the Charlotte, NC, region was full of opportunities for both the high schools and the flexo industry. Ron Harper, then FTA chair, and Katherine Harper were instrumental in fundraising $800,000+ for flexo in high school programs, placing equipment to create a thriving educational environment.

“In the mid 1990s, a young CSR at Harper, named Bettylyn, caught the Harpers’ eyes,” he continued. “There were bigger plans for her future. She grew to love the industry, and the industry grew to love her. …For almost three decades now, Bettylyn has championed the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, placing hundreds into our industry who have gone on to amazing careers, I guarantee you know one of them.”

Fellow Hall of Fame member Howard Vreeland Jr, a close friend, commented, “Bettylyn, a trailblazer in the flexographic printing sector, has devoted her life to empowering future generations of printers since 1997. With an unwavering enthusiasm for providing quality education and support to the workforce, she has transformed numerous lives. …She diligently works to introduce students to the realm of flexography, equipping them with essential skills and confidence needed to succeed in rewarding, long-term careers in the industry.”

He remarked, “Bettylyn is an extraordinary woman. What she has accomplished is truly phenomenal. …Continually reinforcing the future of the flexographic industry, demonstrates that her influence reaches far beyond the printing press.”

Echoing that sentiment, Hall of Fame member Dave Horsman called her a “take charge individual” and then simply stated, “She has done a remarkable job with the Phoenix Challenge and is most deserving of this, our highest honor.”

Hall of Fame member Joe Tuccitto, who worked closely with Krafft in providing support to the Phoenix Challenge for many years, offered this fitting salute. “There are few individuals in the flexographic industry whose passion and dedication shine as brightly as Bettylyn Krafft’s. Her induction into the FTA Hall of Fame is a testament to the countless hours, unwavering energy, and deep commitment she has poured into both flexo and its next generation of professionals.

“Bettylyn has been a driving force in bringing young talent into our field, ensuring its growth and sustainability,” he declared. “She does it because she believes in this industry and the people who will shape its future.”

For his part, Mark Mazur, another Hall of Fame member, remarked, “Bettylyn has devoted her life to introducing flexography to high school and college students. This has never been about her, it has always been about developing young minds and showing them that flexography can be a varied, interesting, and rewarding career. …Bettylyn embodies a heartfelt love for this industry. It’s people that permeates everything she does.”