Larry Kashuk to Receive 2026 Peyton Shaner Award

The Association of Independent Printing Paper Merchants (AIPPM) announces that Larry Kashuk has been named the recipient of the 2026 Peyton Shaner Award.  The award will be formally presented at the 2026 AIPPM Annual Conference in Rancho Mirage, CA on February 26, 2026.

Peyton Shaner was responsible for bringing together a consortium of independent paper merchants in 1992 that would become incorporated as AIPPM.  He was a passionate spokesman for the paper and printing industry and his enthusiasm for the business was contagious.  The association created the Peyton Shaner Award in 2005 to honor the memory of its founder and to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the same passion and commitment to the industry.

Larry began his career in 1986 as a manufactures representative at Evans Enterprises.  It was at Evans that Larry’s passion for the paper industry began to grow as he represented a number of paper mills and converters selling to paper distributors in the 11 western states.  In 1991 Larry became owner of Evans and renamed the business Paper Solutions.  At Paper Solutions, Larry represented papers of every type at various times but always pressure sensitive products.  His persistent, high energy sales attitude forged alliances with the manufactures he represented as well as the distibutors he called on.  Larry became renowned for creating fun and entertaining sales meetings and sales programs.  In 2016 Larry accepted the North America Sales Director position at Spinnaker Coatings, a mill that had been a part of his portfolio at Paper Solutions for 15 years.  Accepting this position meant that after 30 years of sales in the western US, Larry closed Paper Solutions and expanded his influence to include merchants across the US and Canada which included the AIPPM members.  Larry retired in 2024 after 38 years in the paper industry to begin his next adventure with his with Darlene in Southern California.

Please join the AIPPM in congratulating Larry Kashuk for earning this worthy recognition that honors its founder.

AIPPM today consists of 21 independent merchant shareholders in the continental US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.  The purpose of AIPPM is to bring growth and value to its shareholders by leveraging its purchasing and marketing opportunities, sharing and encouraging the uses of best business practices, and promoting the healthy exchange of ideas.