The Distinguished Service Award for 2004 is presented to Rebecca Swee for her dedication and service to Bookbuilders West during the 1980s and '90s.

Rebecca began her career in New York in the College Production department of what was then Crowell Collier Macmillan in 1970. In 1972 she joined Lehigh/Rocappi in Pennsauken, NJ, as an Estimator, became a Production Assistant in 1973, and was promoted to Production Manager in 1974, where she served until moving to Sales/Service in 1978. Later Rebecca became Sales Representative for The Lehigh Press, Inc. on the West Coast. It was after this move that she became active in Bookbuilders West, serving on the Board of Directors several terms beginning in 1983 and accepting many responsibilities, including chairing the important Program Committee. In 1984 Rebecca joined RR Donnelley & Sons Company as Senior Account Manager/Sales in Santa Clara, CA. While actively growing business for her employer, she also served as Secretary and Vice President of Bookbuilders. Rebecca had an extremely busy year in 1987 when she moved to Quebecor World as Senior Account Executive/Sales and was elected President of Bookbuilders. Throughout the years, she also served as the chair of the 1986 book show and as co-chair for the 1997 PubForum. Rebecca joined Monosoff Corporation in 2000 as Production Manager and in 2002 was named Senior Account Executive for Applied Graphics Technologies.

Not satisfied with the status quo, Rebecca has made groundbreaking contributions and helped shape Bookbuilders West into the vital regional publishing organization that it is today. She was the first to bring the book show catalog into the world of four-color. She also ramped up our program quality and increased average attendance at monthly meetings to 120 people. On a lighter note, Rebecca performed in one of the first entertainment presentations at a book show as a "Chromalin." And on many occasions, Rebecca has participated as a dinner speaker and educational seminar presenter.

The national and regional recognition that Bookbuilders West has received for more than 30 years is the direct result of the tireless efforts of our many volunteers, unwavering sponsorship by our company members, and the unselfish dedication of our leaders - exemplified by Rebecca Swee.