Francisco Valdivieso His life story, which was awarded by the 1992 Graphic Leader, is synthesized by Francisco Valdivieso's answers to the following questions:

 - What about your start in the graphic activity?

Francisco Valdivieso: - I started in Editorial Colon, my father's graphic house which closed their activity in 1970, and as I was workless, I worked in subcontracting printing works up to 1974 when Imprenta Mariscal was founded.

- Which are the most important events in those first years you'd remark?

Valdivieso: - When we started the activities with my partner, Mr. P. Rosemberg, we created the business philosophy, high quality and strict expenses control. We began to work with only two employees in the printing plant.

 - How was your company developing?

Valdivieso: - Imprenta Mariscal is leader in purchasing leading edge technology machinery. The first 2-color offset, the same as 4, 5 and 8 color printing machines which arrived to the country, were purchased by our company. The first CtP equipment in Andean are, the same as 8-colour printing machine, were got by Imprenta Mariscal.

- What would you describe the present profile and the future projection of your company?

Valdivieso: - Our company has grown a lot, and we have some international scope, we have invested in new facilities, in training (over 8000 training hours in 2005), and we are certified by ISO 9001/2000

Our future targets to improve our share in the local market and to look foreign markets more aggressively.

- On which area are the investment emphasized today?

Valdivieso: -Leading edge technology, training, facilities.

- What has been your participation in representative sectorial associations like?

Valdivieso: - I have been:

- President of the Asociación de Industriales Gráficos del Ecuador (Graphic Industrialists Association of Ecuador), 1985-1989.
- President of the XII Latin American Graphic Industry Congress, Quito , 1989.
- President of the Confederación Latinoamericana de Industria Gráfica (Latin American Confederation of Graphic Industry) CONLATINGRAF, 1989-1991.
- Honourable President of the IV Latin American Graphic Industry Congress, Viña del Mar , Chile , 1990.
- President of the Federación de Industriales Gráficos del Ecuador (Graphic Industrialists Federation of Ecuador), FIGE, 1993.

During my presidency of CONLATIGRAF, in 1989-1991 term, I did activities as the following:
- Organization of Latin American Contest of Graphic Product “Theobaldo De Nigris”
- Organization of Latin American Contest of Graphic Product, Juan Pablos
- Inauguration of CIDAP
- Production of Hymn of Latin American Graphic People
- Insertion in COLANTIGRAF of: Association of Graphic Industry of Costa Rica , Spanish Federation of Graphic Industry and Graphic Industrialists Association of Florida .

Other activities where I have been are:
. International Jury of “The Best of the Graphic Industry in the Year”, Colombia 1887.
. International Jury of Mexican Graphic Industry, 1992
. Invited Lecturer in the III Latin American Graphic Industry Congress , Spain 1988
. Invited Lecturer by COAST Publishing to the “2 nd Annual Conference of Leadership” sponsored by Artes Graficas magazine, 1994
. Lecturer of VII Ecuadorian Graphic Industry Congress, Galapagos , Ecuador
. Invited Speaker in the IV World Graphic Industry Congress, Brazil 1989
. Invited Speaker to the 60 th Anniversary of the Graphic Industrialists Association of Uruguay , 1989
. Invited Speaker of the VII Brazilian Graphic Industry Congress, 1990
. Invited Speaker in the VII Graphic Meeting , Ecuador 1900.
. Invited Speaker by Printing Industry of South Florida , 1991

- As Graphic Entrepreneur which awards have your received?

Valdivieso: - I can summarize as follows:

. America 's Man of the Year, 1992
. Industrial Merit Award by the Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Integration in five times
. Enterprise Merit Award by the Illustrious Municipality of Quito
. Tourism Merit Award of the Ministry of Tourism
. Cultural Merit Award of Ministry of Education and Culture
. UNESCO Diplome of Honour

I also receive over 189 international award, among them 3 Benny (2003, 2004 and 2005) given by Printing Industries of America.

- How do you consider the way you go over?

Valdivieso: - That in Imprenta Mariscal over 31 years have gone by from the first day.

- Have you any hobby? If yes, which is and why have you chosen it?