James F. Conway, III to Chair Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

Business Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2004

James F. Conway, III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Courier Corporation of North Chelmsford, is expected to be elected the 46th Chairman of Associated Industries of Massachusetts (A.I.M.), at the association's 89th Annual Meeting on Friday, April 30th at the Newton Marriott Hotel.

Established in 1915, A.I.M. is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan association of Massachusetts employers with more than 7,500 members. A.I.M.'s mission is to promote the well-being of its members and their employees and the prosperity of the Commonwealth by improving the economic climate of Massachusetts; proactively advocating fair and equitable public policy; and providing relevant, reliable information and excellent services.

A graduate of Harvard College and Xavier University, where he earned his M.B.A., Conway held several management positions at Rand McNally & Company before joining Courier in 1983 as Manager of Business Development and Procurement. He was elected President and Chief Operating Officer in 1988, CEO in 1992, and Chairman in 1994.

Founded in 1824 to publish the Chelmsford Journal, Courier has grown to become a full-service book manufacturer and specialty publisher with operations in seven locations throughout the U.S. with a workforce approaching 1,500 employees. The company is traded on Nasdaq, and was again recognized by Forbes Magazine in 2003 as one of the "200 Best Small Companies in America." In addition, for the third year in a row, the company was named "Best of the Best," the top recognition in the Best Workplace in America competition sponsored by the Printing Industry of America.

In addition to serving as a director of A.I.M., Conway has been involved in numerous business and civic organizations including serving as a director of Enterprise Bank and Trust Company, Greater Lowell Community Foundation, Graphic Arts Foundation, Director and Chairman of the Lowell Plan, Trustee and Past Chairman of Saints Memorial Hospital, Director of The Book Manufacturer's Institute and corporate member of Partners HealthCare System. He resides in Andover with his wife Susan and their two children.

Conway will succeed Samuel Cabot III, Chairman of Samuel Cabot Inc. of Newburyport, who is stepping down after serving three years as chairman of A.I.M.

Commenting on Conway's forthcoming election as Chairman, Richard Lord, A.I.M.'s President and CEO said, "We are delighted that Jim has taken on the added responsibility to serve as Chairman of A.I.M. Under Jim's leadership, A.I.M. will continue to be well positioned to carry out its mission to make Massachusetts a better place to live and to work."

In addition to the election of Conway as Chairman, nine new directors are also expected to be elected to A.I.M.'s Board of Directors, including: Charles H. Blanker, President & CEO, Esleeck Manufacturing Company, Inc., Turners Falls; Kevin Donahue, President, Quabaug Corporation, North Brookfield; Kerstin Forrester, President & CEO, Stonebridge Corporation, Worcester; Peter Hern, President, Blue Hill Lincoln Mercury, Canton; William M. Hines, President & CEO, Interprint, Inc., Pittsfield; Dan Kenary, President, Mass. Bay Brewing Company, Boston; Hank Miller, President, Harry Miller Co., Inc., Boston; Elizabeth P. Powell, Chair & Treasurer, Diamond Machining Technology, Inc., Marlboro; and Katherine Putnam, President, Package Machinery Company, Inc., West Springfield.

At the completion of the business meeting, the agenda for A.I.M.'s 89th Annual Meeting includes a distinguished panel discussion on the Commonwealth's political and economic outlook, a luncheon address by Massachusetts Speaker of the House Thomas Finneran, the presentation of several awards, including the Gould Education and Workforce Development Award to Intel Massachusetts and The Alliance for the Commonwealth's Export Achievement Awards to International Forest Products Corporation, WorldCare International, Inc., and the University of Massachusetts/Boston - China Program. A complete agenda can be found at the association's Web site www.aimnet.org.