Mary Lee Schneider

In an exclusive PI Xchange interview with Mark Michelson, ex-RR Donnelley veteran Mary Lee Schneider reveals lofty growth goals and new products/services she envisions for SG360°, a direct mail printing powerhouse based in Wheeling, Illinois. Schneider also discusses how customized direct mail plays a key role in multi-channel marketing campaigns, market demand for interactive print technologies like augmented reality, and growing industry adoption of high-speed production inkjet printing and its subsequent impact on offset and toner-based digital output.

The On Demand Conference & Exposition, the largest digital printing and automated production event in North America, will offer three dynamic keynote presentations tackling the most pressing issues in digital printing and document production. The Conference and Expo will be taking place March 30 – April 2, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

CHICAGO—In light of the official merger with Moore Wallace that has created the largest commercial printing operation in North America, RR Donnelley has announced an initial round of managerial appointments. Among the managers are Suzanne Bettman, senior vice president and general counsel; Thomas Brooker, group president, forms, labels and office products; Dean Cherry, group president, short-run and variable print solutions; Susan Henricks, president of directories; Daniel Knotts, group executive vice president, long-run print solutions; Michael Krause, executive vice president of strategy; Ed Lane, president, book publishing services; Robert Nelson, president, corporate sales; and Thomas Quinlan III, executive vice president of operations. Mary Lee Schneider remains

By Erik Cagle When your company is the largest printing communications conglomerate in the United States (second biggest in North America after Quebecor World)—in a manufacturing industry that is fourth largest in this country—suffice to say all eyes are on you. It makes no difference if the onus of an entire industry is wanted or warranted. Your company becomes a reflection of all that is wrong with the industry. The most layoffs, most plant closings, the biggest dip in year-to-year sales—if you want to know what's wrong with an industry, look for the giant with a huge target on its back. That giant

CHICAGO—R.R. Donnelley announced its intent to move its entire print platform to standardized workflow and file format specifications during the next 18 months. The printer will create "Digital Solution Centers," centers geared toward preparing files for print. The first center, based 60 miles southwest of Chicago, will focus on specialized publishing segments, such as trade and special interest consumer magazines. The move is part of Donnelley's efforts toward standardizing print workflows and file formats for specific customer markets. In 2001, the company completed the implementation of standardized workflows for the book publishing market. Here again, Donnelley will tap Creo's Prinergy PDF workflow, along with

Premedia and its role in the changing print landscape is the prime directive of Mary Lee Schneider—and she's taking her directive all the way to Dusseldorf, Germany. BY MARIE RANOIA ALONSO Imagine you are chiefly responsible for the premedia directions, investments and operations of one of the largest companies in the world. Imagine that company is giant R.R. Donnelley & Sons. Imagine it is your responsibility to be current on all the new prepress trends, on-press imaging moves and Internet directions impacting—and readying to impact —the commercial printing industry. Hold that thought. Now, imagine you are attending DRUPA 2000 in Dusseldorf, Germany, this month