Executive Outlook 2008 to Address Biggest Trends, Technologies
RESTON, VA--10/08/08--Which industry trends are here to stay? How can graphic communications companies leverage the industry's hot technologies for the greatest business advantage? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed at this year's EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK® Conference, to be held in Chicago's McCormick Place on Saturday, October 25, 2008, the day before the opening of GRAPH EXPO®. GRAPH EXPO is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of graphic communications equipment, products and related services in the Western Hemisphere. GRAPH EXPO will take place October 26 - 29, 2008.
In keeping with its theme, "Where Technology Meets the Marketplace-Tomorrow's Trends in Technology - Today," this year's EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK will touch on a number of the biggest issues, trends and technology concerns that graphic communications professionals face today. Thus industry economist Dr. Joe Webb will offer a critical look at the economy in "GDP-Up, Down, or Sideways?" and spell out what the latest government and financial industry happenings mean to printers going forward. With the environment being another of the top concerns facing the nation today, PIA/GATF's environmental information manager Gary Jones will outline for printers how they can "Be Green-A Must Do Requirement." And Katherine O'Brien, veteran editor of American Printer and Print & Media Buyer magazines, will offer up her expertise on "The New Print Buyer/Seller Relationship."
For those seeking to better harness the efficiencies of technology, there is no better place to start than with management information systems (MISs)-which were identified at the two previous GRAPH EXPOs as the most critical technology for profitable printer survival-and the session, "The Expanding Role of MIS," with Jeff White, general manager of Monarch products at EFI.
For savvy printers looking ahead to new technologies on the horizon, Rick Littrell, principal at MagiComm, will moderate "Opportunity Highlights," a panel on the latest and upcoming technology opportunities.
Graphic communications professionals wanting to marry traditional and newer technologies will increase their knowledge with "Are You Still Just a Printer (Or Would You Rather Be a Marketing Services Provider)?", in which consultant Steven Schnoll addresses how to evolve from the traditional ink-on-paper business model. Last year's top-rated learning session, "Web-to-Print Workflow," returns with an expanded panel session on Web to print, led by consultant Donald Goldman, president of ConsultWare. A related session, "Integrated Workflows-The Key to Profitability," will discuss how to integrate two divergent production processes-conventional offset and digital printing-into one efficient, streamlined workflow. This product-neutral session will be led by Mike Skretny, workflow marketing manager of Xerox's Production Systems Group, and Dennis Ryan, prepress product manager at Heidelberg.
Meanwhile, those looking for a greater focus on the many aspects of digital printing can attend the short course, "Buying a Digital Press," with consultant Justin Searles, or the tutorial, "How to Handle and Manage Data for Effective Digital Variable Data Printing," presented by John Leininger, professor at Clemson University's Department of Graphic Communications.
Other sessions at EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK range from the practical how-to's, such as color management and the in-depth insights into mailing management, to more top-line market assessments, including the hot markets for print in 2009.
Finally, a roadmap to the most compelling equipment of all types at GRAPH EXPO will be presented to attendees during the announcement of the MUST SEE 'EMS® product and technology recognition awards. An annual highlight of the EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference, the MUST SEE 'EMS program identifies those products that GRAPH EXPO show goers must consider to remain competitive in the industry. This year's entries will showcase the newest and most compelling technologies from across the entire spectrum of graphic communications.
Complete program and registration information is available online at: http://graphexpo.gasc.org/executive.cfm. The EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference is sponsored by Heidelberg USA and the Xerox Corporation, and EFI will sponsor the post-Conference networking reception.
About Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC®)
GASC is owned by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies® (NPES®), and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF). GASC is located at 1899 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191 USA, telephone: 703-264-7200, fax: 703-620-9187, e-mail: info@gasc.org.
