Expo Bound: Cultivating Relationships for the Future

PRINTING United Expo is set to take over Orlando, Florida, October 22-24. Attendees are gearing up for three days of learning, networking, and inspiration.

As a lead-up to the Expo, we are sharing a series of Q&A interviews featuring attendees from a variety of backgrounds explaining why they are attending the Expo, what they hope to learn, and what excites them about the upcoming event.

Roger Allen, executive director of Fresh Artists

Roger Allen
Executive Director
Fresh Artists, Philadelphia, PA

Printing Impressions (PI): Tell me about your company.

Roger Allen: Fresh Artists is an award-winning nonprofit that empowers children as philanthropists in under-funded schools to make a real difference by showcasing large scale prints of their artwork in highly visible and unexpected places. Fresh Artists delivers much needed art materials and innovative programs like Cool Jobs and Kids Who Print into the hands of Art Teachers in underfunded public schools across the country. It’s a beautiful circle of giving where children’s creativity and generosity inspires people, brightens spaces, lifts hearts, and fuels even more art-making for the next generation.

PI: What made you want to attend this year's Expo?

Allen: Fresh Artists is always looking to build connections with our vendors and suppliers and an in-person meeting always beats a digital one. Being a non-profit organization we prioritize personal relationship building and value all the support the industry has provided us with. We would not be here with our PRINTING United Alliance friends!

PI: If you're a first-time attendee, what are you hoping to learn? If you're returning, what brings you back?

Allen: The people we've met at and through the Expo is the main driver to bring us back. It's the best opportunity to connect will fellow print people from all walks of life and make new connections, learn new technologies and techniques, and see what the latest offerings are.

PI: What products or services are you most looking forward to seeing this year?

Allen: I'm most interested in the advances in the flatbed space, seeing the new technologies and techniques. Also, we're always on the lookout for innovative and interesting new ways to amplify the voices of the children who's artwork we're printing through new materials, printing methods, and installation methods.

PI: Why is attending the Expo better than going to a vendor’s demo center to see equipment?

Allen: Visiting Expo exposes you to the full range of offerings in the product space your interested in. Once you've made the decision on the technologies you need, visiting a Vendor's demo space would be my second step in a big capital investment. There are so many innovative companies out there, you never know whose product is going to be the best fit, as having one space to "shop around" is super helpful in the decision making process.

PI: Is networking with industry peers an important reason for attending the Expo?

Allen: Networking is always important. Personal relationships are what drive our industry and keep it vibrant. This is one of the main reasons we attend year-over-year.

PI: How do you hope attending will impact your business moving forward?

Allen: Fresh Artists exists through the support, kindness, and generosity of the people who believe in our mission. All of our most cherished relationships in the print space have been built through random conversations and meetings at Expo over the 10 years we've been attending. Continuing to cultivate these friendships will have the biggest impact on our business moving forward.