Business News

Attendees Applaud Presidents Conference

Thursday 12. March 2009 - "The entire progam was a home run."

New Tracks Include Young Print Professional Focus 

Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America, welcomed attendees to Printing Industries’ Presidents Conference and Binding Industries Association Conference in Orlando, Florida on March 1-5, 2009. This year’s programming included sessions and roundtables focused on how to succeed in today’s dynamic industry.
 
(Pictured above:  James Hammer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hammer Packaging, NY [center] was awarded the Printing Industries Lifetime Achievement Award by Michael Makin [left] and John Bold, Group Publisher, Reed Business [right).
New this year is the Young Print Professional (YP) track. Geared for the newest generation of owners and leaders, participants agree that the YP track adds greater value to the total experience. 
 
“The new Young Print Professional track was an excellent addition to the already solid program at the Presidents Conference,” says Rob Miller, CEO of Lester Lithograph, Inc. (CA). “Each session increased my information base, and the feedback from the peer group enriched the experience. The presenters hit every hot-button issue in the industry.”
Gary Garner, President and CEO of GLS Companies (MN), felt each session targeted relevant issues for his company. “The entire program was a home run for me,” he says. “I specifically captured tactics from the key metrics discussion as well as the marketing services dialogue and panel.”
 
Another favorite session demonstrating the Conference’s ROI was the cost savings techniques update session presented by Gary Jones of Printing Industries of America.  Peter Jacobson, President and CEO of Daily Printing (MN), says, “If attendees follow just one of the numerous suggestions for cost savings, they could earn back the cost of the Conference in a week or less!”
In addition to the Young Print Professional (YP) track, Consultants on Call, and new Lunch Topic Tables, attendees also gave high marks to the Conference’s general and concurrent sessions, as well as the high-level of networking.
Attendees appreciated the participation of the U.S. Public Printer, Bob Tapella, and other Government Printing Office attendees. James Hammer, President and Chief Executive Officer from Hammer Packaging (NY) was awarded the Printing Industries Lifetime Achievement Award.
Additionally, Bill Gibson of All Out Print Communications (IL) and Presidents Conference Chairman, turned over the helm of the Conference to Tony Fernandez, CEO of Albuquerque Printing Company (NM). Fernandez will preside over the 2010 conference to be held in Scottsdale, AZ on February 28-March 4, 2010. (Picture: Gibson left and Fernandez right)
This year’s conference was sponsored by Heidelberg, Adobe, Canon, HP, Independent Printers Worldwide, Unisource, Kodak, Komori, manroland, Printing Impressions, and Océ