With the economy on the rebound, the American printing industry has the opportunity to develop strategies to keep – and return to the United States – business that has gone overseas during the past decade.
 
Graph Expo 14 announces a special Keynote seminar, "The Future of the American Printer," on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014 led by legendary industry "sage," RIT Professor Emeritus Frank Romano. The new Keynote seminar is one of 50+ sessions offered in the conference program that will take place during Graph Expo 14 and co-located CPP Expo, Sept. 28 - Oct. 1, 2014 in Chicago's McCormick Place. 
 
The Keynote seminar will be presented in two parts:
  • In the Part 1 presentation, Romano will cover: how the last decade has forever changed print; the new business of print; who will still need print; what printed products will they need; the new competition; and, evolving new opportunities. 
  • Part 2 will feature an all-star panel of thought leaders that will include some of the industry's most critical thinkers. They are Twyla Cummings, Sr. associate dean of RIT College of Imaging Arts & Sciences; Jim Hamilton, group director at InfoTrends; Michael Murphy, president of Japs-Olson Co.; and Richard Romano, RichText & Graphics. Romano will moderate the panel.
"This special Keynote seminar will provide an eye-opening update on the current status of the North American printing business and its probable future," says Romano.  "Consider that half of all print volume is gone and so are half the printers, paper tonnage, graphic arts media, and even consultants, he continued.  I will preview for participants the 'new world' of printing, including where the printing business is and evolving opportunities, and where it will be in the next decade." 
 
The Graphic Arts Show Co., producer of Graph Expo (and Print), offers this special Keynote seminar to best prepare show goers to succeed for what lies ahead in the future of the printing industry. Here, participants will gain new information and insights on how to reverse the trend and degree to which business is sent overseas, plus how to develop markets interested in doing business with the North America printing industry.  
 
"This session will go beyond just identifying the challenges to provide attendees with key strategies for best marketing hardware, software, and equipment to the American printing industry, and also share 'best practice' guidance for conveying to current and prospective customers the real value of doing business with American printers and vendors," says GASC President Ralph Nappi.
 
Over the past several years, Graph Expo seminars have been developed by the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly in cooperation with GASC.  
 
According to Harvey Levenson, Cal Poly Professor Emeritus and Director of the GrCI, this new Keynote Seminar was strategically timed early during Graph Expo 14 to avoid scheduling conflicts with other sessions. "This was important to enable show goers the opportunity to participate without missing other Graph Expo 14 conference program learning opportunities," says Levenson.  Additionally, Levenson notes, Graph Expo 14 and CPP Expo exhibitors will benefit from sending one or more company leaders to the Keynote Seminar as the information presented will be instrumental in doing business throughout the show.
 
For more information about the Graph Expo 14 Keynote seminar, "The Future of the American Printer," contact:  Lilly Kinney, Graph Expo conference manager at phone: (703) 264-7200 or e-mail: lkinney@gasc.org; or, Lyndee Sing, program manager of graphic communication Institute at Cal Poly at phone: (805) 756-2645 or e-mail: lsing@calpoly.edu.  
 
 
Graph Expo 14