WOA 06 Special Report — It’s Decision Time
W
“We want attendees to be able to customize the experience for their individual needs,” reports Mary Garnett, PIA/GATF vice president and WOA executive director.
Titled “Decision Points 2006,” the 54th annual conference will take place at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL, on May 21-24. Designed for executives ranging from CEOs, presidents and CFOs, to general managers and pressroom managers, this year’s event will focus on business strategies and tactics, operational challenges, investment decisions and production issues—all important topics for any web printer.
In determining the underlying message for the conference, the WOA board looked at best practices strategies being adopted on the national and international fronts, explains Garnett, who has marked her third year with the WOA.
“The overarching goal of this conference is to expand on the industry’s best practices, and to increase the bottom line of attendees’ companies,” says Garnett. “By offering tutorial and concurrent sessions and general sessions, attendees have the opportunity to gain as much information as possible.”
An impressive lineup of keynote and session speakers has also been arranged. Kicking off the conference is Steve Forbes, president and CEO of Forbes Inc., who is considered one of the country’s most influential pro-business pundits and an acclaimed economic forecaster.
According to Garnett, Forbes was invited because of his pro-growth advocacy plans, his intimate relationship with the publishing industry as editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, as well as his visionary views on national and global issues.
Steve Levitt, a much-heralded young scholar, and writer Stephen Dubner, will be taking from their best-selling book, “Freakonomics,” to share Levitt’s unconventional conclusions about the riddles of everyday life. The audience will be challenged by the pair’s broadened business views, in general, and in relation to the printing industry.
“I’m pleased that we were able to bring such well-known speakers like Forbes, Levitt and Dubner to the conference, thanks to sponsorship support,” says Garnett. “And I am very happy that Anita Bizzotto will also speak.”
Bizzotto, chief marketing officer and executive vice president at the U.S. Postal Service, is a 31-year USPS veteran. She is responsible for sales, product development, customer service, pricing and classification, advertising and international business.
Garnett says she is looking forward to Bizzotto’s talk. Because mailing services are such a big part of most web printers’ businesses, Bizzotto should have a lot of pertinent information to offer.
Speaking from the supplier side, Jeffrey Jacobson, Eastman Kodak Co. vice president and COO of Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, will give a keynote address on May 23. As one of the founding managers of Kodak Polychrome Graphics and responsible for the integration of workflow and prepress, digital printing, consumables, and global sales and service into a single organization within Kodak, Garnett believes Jacobson’s presentation will also be a standout.
Also scheduled to address the group are Bob Danzig, former president and CEO, Hearst News-papers; Ben Cooper, principal at Williams and Jensen and executive director of The Print Council; Bruce Biegel, senior managing director, Winterberry Group; and Dr. Stephen Zinkgraf, CEO of Sigma Breakthrough Technologies.
Another meeting highlight will be the introduction of the H. Howard Flint II Press Manager of the Year Award. This award, honoring the former chairman and CEO of Flint Ink who passed away in 2005, will be given to a web offset pressroom manager or supervisor for exemplary dedication, commitment and contributions to the industry.
“Howard was a dedicated supporter of the industry and the WOA, and we wanted to do something to honor him,” says Garnett.
Grandson of the founder of Flint Ink, Howard Flint quadrupled the company’s size during his 41-year tenure, and expanded it internationally and into digital technologies. Its first recipient will be recognized at an open session during the conference.
Another award highlight will be the eighth annual Harry V. Quadracci VISION award ceremony. This year’s recipient, Thomas Quadracci, will receive the prestigious award for his leadership, achievement and vision in the heatset web offset sector of the industry. The chairman and CEO of Quad/Graphics will join a long list of innovative leaders like Edward Barr, chairman, Sun Chemical; F. Edwards Treis, chairman, Arandell Corp.; Jerry Williamson, CEO, Williamson Printing; and the inaugural recipient, Harry V. Quadracci, Thomas’ brother.
Bringing the conference to a close will be an amped up morning program the final day. According to Garnett, the association has been successfully increasing attendance on this last half-day over the past three years. It will feature a briefing by Ron Wolff, senior vice president of sales and sales strategy, Caliper Corp., who will stress tips and tools for hiring and retaining the best employees. A group of college and university printing industry professors will then discuss promotion tactics. Finally, a panel of printers will share tips for recruiting, training and cross-training employees. PRINTING IMPRESSIONS will also once again give a special gift to all attendees who stay until the end of the conference.
Since it wouldn’t be a trip to Florida without a little fun, the WOA has planned some optional events for attendees and their guests. DAY International Partners’ Program will take guests on a fun-filled day of exploring Orlando. There will also be a golf outing at the Falcon’s Fire Golf Club on May 21.
WOA board members have been diligently preparing for this year’s conference, ranging from the inception of the certificate of completion program to the new Pressroom Manager of the Year Award. Garnett says the staff also spent a lot of time gathering many ideas for program content. They studied issues facing the industry, and worked at fleshing out pertinent session topics and lining up thought-provoking speakers.
“This conference really is for printers by printers,” enthuses Garnett. “Printers and suppliers stay completely involved with the planning of the conference. The level of the task is difficult.”
She adds that the WOA tries to steer away from theory, and instead focuses on what is relevant. Garnett’s goal is to serve the overall industry through those that attend the conference.
“I hope their challenges are addressed and they learn that there are valuable resources through the industry, as well as through PIA/GATF and the WOA .”
Certify Your Expertise
Certificates of completion awarded for attending specified sessions is one new benefit designed for this month’s annual WOA conference. Attendees can choose from two focused tracks of seminars grouped under continuous improvement or business integration. According to Mary Garnett, WOA executive director, the initiative was launched because WOA’s board members wanted to offer a more value-added conference with related topics.
A certificate is awarded upon completion of three breakout sessions. Offerings in the continuous improvement track include “Getting Started with Six Sigma” by Dr. Stephan Zinkgraf, CEO of Sigma Breakthrough Technologies, “Getting Started with Lean Manufacturing” and “Turning Quality into Money: Case Studies from WOA Printers.”
The business integration track requires attendance at the “Integration Basics with JDF,” “Business Integration with JDF-Part I” and “Business Integration with JDF-Part II” sessions.
“The choice to add the certification program, along with which sessions to offer, was made during the board meeting,” adds Garnett. “We felt there was a need for it in the industry. By offering the tracks, we appeal to those people who want to have a survey course in one area, and can enrich their basic knowledge of one topic.”
In addition to the certificate program, WOA attendees will choose from track sessions like “Offset and Digital Integration,” which will explore what’s involved in getting started and how to market digital and variable printing capabilities. Also offered, “Technical Update—Keep the Presses Rolling!,” will provide technical information and success stories from a panel of press operations managers and supplier representatives.
Other sessions to choose from include “Four-Color UV in Web Offset Printing,” “Changing Requirements of the Printing Sales Force,” “Using Color Management and Soft Proofing On-press” and the “Outlook for Commercial Printing.”
