Training and Education

GREENWICH, CT—Longtime PIA/GATF public affairs crusader Ben Cooper has been appointed executive director of The Print Council. Cooper replaces Marty Maloney of the public relations firm Broadford & Maloney, who has been appointed to the executive committee of the board of directors, which guides The Print Council. Maloney served a special one-year term as executive director. Cooper comes to The Print Council after spending more than 27 years with the Printing Industries of America (later PIA/GATF). Much of that time, Cooper has focused his efforts as a government affairs specialist, spearheading the organization's lobbying efforts to influence legislation affecting the commercial printing industry. Launched in 2003, The

Drawing a contingent of more than 60 journalists from 30 countries, IPEX 2006 Inward Mission offered a glimpse into the upcoming international trade show of the same name. Held recently in Birmingham, UK, on the grounds of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the press event was a precursor to IPEX 2006, running from April 4-11. Owned by Picon, IPEX has evolved from the Great Exhibition of 1851 and is now one of the largest and most anticipated exhibitions on the international printing industry calendar. Picon reports 575 exhibitors committed to this year’s show, and expects a visitor base of 74,000 attendees. The show’s ownership feels the

NEW YORK CITY--The publishing industry is experiencing a radical transformation, and publishing executives at every level face new roles and responsibilities. Everyone is trying to figure out how best to tap the new revenue potential and publishing technology out there, from custom publishing to digital editions, webcasts and RSS. Even top executives of magazine publishing companies of all sizes admit they don't have all the answers to the media landscape right now. Nobody does, says Noelle Skodzinski, PrintMedia magazine's editor in chief. The 2006 PrintMedia Conference & Expo has been designed to give publishing executives practical solutions they can apply today to their businesses

CHICAGO—The Windy City will soon get a lot breezier when the onslaught of printing-related equipment heats up at the McCormick Place Complex September 9 through 15 during PRINT 05 and CONVERTING 05. The event, produced by the Graphic Arts Show Co. (GASC), is being billed as the largest showcase of commercial printing, package printing and converting equipment in the world this year. Online registration for the international exhibition is available by visiting the show's Website, www.PRINT05.com. More than 80,000 visitors are expected to flood the McCormick Place Complex during the week-long print festival. Approximately 800 vendors will gobble up a lion's share of the

KENNESAW, GA—Touted as its largest Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) in the world, Heidelberg showcased the newly expanded, 33,000-square-foot facility during a President's Night gala held here on May 25th. The event was attended by some 300 printers from throughout North America. Housing a range of prepress, press and postpress equipment and workflow solutions, the PMDC will serve as a venue where prospective and existing customers can run actual test jobs, as well as a site for hands-on tutorials, meetings and conferences. The center required a 12˝-thick continuous concrete slab with rebar and 4,000 amps of power consumption. The special event also marked the

GRAPEVINE, TX—Paul Bremer, former Ambassador to Iraq and a long-time Washington insider, received a standing ovation from an audience of nearly 700 attendees following his speech that kicked off the 53rd annual Web Offset Association (WOA) conference held here recently. This was followed by a speech by Goss International CEO Robert Brown, who challenged WOA and its members to focus on increasing the share of web offset printing and to target marketing originators about the effectiveness of the printed piece. Former CIA Director George Tenet was the keynote speaker on the second day. Some of the other speakers who shared the podium during the general

KENNESAW, GA-- May 26, 2005--Heidelberg unveiled its new Print Media Demonstration Center (PMDC) to some 300 of the country's most influential printers at a President's Night ceremony and ribbon-cutting event held last night. The state-of-the-art facility, located at Heidelberg's North American headquarters, houses a wide range of Heidelberg prepress, press and postpress equipment, including the new Speedmaster XL 105, which made its U.S. debut at the ceremony. "We are committed to providing printers of all types and sizes with the equipment and resources they need to enhance operational efficiency, achieve competitive advantages and save money," said James Dunn, president, Heidelberg USA. "Our new

by chris bauer Managing Editor Companies that fancy themselves as being on the leading edge of technology have to keep their employees as well-trained and up-to-date as possible. While it is not always feasible to send employees off-site to attend training programs, other options are available. Computer-based training opportunities, such as popular Webinar sessions, are available from industry associations, vendors and even printers. They allow attendees to learn the latest industry skills without taking time out of the work environment or having the company foot the expenses involved with traveling. "Webinars are becoming a more popular option for all industries—not just printers—because of the

PHOENIX—The weather may not have cooperated, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the 265 people who attended the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) Top Management Conference, held here last month at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. Even Andrew Paparozzi, NAPL's chief economist, gave a largely sunny forecast in his state-of-the-industry report that kicked off the meeting. Signs that the industry is rebounding: sales increases for four consecutive quarters among NAPL's Printing Business Panel, reports that profitability and pricing levels are up, as well as the fact that printers are hiring again. This, in part, fuels his projections that commercial printing industry sales

By Kristen E. Monte Associate Editor Many children dream of growing up to become a doctor, movie star or even President of the United States. But how many kids imagine life as a printer? As one of the largest segments of American manufacturing, printing provides for a workforce of more than 1 million jobs and annual revenues in the area of $150 billion. There is not a day that goes by, on average, without some sort of contact with graphic communications. An explosion of opportunities is pushing the industry to new heights, and with it comes the need for a highly skilled labor force.