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Exciting Improvements Made to Convention and Trade Show Format
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Steve Bova, CAE
Executive Director
If the IRgA were a car, you could say that its engine is being overhauled. Over the years, from wear and tear, an engine loses its performance – even with an occasional tune–up. The same goes for conventions and trade shows, especially considering the changes affecting the meetings industry the past several years. |
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The new IRgA Convention and Trade Show will debut May 11–13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with an increased focus on education, networking and the overall convention experience. You can say this is not your father’s Oldsmobile!
2005 Convention Chair, Mike Carter, Lynn Imaging, Lexington, KY and Program Chair Bill Schaberg, American Reprographics Company, Glendale, CA, with input from President Chuck Gremillion, A&E – The Graphics Complex, Houston, TX and the IRgA staff, have worked diligently to assemble the new parts to your convention. Here’s a summary of the major upgrades:
- Wednesday Golf Tournament receives boost in sponsorship. Thanks to a generous commitment from Contex, Inc., and the leadership of Golf Chair Bob Margolis, the IRgA Golf Tournament will be held at a premier Las Vegas course. In addition to an eye opener coffee networking gathering and a sit–down lunch and awards ceremony, the event promises more prizes for golfers.
- More exhibitor participation. The food and beverage portion of the welcoming reception held on the trade show floor is being expanded to include exhibitors, and exhibitors are being encouraged to attend the educational sessions.
- No overlap between educational program and trade show hours! The educational program will begin Thursday morning with an opening general session, followed by hands–on educational workshops the remainder of the morning. Trade show hours will follow in the afternoon, beginning with lunch on the trade show floor. Friday will begin with breakout sessions in the morning, followed by a capstone professional speaker on the subject of branding at lunch.
- Condensed, focused trade show hours. The trade show will be held in the afternoon both Thursday and Friday, with more ways to engage exhibitors and attendees.
- More networking opportunities. Last year’s attendees spoke loud and clear on their evaluation forms and with their feet! In response to the need for additional networking opportunities, there will be eye–opener networking sessions before the educational program begins each morning, and networking receptions will be held in favor of the traditional President’s Dinner and dance.
- More time to explore Las Vegas! Attendees have also indicated they would like to have more time to explore the city and its attractions. Everyone knows there is plenty to do in Las Vegas! The IRgA social functions will conclude early enough so that participants can explore Vegas on their own or in a group.
Ultimately, the upgrades will provide for a better overall convention experience for both exhibitors and reprographers – one in which you will want to return year after year. Registration for the 2005 Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas opens in January. Be sure to reserve your spot to take the new IRgA for a test drive!
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Industry News
Inkjet Fueling Specialty Media Growth
According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ research, out of the 116 billion prints produced on paper–based media by inkjet products in 2004, specialty media was used for nearly 30 billion of these prints. Commodity and specialty media are expected to experience steady growth between 2002 and 2007. During that same timeframe, inkjet media will continue to show signs of growth and will increase at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 3.5%. (derived from U.S. Narrow Format Inkjet Media Report for 2004). Read more...
Jiffy Reprographics Receives Business of the Year Award
Jiffy Reprographics, Clearwater, FL, received the Business of the Year Award in the medium business classification (Revenues less than five million) at the Annual Business of the Year Awards Reception, held at Ruth Eckerd Hall on November 4th. Jiffy Reprographics is a digital color graphics and printing center that specializes in the production and distribution of construction documents. The firm has recently expanded operations in the Tampa Bay market to accommodate scanning and electronic document management services. Read more...
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Attention Reprographers – In the market for an affordable Planroom?
UltraPlanroom®, our web–based document management solution is designed specifically for the Reprographics Industry and its A/E/C customers! More than just an online Planroom, it’s a comprehensive and affordable print management system. So don't delay, schedule a guided tour of UltraPlanroom® today! www.ultraplanroom.com
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Document Outsourcing Market Forecasted to Increase
According to InfoTrends/CAP Ventures’ research, the United States document outsourcing market will increase from $30.6 billion in 2003 to $36.7 billion in 2008, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3. While it currently represents only a small part of the overall document outsourcing opportunity, DPO is projected to grow at a rate of 12% – 16% over the next three years. This growth is expected to accelerate and reach a rate of 24.1% by 2008, illustrating greater acceptance of document process outsourcing. (derived from United States Document Outsourcing Market Forecast: 2003–2008). Read more...
PEiR Group Holds 2nd Annual Executive Conference
The PEiR Group (Profit & Education in Reprographics) met in San Francisco Nov. 4th–6th at the Grand Hyatt to hold their sixth conference and the third specifically for the executives of its 45 member companies.
The conference agenda was heavily oriented toward education and addressed a wide range of topics including color, customer management, and a comparison of accounting systems for the reprographics industry, as well as visits to each of the redundant technology centers that develop and support PlanWell online planrooms.
The PEiR Group's next conference will be held on the Web. The upcoming “Conference In A Can” will address technical issues in reprography, but do so in a series of online presentations, live Web demonstrations and WebExTM online conferences. Read more...
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IDEAL/Contex Announces New Hawk–Eye Scanner
IDEAL/Contex recently announced the availability of the Hawk–Eye CX 36” Plus Color Scanner – making fast, high quality monochrome scanning affordable for a new range of users with the additional feature of color scanning. Read more...
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Inside the IRgA
2005 Mounting & Laminating Seminar Schedule Now Available
IRgA has increased the number of classes and added two additional locations (Seattle and Dallas) to better serve operators across the country in 2005. Training is open to both experienced and novice operators who are interested in integrating theory with hands–on training in the latest technologies and techniques. For more information and the 2005 schedule, Read more...
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What’s Your (Succession) Plan?
According to a study of 1,200 business executives by Development Dimensions International, Pittsburgh, nearly 40 percent of top business executives admit that they don’t have a succession plan for senior leadership positions. However, while 73 percent said that defining the skills, experience and attributes required for successful senior leadership is important, only 22 percent said their organizations had an effective system for doing so.
In October, the News Digest announced the conceptualization of several new committees and task forces in order to engage more volunteer leaders. We are adding to the list the Young Reprographers Group, whose purpose will be to identify the emerging leaders in our field, engage them in the activities and decisions of the association and position the IRgA for strength as the Baby Boomer generation transitions into their golden years. To volunteer, email Steve Bova
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Profiles
IRgA:
Mal Baboyian is serving his third year on the IRgA Board of Directors. He serves on the Membership Committee and as chair of the developing Vendor Relations Committee. Océ North America has been a member of the IRgA since 1985.
Professional:
Baboyian is President of the Digital Document Systems division of Océ North America, Inc. as of Dec. 1, 2003 responsible for the business group that sells high volume production printers and software to the transaction printing market and to commercial printers, as well as document printing systems for the office and CRD environment.
Prior to this assignment, Baboyian was President and CEO of Océ USA, Inc. In this assignment, he was responsible for the Wide Format Printing Systems group of Océ responsible for the Technical Document Systems, Display Graphics and Imaging Supplies divisions.
Baboyian joined Océ in 1976 as a District Manager in Washington D.C and held various positions within Océ. In 1990, he became the Vice President of the engineering systems division and in 1996 became the Group Vice President. In 1998, he became COO of Océ USA responsible for the operations of the Document Printing Systems, Wide Format Printing Systems and Imaging Supplies divisions.
Baboyian was a senior member of the transition team that was responsible for integrating the Bruning organization into Océ in 1991. Accomplishments include building the largest direct sales/service organization in the industry and establishing a substantial dealer program for equipment and supply sales.
Baboyian is on the Board of Directors of Océ North America, Inc and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Océ Mexico.
Contact:
Phone: 561/997–3100
E–mail: mbaboyian@oceprinting.com
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Feature
Riding Out a Year of Mergers and Acquisitions
By Andrea May
Competitors change rapidly in a converging market. Mergers and acquisitions are shrinking the number of competitors but increasing their size. When FedEx acquired Kinko’s last year, IRgA members began talking to each other about what it might mean.
According to Charlie Corr, group director of the Norwell, Mass., market research firm InfoTrends/CAP Ventures, marketplace changes will result in a fundamental transformation of the graphic arts’ industry. He told attendees of the recent Printimage Print Owners Boot Camp in Chicago they must coexist or compete with larger firms and some national chains. He predicts 2005 will be an above average year for mergers and acquisitions because of improvements in the capital markets.
“What is driving growth? Mergers and acquisitions,” Corr asserts. “Maybe I am only buying their customer list, maybe I am buying their business, but I am growing through acquisition.”
The full article on this subject will appear in the January/February 2005 issue of REPRO REPORT.
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