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We hope you find this tagline as representative of who we are and what we're all about as we do. This tagline was developed by the IRgA Board of Directors after a lot of careful consideration about how this represented our industry, our members' businesses and the overall organization. The tagline is meant to provide a better descriptor in addition to our organization name so those less familiar understand who we are and what we represent. We realized that many people do not resonate with the term "blueprinting" and may not necessarily understand or be familiar with the term "reprographics." Based on the research and the desired perception of IRgA members and our organization, we set out to develop a tagline that captured where we've been, who we are and where we're going. This tagline highlights our roots in blueprinting, differentiates us with our strong focus on customer service and where our industry is heading with technology and digital services. Watch for a complete unveiling of the IRgA brand in a dedicated message to the membership in the coming weeks. As always, we welcome your feedback and you can feel free to e-mail me directly at sbova@irga.com. IRgA Member Benefit Feature:
Access to Free Webinars Join IRgA next Wednesday, Jan. 16 for the first Webinar of 2008. During this dynamic Webinar you will hear key lessons learned from a recent operations assessment at one of our own IRgA member firms. Registration is free and open to all IRgA members. For more information on the Improving Performance through Operations Innovation Webinar, click here. In addition, your IRgA membership grants you access to archived Webinars. The following are currently available:
Click here to sign–in and view the free archived Webinars. If you are not a current IRgA member company, join or renew your membership so you can access online education. Start your new year out right. Access an IRgA Webinar today! 2008 Annual Convention & Trade Show: Click here for hotel and travel discounts. Keep an eye on your inbox — online registration opens soon! However, there's no need to wait. Download the hard copy registration form and return to the IRgA today. All IRgA members who register by March 28 will receive $100 off the full-convention fee. We look forward to seeing you in Vegas! Trade Show Discount Ends Feb. 15 — Reserve Your Spot Today The discounted exhibit rate ends Friday, Feb. 15! Exhibitor information, including sponsorship opportunities, is available on the IRgA Web site. Click here for more information on exhibit space and sponsorship. To view the PDF of the 2008 Exhibitor Prospectus, click here. Also, please note that Jan. 31 is the deadline for right of refusal by 2007 Sponsors. After this date sponsorships will then be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Nominations Open for the Prestigious Bukovsky Award
Nominate a friend or colleague today. Nominations are due by Jan. 31, 2008. Click here for award criteria and a nomination form.
Two-Thirds of Creatives Work on Wide–Format Projects
Wide–format is alive and well in the creative community (not that anyone ever said it wasn't). Delving more deeply into the results of the extensive look at wide-format projects in The Industry Measure's latest Design & Production survey show that posters and trade show graphics are top applications — but that creatives' commercial printers are not often the place where these projects are output. We have long thought that wide-format output represented an untapped opportunity for commercial print shops, but despite what one might conclude from walking the Graph Expo show floor, The Industry Measure's Printing data do not bear this out. Excerpted from the forthcoming Industry Measure Design & Production #24, Winter 2007/2008. More information available at The Industry Measure Web site. xpedx and Pace Systems Group to Offer Direct Access to Printing Paper Stocking, Price Information The alliance enables the integration of the xpedx electronic paper catalog into the ePace print management system. Direct access to xpedx paper information allows for fast reference to pricing–essential to giving printers timely and accurate quotes for their customers. The ePace print management system also offers the printer the ability to quickly download information from xpedx. xpedx is North America's largest distributor of printing papers and graphics supplies. Pace Systems Group, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of print management software. For more info, go to http://xpedx.com. Roland DGA Corp. Names David Goward President and CEO; The announcement comes as the U.S.–based company, which serves customers in North and South America, celebrates a fifth consecutive year of record sales. As president and CEO of Roland DGA Corp., Goward is responsible for managing the strategic direction of the company which markets and supports an award–winning line of technologies including wide and grand–format inkjet printers, vinyl cutters, engravers, 3D scanning and milling devices and photo impact printers. In his new role, Curtis will continue to drive Roland strategic initiatives both across the Americas and worldwide, serving as chairman of Roland DGA Corp. and reporting to the board of directors of parent company Roland DG Corp. as an executive officer. Hicks Moves to Marketing Manager for Paradigm Imaging Group In this role, Hicks will be responsible for the company's advertising, industry events, new product rollouts, promotions, and channel marketing. Hicks previously served in the position of service contract sales. She has more than 18 years of experience in the industry. Prior to her employment with Paradigm Imaging, her most recent position was with Graphtec America where she held various management positions in Customer Service and Marketing. Aurora Specialty Textiles Announces Key Moves The product line has been expanded to 23 styles of treated and coated fabrics for digital, dye sublimation, screen and offset litho printing. The products are manufactured and stocked at ASTG's Illinois and South Carolina plants. Andy Hilgartner has recently joined ASTG in the newly created position of director of Sales and Marketing for Print Media. Also, the company has engaged the services of a group of five independent sales professionals to represent ASTG in the graphics market in the United States and Canada. These developments are idicative of ASTG's long-term commitment to the graphics industry. Precision Paper Acquires Assets purchased include one converting facility in Houston, Texas, and four distribution facilities: Lakeland, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Tulsa, Okla.; and Phoenix, Ariz. The southeast locations of Lakeland and Atlanta will consolidate with the Precision Paper sales and distribution network immediately (Tampa, Fla., and Atlanta) and operate under Precision Paper Company name. The southwest locations of Houston, Tulsa and Phoenix will continue to operate with its existing footprint, sales and customer service personnel under the name of Universal Media Solutions. NPES Regional Meetings Feature Printer Panels, Spotlight How to Differentiate from the Competition and Key Industry Data The meetings will offer in–depth vendor-customer dialogue, spotlight how to differentiate your company from your competition, and provide valuable market data and networking opportunities. Headlining the agenda, a team of printing company leaders from each region will engage in dialogue with NPES members on industry topics of mutual concern and share their insights on the marketplace. The meetings will also feature a 90–minute workshop by veteran consultant Robert Nadeau on Being Different in the Eyes of Your Customers, which will reveal the key to customer loyalty — delivering the right mix of value to customers. During this interactive session participants will define the mix of value they are currently delivering to their customers, determine how their customers derive benefit from this value, and identify ways to differentiate their company from their competition. Rounding out the agenda will be updates on the latest market data findings from NPES and the Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIRSM), plus a special presentation on "Globalization: Opportunity or Threat." For more information or to download a registration form, visit www.npes.org. NPES Elects New Chairman, Directors at 2007 Annual Conference Henry "Hank" A. Brandtjen III, president of Brandtjen & Kluge Inc., was elected chairman at the 2007 NPES Annual Conference. He succeeds Thomas Saggiomo, president & CEO of Agfa Corporation, who continues to serve on the board's Executive Committee. Four new directors were also elected to the NPES Board:
James Martin, senior vice president of marketing at Heidelberg USA, re–elected as a director on the board, is the newly elected treasurer. Ralph J. Nappi was re–elected as president, and NPES' William K. Smythe Jr. and Mark J. Nuzzaco were re–elected as vice president and secretary, respectively. Other directors re–elected to the board were:
It's Time to Charge for Digital Services By Robert J. Roperti The facts are that technology is changing the reprographics business faster than most of us would like to admit. Are we ready for these changes? How do we deal with the demand for digital services and are the right people in our operations making the prudent decision on what to charge and for what? Have we (business owners and managers) put the right procedures and billing codes in place to deal with the changes in demand? Read the complete article in the January/February issue of REPRO REPORT. For advertising information regarding News Digest and/or REPRO REPORT, please contact IRgA Headquarters: info@irga.com or 800/833.4742.
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Celebrate a new year with new ideas! As an active IRgA member company, you and your colleagues have free access to online Webinars where you can gain tips and tricks from industry insiders. 
Make the safest bet in Vegas by attending the IRgA 82nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, May 13–15 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel in Las Vegas. The IRgA has arranged discounted room rates, airline tickets and car rentals for all attendees of the IRgA Annual Convention & Trade Show. 
The Bukovsky Award honors the memory of George K. Bukovsky, who worked in the reprographics industry for more than 30 years. During his long career, he was actively involved in the IRgA and worked to further the industry. The award was established after his death in 1990 to honor his outstanding contributions, and in 2007, the IRgA will celebrate 16 years of recognizing individuals, reprographers and vendors who have also made a lasting impact on the industry. There are several well-deserving candidates, so don't be shy. 
The industry measure asked design and production firms "in the past 12 months, have you worked on wide–format printing projects (output greater than 11x17 inches) for clients?" The results were 65 percent yes and 35 percent no. 