The 2007 Printers & Suppliers Executive Conference attracted the highest number of attendees and sponsors in recent years with an overall 100% approval rating.  Attendees unanimously agreed that the event would help them grow their businesses and that they would definitely be back next year and encourage their industry peers to join them.

“We were looking to expand our product line and this event was very pertinent to our situation!”
- Timothy Larsen, Madison Forms Corporation

“We are evolving the digital side of our business and the topics were very relevant. I have been to most of the Printers & Suppliers Executive Conferences and this was the best.”
- Ken Sperling, Printco, Inc.

“I walked away with significant action items that will make a real difference in my business.”
- Paul Doerfler, Fineline Printing

Information is forthcoming for the 2008 Printers & Suppliers Executive conference.  Check back soon for details.

Photo Album

Program Details

Sunday July 22, 2007

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.       
Opening Reception and Supplier Showcase

Monday July 23, 2007

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast

8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Plant Tour, Suttle-Straus
Bus departs from Hilton Monona Terrace at 8:30 a.m. sharp.

Suttle-Straus is a communications solutions provider serving the south central Wisconsin and Chicago markets. They are recognized as one of the Midwest's premier printers, but do much more than put ink on paper. Services provided by the company include: web enabled solutions, one-through six-color sheetfed and web printing, variable data imaging, and distribution services. The company specializes in corporate communications, direct mail, and advertising materials, and has won the "Best Workplaces in America" award for seven years running.

Return bus will leave Suttle-Straus and return to Hilton Monona Terrace at conclusion of Plant Tour.

12 - 1:30 p.m.             
LUNCH SESSION
How We Did It - John Berthelsen, President, Suttle-Straus
In follow up to the morning's plant tour, John Berthelsen will reveal how Suttle-Straus's management positioned the company to be on the leading edge of technology and how they were able to re-brand themselves as a full service communications provider.
This session will include plenty of time for Q & A.

1:30 - 3 p.m.           
Sales for the Successful Printer - Dave Fellman, Principal, David Fellman & Associates
Are you prepared to handle tomorrow's sales challenges? Today's market demands a multi-faceted, multi-channeled approach to print sales. In this session, we will teach you how to sell through various channels, including web to print, with a focus on which channels are the most profitable. Discussion will involve distribution changes and what impact these changes will have on trade manufacturers over the next 3-5 years.  We will also take a closer look at the strategic changes that are being driven by Internet technology.

3 - 3:30 p.m.            
Break
 
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.            
Opening the Front End - Getting Orders into the System - Franklin Garner, President & CEO, Amgraf and Gordon Pritchard, Value In Print Initiative Marketing Manager, Kodak
What do you need to know in order to evolve your prepress systems for the future?  Keeping your systems up-to-date takes time and money, and leaves little room for error.  New CTP systems and services, front end software, computers, and preflight services are changing the way we do business.  Learning how to stay on top of this changing environment will enable you to understand how a forms plant can successfully transition to a commercial prepress system, and why should they consider doing so.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.           
Evolving Your Business Strategy - Jeff Allen, Principal, Blue Heron Business Development, LLC
How can printers take the next steps to elevate their companies to a new level? There are many products and services that will help you drive your company forward, and in this session we'll arm you with strategies to help you get there.

5:30 - 7 p.m.           
Cocktail Reception and Supplier Showcase

Tuesday July 24, 2007

7 - 8 a.m.            
Breakfast

8 - 9 a.m.             
Evolving your Product Line - Roger Buck, CDC, Business Development Manager, Appleton
As a follow up to Evolving Your Business Strategy, Evolving Your Product Line will cover specific examples of product diversification. We will answer the difficult questions, such as: How can you reposition your company's manufacturing process to efficiently move into new products? What natural progressions are your competitors taking advantage of? And, which products do you need to be manufacturing tomorrow?

9 - 10 a.m.      
Opportunities in Services - Clint Bolte, C. Clint Bolte & Associates
To view this presentation, click here.
One of the biggest opportunities printers have today is through the added services that can accompany standard print jobs. From document fulfillment and mailing to document delivery, kitting and PURLs, your scope of services can easily increase.  We will teach you which services are the most profitable, which services you can continue to farm out and how to best sell your services through distributors.

10 - 10:30 a.m.        
Break
 
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.         
Putting It All Together - Jeff Allen, Principal, Blue Heron Business Development, LLC
To view this presentation, click here.
Integrating analog and digital technology is a challenge—even for the most seasoned bleeding edge printer.  But it can, and will, work for you. This session will show you how to pull all the pieces together and make your business function like a well-oiled machine.

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.           
LUNCH SESSION
How to Choose a Digital Press - Jim Hamilton, Director, InfoTrends
Understanding what you should be looking for when selecting a digital press will help you set your company up for success. Asking the right questions, knowing what the critical factors for success are, and having the right priorities will help you realize your goal.  Plus, this address will demonstrate how to choose the right digital printing niche.

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.              
Skill Requirements for 2010 and Beyond - Debra Thompson, TG & Associates
The next few years are going to be a challenge for printers as they gear up for digital production. Getting ahead of the game by evaluating your staff needs to implement new production and processes will better allow you to properly train your team for a successful transition.   

2:30 p.m.                       
Closing Remarks

2007 EXHIBITORS