Fun and Learning
In Las Vegas
Enthusiastic attendees, new offerings from exhibitors and valuable educational sessions made DMIA's Print Solutions Conference & Expo successful.
Approximately 1,400 people attended DMIA's 2003 Print Solutions Conference & Expo, held Oct. 21-24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton. The show, which featured 387 exhibit booths, is the document industry's most comprehensive showcase of products, services and education.
Las Vegas is known for its neon, but when approximately 1,400 distributors, manufacturers and suppliers met there in October, the document industry emitted a glow of its own.
DMIA's Print Solutions 2003 Conference & Expo, held Oct. 21-24 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton, was the industry's most comprehensive showcase of products, services and education this year. The show floor featured 387 exhibit booths, including 58 first-time exhibitors, and many attendees said the event's educational sessions were top-notch.
Left: Gail O'Roke, CDC, CEO of Independent Business Group, Hayward, Calif., and DMIA's 2002-03 president, introduces Phil Schmidt, president of Advanced Systems & Forms Inc., Livonia, Mich., as the association's 2003-04 president. He officially took the helm Nov. 1. Above: Peter Colaianni, CAE, DMIA's executive vice president, congratulates O'Roke for her successful 1-year term.
O'Roke and Schmidt cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially open the expo.
In an address to DMIA members, Schmidt urges industry pros to take advantage of their greatest education assets--each other. The theme for his tenure as president is "Learn to Enjoy Change."
"The show was so worth it," said Carrie Fireoved, president of Print Solutions Plus Inc., a distributorship in Vineland, N.J., and a DMIA Regional Director for Region 2. "I came back with lots of good ideas, met some nice people and found some new contacts for items I knew nothing about."
Excitement on the Show Floor
Distributor attendees found money-making products and services they could sell to their customers. Manufacturers and suppliers displayed the latest in commercial printing, promotional products, labels, e-commerce, plastic products, packaging and more.
Dozens of firms showcased new capabilities and technologies. Hartland, Wis.-based Spectrum Digital Services showcased its CD/DVD screenprinting, CD/DVD duplication, blank media and packaging capabilities. Greenville, N.C-based AccuLink (formerly AccuCopy/ QuickTabs) touted its online business card and stationery ordering system. Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Plastag Corporation explained the benefits of a registered holograph on foil beneath a protective overlay. (For a complete list of exhibitors or attendees, visit www.DMIA.org and click on "Print Solutions 2003 Conference & Expo.")
Crabar/GBF, a manufacturer based in Dayton, Ohio, created the biggest buzz on the show floor by giving away a red 2003 Ford Thunderbird convertible. Six finalists chose different keys, and the one that worked belonged to Kevin Mullarkey, president of Alliance Business Systems Inc., a distributorship in Broomall, Pa.
On the show floor, distributors enjoyed the chance to listen to manufacturers and suppliers talk about new application ideas. The expo included 58 first-time exhibitors, including Strobbe Inc./Xeikon America Inc., a supplier based in Itasca, Ill.
Protect-all Print Media Inc., a synthetic paper converting supplier in Darien, Wis., touted printable versions of Valeron® Strength and V-Max® films.
Attendees who visited Hydome Inc.'s booth learned about the company's ability to apply polyurethane plastic to labels and nameplates to create a domed look. The firm is located in Windsor, Calif.
Crabar/GBF, a manufacturer based in Dayton, Ohio, gave away a red 2003 Ford Thunderbird convertible. Six finalists chose different keys, and the one that worked belonged to Kevin Mullarkey (above, left), president of Alliance Business Systems Inc., a distributorship in Broomall, Pa.
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David Wandling (middle), vice president of marketing at St. Louis-based manufacturer The Flesh Company, explained the company's line of value-added documents, including bar coded products, label/form combinations and security documents.
Recognition at the Awards Breakfast
The Awards Breakfast during the Print Solutions Conference & Expo featured a moving video about DMIA's Member of the Year, New York-based distributorship Vanguard Direct. Employees of the company received the award as a group. Previously located in Lower Manhattan, the firm was recognized for its resiliency in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
Ross E. Barker, president of Reno, Nev.-based distributor management software supplier Forms Management Data Systems Inc. and CEO of distributorship Barker Business Systems, accepted DMIA's President's Award. He was DMIA's 1989-90 president.
Phil Schmidt, president of distributorship Advanced Systems & Forms Inc., Livonia, Mich., spoke as DMIA's 2003-04 president. He officially took the helm Nov. 1, replacing Gail O'Roke, CDC, CEO of Hayward, Calif.-based distributorship The Independent Business Group. In his speech, Schmidt urged attendees to participate more fully in the association. He used comments from past DMIA presidents to highlight the amount of industry knowledge available from association peers.
Peter Colaianni, CAE, DMIA's executive vice president, also spoke during the Awards Breakfast. Sporting a suit, then changing into a cape and tights, he made parallels between the printing industry and the former TV show, "The Adventures of Superman." His message: Printing pros can (and should) save the day for their clients.
