WhatTheyThink recently announced the Print CEO Forum, an exclusive event for printing executives only. The Print CEO Forum will be held at the prestigious University Club in Chicago on September 11th and 12th, 2009. It is designed to provide owners and managers of printing firms with insight and guidance for navigating today’s often troubled waters.
Since the announcement I have been contacted by many of our sponsors and suppliers in the industry asking how they could be involved in the conference. I have explained that this conference will be unlike any other since we will not have vendor/supplier participation. Our mission with this conference is to present objective content to attendees without any perception of an agenda from industry suppliers or sponsors.
In the future, we may allow suppliers to sponsor signage or maybe an evening event. However, we want our attendees (printing executives) to know that they will be mingling only with their peers with no pressure from their suppliers. This is not to say that events that have sponsors are tainted. We just believe an event without sponsors presents an opportunity to deliver a different experience for attendees.
If you are a printing executive, this event will detail what you should know about the economics, resources, Internet, technologies, products, strategies, and trends that will shape the future of print. Structuring your printing business for success is the bottom line.
For more information, visit www.PrintCEOForum.com
Randy Davidson,
President
WhatTheyThink
Discussion
By Andy McCourt on Aug 05, 2009
Randy I see this as a brave and highly commendable initiative. For too long industry events such as these have depended on first getting tier 1,2,3 sponsors, then they go ahead. The neutrality of the CEO Forum will likely engender freer expression and unbiased communications. There's still room for sponsored events but here's wishing you great success in doing something differently and imaginatively.
By Michael J on Aug 06, 2009
Just to chime in. Congratulations. Creating a space for thinking and talking with the fear of being on someone else's agenda is a great step.
To be clear I agree that it is not any vendor's fault. It's just that it's very hard for anyone to be completely honest about what they see, when the person who is paying the freight is in the room. Plus it is very impolite. Most people do not want to be impolite.
If I were planning to be a Print 09, I would gladly pay the entrance fee. Since I'm not,
I look forward to hearing and reading about what transpires. It should be well worth the read.
By Brian Regan on Aug 06, 2009
I agree in the sense of Michael J's politeness factor. However, vendors often have very valid and valuable ideas and data and can in fact help and expand discussions. Likely a failure in the sponsorship model in a small way.
Looking forward to the event report.
By Smith C on Aug 11, 2009
Good move, However, a lot of the suppliers and vendors depend on our success in the industry.
It would make perfect sense to have a different
"Forum" that is geared to their sustainability. It is without a thought that the dust has not cleared but everyone should have a fighting chance for survival. That survival depends on how fast you respond, what kind of response generated for a synergy of efficiencies in today’s economic climate.
We all agree that business will never be the same and the playing field has widened. That
widening effect, unfortunately causes some plays to fall off the ends of the earth.
By Bill Fleck on Aug 19, 2009
It will be interesting to see how many folks attend without supplier/vendor sponsorship?
Discussion
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