Miami Beach -- Today's challenging economic climate imposes unique and sometimes confusing operating conditions on print buyers and printers alike.

At Graphics of the Americas 2009, both sides of the equation will be able to sharpen their skills and gain new insights into the latest technologies and the wealth of additional options available to them at the Print Buyers Workshop and Print Buyers Panel sessions running Thursday, February 26 and Friday February 27 here in Miami Beach.

First on the GOA agenda is a double session, half-day Print Buyers Workshop on Thursday, February 26, from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm and aimed at print buyers, designers, sales and marketing professionals, customer service representatives and others involved with buying print for their organizations. Lead by two of the industry's leading print buying experts, Margie Dana, founder of Print Buyers International, LLC, and Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology, the workshop is a great primer for those new to sourcing print and even those new to selling it, as well as more seasoned veterans who may benefit from their peers' perspectives.

The Print Buyers Workshop will focus on latest technology and new media, and how these will affect those involved in buying print. It will cover the major printing processes, paper issues, proofing options, industry terminology and current trends, and will also educate buying professionals on how best to work with printers today.  Workshop session topics include:

- Understanding the Printing Landscape           
- Buying Print: Start Here (How to source print cost-effectively)          
- Everything You Must Know About Proofs             
- Good Job Specs - the Why and the How of It              
- Paper Information for New Buyers

Each attendee will receive a valuable workbook with all of the presentation materials included.

Also at GOA 2009, on Friday, February 27, from 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, Margie Dana will convene a panel of print buyers that is designed to educate printers on how best to work with print buyers today. Four print buyers from different industries will give their views on the latest printing technology as well as new media and how it will affect them. They'll have an open conversation about their biggest challenges as print buyers - and what they're doing to be recession-proof.
 
GOA is the premier Exposition and Conference for the printing and publishing
industry in the Americas and the Caribbean, and will take place February 26-28,
2009 in Miami Beach, Florida www.GOA2009.com.