ALEXANDRIA, VA (January 19, 2003) — The Printing Industries of America, Inc. (PIA) announce the success of its new and innovative educational tool, Webinars. In the last two months of 2002, PIA has hosted four webinar sessions with over 200 people from across the nation participating. These web-based seminars were held on a range of topics. They covered everything from HR issues such as "Alternative Hiring Solutions" and "Alternate Dispute Resolution" to " Fast Start 2003" which focused on helping printers identify winning sales strategies going into the new year. "As a trade association that is sensitive to the economy and its affect on our members, we created these webinars as means of providing training without the expense of travel and hotel costs. Printers are having a hard time justifying the cost of training trips and yet they still need access to tools that will assist them in improving business," says Beth Parrott, Sections Manager for PIA. "Webinars allow printers the opportunity for training in the most cost-effective manner." Webinars are conducted from a host site. Registrants view an online presentation while participating on conference call from their respective locations, thus eliminating the cost of travel, airfare and hotels. Each registered site can allow as many employees as they wish to participate. "If you’ve never experienced a webinar, you’re missing out on the easiest, most affordable and effective way you can educate your staff," says Jerry Hartman, President of Reese Press, Baltimore, MD. PIA is planning a full schedule of webinars for 2003. For more information please contact Beth Parrott at 703/519-8137.