TUSTIN, Calif., -- Cal Events, a show management and consulting company headed by former Gutenberg Festival owner, Chris Jacobson, announced today that all five of the western printing associations are on board as major sponsors of the company’s new digital printing show, PrintFest 2006, to be held May 12-13 at Southern California’s Long Beach Convention Center. The groups include: the Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC), Printing Industries of Northern California (PINC), Pacific Printing and Imaging Association (PPI), Printing Industries Association of San Diego (PIASD) and the Printing Industries Association of Arizona (PIAZ). PrintFest 2006 was created to help business owners increase their profitability with existing traditional printing processes while at the same time educating and empowering them to build their companies and increase their profitability through the adoption of digital printing technologies. “PrintFest 2006 is exactly what the printing industry needs, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect,” said Bob Lindgren, president of PIASC. “Companies need to adopt digital printing capabilities today so they can grow and profitably evolve into the future. And, I can’t think of a better person to lead that charge than Chris Jacobson. I’ve worked with him and his family for years with their highly successful trade shows and am excited to be a part of this new show.” The show will challenge each company to define what makes it special or different from the competition in order to chart a future growth path using both traditional and digital printing processes. At PrintFest 2006, attendees will have an opportunity to assess the tools, training, equipment, supplies, systems and services needed to run their businesses more efficiently. “PrintFest 2006 is positioned to be the must attend event for smaller traditional printers and larger commercial printing concerns alike,” said Sandi Neuman, president of PIAZ. “Having an opportunity to gather information and review market trends in a compact setting will help attendees formulate future business strategies.” Dan Nelson, president of PINC commented on the value of having a localized, Southern California show. “There’s a huge benefit to having a digital printing show right here in our own backyard that will attract a community of people we have already worked with and know. The icing on the cake is that Chris Jacobson has solid experience and relationships to make it happen in a way that will benefit the industry as a whole.” PrintFest 2006 will also target key areas of growth and profitability, including: package printing, label printing, mailing and fulfillment and wide format printing. Attendees will learn how to make money immediately by incorporating these new profit centers into their current offerings. The educational sessions will be panel discussions, not lectures, featuring a group of peers reciting real world success stories that will deliver business-building information attendees can take back to their shops and implement immediately. “The panel discussions at this show are going to be completely different and much more effective than any other show of its kind,” said Marcus Sassaman, PPI executive director of membership. “These successful business owners know what it takes to get to that next level of profitability and are going to share their expertise with their peers in a forum that’s both friendly and informative.” PrintFest 2006 has also received overwhelming support from the media and exhibitors, including 24 publications on board as media sponsors and the exhibit floor already 40% sold! Jacobson appreciates the western printing community’s unanimous backing. “We couldn’t do it without them. The support of all these organizations is a true testament to the value and important educational service PrintFest 2006 will offer,” said Jacobson. “We share a complementary vision of helping to rebuild and revitalize the printing industry, and I am truly honored to have them all on board as major sponsors.”