A "real world" exchange of information, enabling participants "to feel the pulse of the print provider’s most current challenges" is the key benefit drawing both attendees and vendor sponsors to this April’s VUE/POINT Conference in Orlando, Florida. That’s the view of Betty LaBaugh, public relations manager at Presstek, Inc., and it is echoed by others among the more than a dozen leading companies that have signed on to sponsor the event. VUE/POINT 2006 takes place on April 10-12, 2006 at the Hilton in the Walt Disney Resort, Orlando. "The major appeal and differentiator of VUE/POINT is that it is focused on hearing from print providers: their issues, their approach to challenges, their successes and failures in the quest to achieve their business goals," LaBaugh added. "VUE/POINT gives our customers the opportunity to tell their story, talk about the issues they face and how they meet the day-to-day challenges. It is a great exchange of peer-to-peer ideas on how to approach solving different issues, sometimes evoking invigorating debate." Since its launch nearly two decades ago, VUE/POINT has concentrated on "truth from the trenches, not pitches from the podium." The priority given to actual user experiences has fostered the conference’s reputation for no-holds-barred debates. Barry Quart, Vice President Marketing, U.S. and Canada at Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, agrees that "VUE/POINT is one of the industry’s top events because of its unique customer-to-customer focus. Speakers and panelists provide valuable insight, and best practices for other graphic communications companies to benefit from." VUE/POINT has recently announced its agenda for 2006, including over 18 sessions on business, technology and related topics. The schedule of sessions is available online at www.vue-point.com. The diversity of each year’s program is another major plus for the conference, according to Ray Cassino, at Heidelberg USA. "The topics of the conference are broad base in nature, there are as many sessions on company strategies, market conditions and other business related topics as technology and product oriented sessions," Cassino says. "VUE/POINT has an original format of panels made up of customers moderated by vendors or consultants. It allows for the free exchange of real life experiences and ideas. This and direct customer feedback on the topics are the major appeal of the conference." Pitney Bowes Document Messaging Technologies also sees VUE/POINT as a key tool in its marketing, according to Pete D’Amato, Director, Product Management, DMT Information and Control Systems. "We have a large and growing number of customers that have expanded into high volume mailing from a variety of graphic arts and printing businesses," D’Amato says. "We want to stay close to the commercial printing industry to be sure we understand our current customers’ needs, and help new customers successfully expand their business into mailing services. "VUE/POINT attracts the leaders from the top businesses in theindustry, which gives us both an opportunity to listen and learn from the experts, as well as discuss our solutions with business owners and key decision makers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their families to take advantage of the Conference’s proximity to the many attractions the Orlando area has to offer, including Disney World, Sea World, and more. Complete information about VUE/POINT can be found at www.vue-point.com. The site also offers information about other GASC events, including PRINT & CONVERTINGSM, GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO, and PackPrintSM.