Pittsburgh, PA, - Companies in need of a new business plan that recognizes the next generation of print and communication services can sign up for a special two-day track at Printing Industries of America's upcoming Converge Conference. The event takes place November 8-10, 2009, at the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, Florida.
 
During the Business Makeover: Roadmap to New Business Development track, Peter Winters, president of Winters Group and Associates, will coach participants as they develop a plan to transform their business in line with changing customer demand. Sessions will cover the marketing processes for "getting in the door," sales calls with senior marketing officers, how to close deals faster than the industry norm, and the salesperson of the future.
 
Participants are required to attend all track sessions and a preconference webinar, prepare a company dossier in advance, and collaborate on exercises during sessions. Executives from printing companies that successfully added cross-media and other ancillary services will be on hand to share their experiences.
 
Winters is a  20-year industry veteran whose firm helps printers reduce their dependence on putting ink on paper and instead become a marketing effectiveness and logistics partner with their customers. He is a popular speaker and consultant, having previously proven his collaborative approach to system selling when running his own printing company.
 
The Converge Conference is designed for the new breed of company that is integrating the components of conventional and digital print, Web technology, automated workflow, personalized and cross-media campaigns, mailing services, and more.
 
In addition to the business development track, attendees have the option of attending the sales and positioning, workflow automation, and new services tracks. A preconference seminar - The Essentials of Direct Marketing - is being conducted by the Direct Marketing Association. A Leadership Summit for executives in the process of changing their business is being held on Saturday, November 7.
 
The conference is presented in partnership with IPA, the Association of Graphic Solutions Providers, Digital Printing Council, Direct Marketing Association (DMA), and Printing Impressions magazine.
 
For more information about the 2009 Converge Conference, visit www.printing.org/converge or contact Jeanette Tuttle-Hamer at 412-259-1712 or [email protected].