Troy, Michigan, September 24 -- Allegra Network LLC, one of the world's largest and fastest growing printing franchises, recently teamed up with the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) to offer a Strategic Management Course to its top franchise owners. Taught by industry experts, the program proved to be a success and marked a milestone in printing - the first time NAPL and a printing franchise have partnered to offer any type of training program. Held in conjunction with NAPL's Management Institute at Northwestern University's Norris Center in Evanston, Illinois, the course was tailored specifically for the quick print industry following a format similar to that of executive MBA programs conducted at leading business schools. The Strategic Management Course was the first in a series to be offered to franchise members as part of Allegra Network's Advanced Management Program. "We saw a great need in the industry, as businesses become more complex, to create a program that focuses on the transition from running a business to managing one," Allegra Network's President and CEO Bill McIntyre commented. "It is critical now more than ever for owners and managers to spend less time getting caught up in everyday details, and more time strategizing their business goals. I have attended programs like this and firmly believe that this type of specialized instruction provides for a unique and very valuable learning atmosphere." The program focused on all aspects of planning and strategic management to help attendees grow and develop the skill sets required to outperform their competitors. The course consisted of a series of informative modules and case study scenarios structured from actual quick print situations to allow students to logically build their own business strategy, based on their specific needs and circumstances. Students left the program with a greater theoretical understanding of strategic planning, as well as an actual "road map" to incorporate when they returned to their businesses. Some of the course modules included Entrepreneurial Thinking, the State of the Economy and Print Industry, Technology Update, Financial and Sales Management and Strategic Directions. Course participants received the designation of "Strategic Management Executive" upon completion of the course and were presented with a special certificate by NAPL President Joseph Truncale in honor of their achievement. Course instructors included Joseph Truncale, Founder, CEO/President of Cunningham Graphics Michael Cunningham, NAPL Vice President and Chief Economist Andrew Paparozzi, NAPL Senior Consultant of Digital Technologies Howard Fenton, and Allegra Network's own Executive Vice President Steve White and Vice President of Consulting Carl Gerhardt. Participants also receive a series of weekly e-mail and telephone follow-ups to guide them in implementation of techniques learned at the course. With a participant evaluation score of 9 out of 10, the Strategic Management Program was successful for NAPL, Allegra Network and its franchise members. "Our franchise members have been very excited and interested in this program since the beginning. We have received very positive feedback from both our franchise members and NAPL on the Strategic Management Course," explained McIntyre. "Combining resources with NAPL to offer this type of advanced, specialized training, is a significant achievement for our organization. Our franchise members who participated truly felt it provided them with the strategic guidance and action plan needed to move forward and prosper, especially in a flat, consolidating economy." Truncale added, "The program, as well as the opportunity to work with Allegra Network, was excellent. Allegra Network and their members who participated are top-flight people and are very interested in growing their business. Their approach aligns very nicely with ours, making them an ideal partner for us to work with, on this project and in the future." Further testimonies to the success of the course are the strategic plans Allegra Network has seen from its franchise members as their regional operations directors have worked with them in the weeks following the course. Gerhardt explained, "They took the framework from the course and have really applied it to their individual markets. We are now in the process of developing more courses in the Advanced Management Program to provide a unique benefit to our franchise members."