Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,- Printing Industries of America's new Integrated Print Forum 2011 will prepare attendees for the future by providing a variety of sessions on the latest technological advancements in the industry as well as how to hire the employees who can take advantage of emerging technologies. Rick Gardinier, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, and Nicole Milojevic, HR Director at Brunner, will offer valuable insight that has helped Brunner, a top 100 U.S. ad agency, stay ahead of the curve to effectively hire and retain talent in their session, Digital Acumen: How to Hire the Staff of Tomorrow,Today!

"We're going to paint the picture of what the employee of the future looks like and how to find that employee," Rick Gardinier said. "Employers need to search on Facebook, LinkedIn, and social media to find the employees who are digitally savvy. Then, once you find the person for the job, you'll need proper performance planning, training, and education to keep new employees engaged and motivated because they're a different generation."

As the print environment embraces more digital technologies, printers must invest in staff that is knowledgeable and adaptable to technology. Digital Acumen: How to Hire the Staff of Tomorrow, Today! explores the methodology necessary to keep an eye on the emerging trends employers will need to consider as well as the process to hire the person with the necessary insight into the future of graphic communication.

"My belief is that digital acumen is more important than technical skills," Gardinier said. "We love when someone's first reaction to a new buzzword or technology isn't to call for help, but to research the topic and then be able to ask intelligent questions. Having that skill shows flexibility and adaptability, two very important traits in this age."

More information on Digital Acumen: How to Hire the Staff of Tomorrow, Today!, as well as many of the other sessions, can be found at www.printing.org/integratedprint. The forum is open to a limited amount of registrants, so it's recommended that you register early. Direct your questions about the conference towards Sam Shea at [email protected] or ask on www.formspring.me/integratedprint.