October 6, 2011 – The best and brightest minds from some of the country’s biggest organizations converged on McCormick Place in Chicago last month for the year’s most important Conference for print buyers, graphic designers and marketers: the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference <http://printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/> .

The one-of-a-kind event, produced by Print Buyers International <http://www.printbuyersinternational.com/> , drew 100 senior-level decision-makers from more than 25 states and two countries. They came for two days of interactive learning about today’s fast-moving media changes and their impact on the careers of people who purchase, design for, or market with print and other media.
 
Among the attendees were communication and production managers, print buyers, executives, creatives, and marketing pros <http://printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/look-whos-attending/>  from some of the country’s most respected businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. They came to learn about the outlook for print buying and beyond in the face of advances in content marketing, mobile marketing, digital printing, sustainability, G7, multi-channel solutions, color management, QR and AR codes, and more.
 
The biggest attractions for the 2011 Conference were the 20+ expert speakers and 16 interactive sessions <http://printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/speaker-session-schedule/> , said PBI founder and Conference host Margie Dana.
 
“Any time you bring together leading experts in printing, print buying, content marketing, cross-channel marketing, and creative services, you’ve got a program that will stimulate new ideas and develop new business relationships,” Dana said. The one-day Print Buyer Boot Camp™ on September 12th, plus daily Brainstorming Sessions at which attendees shared their challenges and concerns, added depth to an already rich learning experience. For a recap of the Conference, visit www.printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/ <http://www.printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/> . In addition, many of the speakers’ presentations are accessible at www.printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/speaker-session-schedule/ <http://www.printbuyersinternational.com/events/print-media-conference-2011/speaker-session-schedule/> .
 
Sixteen sponsoring firms supported this year’s Print & Media Conference. Representatives from Xerox, Solo Printing, Graphia Printing Solutions, 48hourprint.com, Domtar, DS Graphics, Fujifilm, Japs-Olson Company, Lindenmeyr Munroe, McAdams Graphics, Remote Director, Ripon Printers, Sappi, Team Services, Trend Offset Printing, and Vision Integrated Graphics Group had access to all attendees as well as to all of the educational sessions.  
 
The real value of the Print & Media Conference is evident from the rave reviews submitted by attendees. “Thank you for presenting such relevant information to what seems like a dying field (print) and opening my eyes to new ways to make myself marketable in our changing industry,” wrote Wells Fargo Advisors Sr. Print Production Coordinator Shelly Martin. “I enjoyed all the speakers, meeting the sponsors and networking with fellow colleagues in the industry. I will definitely be back for future events, if time and budget allow!”
 
“…the speakers are phenomenal – and Frank Romano could be his own show,” wrote Catalog Innovations Inc. President Tom Harris. “Your brainstorming session is one of the highlights to me, as it really brings about topics that we should all be aware of and gives all of us differing viewpoints.”
 
Conference sponsors, too, were delighted with the quality of the Conference, its proximity to Graph Expo, and the benefits they received. “As a sponsor I found the show extremely beneficial,” wrote McAdams Graphics Vice President of Sales & Marketing Dan McAdams. “It was great to learn what print buyers from across a broad range of industries were thinking. As with most commercial printers in America, McAdams Graphics is trying to find the answers to the question, “Where is the print marketplace going?” Graph Expo, the conferences and the print buyers themselves shed light on the possible answer for McAdams Graphics.”
 
Account Executive Joshua J. Blair of returning sponsor Japs-Olson Company praised the Print & Media Conference’s benefit to vendors. “There’s no doubt about the value of sponsoring and attending the event from the vendor side,” Blair wrote. “You said it best in your Print Tip, the value of being in a setting where buyers can share amongst themselves changes, challenges, and opportunities happening in their specific roles is a very unique experience.”
 
With the books now closed on the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference, Dana is already planning for a one-day PBI Print & Media Boston in the spring and the 7th Annual Print & Media Conference back in Chicago in October 2012.
 
“People loved being in Chicago where they could visit Graph Expo’s show floor and attend the Print & Media Conference at the same time,” Dana says. “We got high grades from the attendees and sponsors about the way they were treated, the information they learned and the value of their investments. The new location was definitely a win for us.”