July 30, 2002 -- The world of print is awash with productivity -enhancing technology and new digitally created products and services, despite the current economic conditions, escalating postal rates, and increased competition from electronic media. These factors are encouraging printers to reevaluate their businesses' priorities, and EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference can help them do just that. "Printers are focusing on either becoming the lowest cost, fastest turnaround, digital-production-assisted print game in town, or they are diversifying into a wide-range of adjunct-to-print products and services ranging from digital asset management to digital photography and fulfillment services; some are focusing on personalization and one-to-one marketing through the use of variable imaging digital presses; and some are doing nothing, waiting for the lightning of better times to strike and revive a business headed for oblivion," reported Bill Lamparter, President of the PrintCom Consulting Group and Chairman of the annual EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference, held in conjunction with GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2002 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. This year's conference will take place October 5, 2002, and "will focus on the industry's critical issues, providing printing and converting executives with information about pitfalls to avoid, opportunities to be seized, and new technologies that can enhance production and create new products. EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK 2002 is designed to squarely face these issues, which print executives must grapple with every day," Lamparter said. Andrew Paparozzi, NAPL's Chief Economist, will kick off the all-day conference by discussing what's ahead for the economy, what it means for print, and why recovery, even when it hits full speed, isn't going to look very different from recession for printers who aren't prepared for changes in the graphic communications industry. William Ray, the hands-on, practically-minded President of Group InfoTech, Inc., will provide a prepress update and examine how the print (r)evolution currently gaining momentum will impact the typical printer. Donald E. Goldman, principal of ConsultWare, will demystify the sometimes-controversial process control and contractual proofing processes. And, Rich Littrell, President of Littrell and Associates, will review the increasing alternatives to computer-to-plate technology (CtP), discussing the pre-conditions for adopting CtP and providing a checklist of questions that printers should ask themselves and potential suppliers before making the change to CtP. Opportunities for printers and converters to diversify into products and services that are a logical ancillary to print production will be identified and discussed in several of the conference's sessions. Wide format digital printing, digital photography, mailing and fulfillment, digital asset management, and design services are among the print diversification offerings that will be reviewed. Also included on the program are sessions on the half-size sheetfed press, the DI press, the variable imaging digital press, and binding/finishing opportunities that can provide the printer and converter with a competitive opportunity. The program will conclude with the Must See 'ems and Worth-a-Look recognition presentations identifying the technology, equipment, software and services that a group of the industry's leading consultants and trade magazine editors have selected as the most compelling GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO 2002 exhibits. At EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK, attendees can get the latest industry information and see current generation products and technology for minimal expense and time away from their businesses. In many cases, one piece of information alone will make the trip financially worthwhile. The Executive Outlook registration fee includes all of the handout materials, Saturday lunch followed by a prominent industry executive speaker, and admission to GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO. EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK registration information and a detailed agenda can be found on the Graphic Arts Show Company web site, www.graphexpo.org