Mark Porter started his professional career as director of marketing at what was then the nation's largest cataloger of software tools. In that capacity, and later as general manager, the company grew exponentially and completed a successful IPO. In 1991, Porter left to start the industry's first mail-order shopping club, which included the first commercial on-line ordering system. The company was later merged into a leading software direct marketing firm. After a one-year stint as vice president, Porter left to start Landmark/httprint. Throughout his career, Porter has purchased tens of millions of dollars in commercial printing and worked with hundreds of printers domestically and internationally.

Throughout his career, Mark has spoken professionally at various industry forums. Most recently, Mark joined print industry leaders from around the globe at the Seventh World Print Congress in Beijing in May to discuss the state of the industry and the role of the Internet in print procurement. Mark earned a BS in Business from Northeastern University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

httprint is a total service provider to the print industry. The company’s eCommerce Solutions automate and streamline the print procurement and management process for both print buyers and suppliers. httprint’s professional services team analyzes a company’s overall print spending and recommends process improvements that typically reduce costs by 20 to 40 percent.

Headquartered in San Francisco, httprint currently has six offices throughout the United States and Europe. Its newest office opened in Germany in May 2001.

Mark, the announcement with Westvaco - is this a “revenue” alliance?

In May 2001, we announced a strategic alliance with the Envelope Division of Westvaco. The alliance enables Westvaco’s Envelope Division sales force to offer its customers complete direct mail and print production management services in addition to envelope supplies.

Does your partnership with KBA connect your workflow solutions directly to their presses?

Using our e-commerce front-end and color management software tools tailored to KBA’s 74 Karat presses, httprint will deliver integrated, Internet-based work flow for a faster and more efficient print management process. This software enables printers operating KBA presses to minimize the time between print jobs and allow their customers to place print orders and send digital files directly to their presses via the Internet, forgoing the print reproduction center.

httprint, in conjunction with KBA, will unveil its new Printanet software developed exclusively for KBA’s 74 Karat presses, at the KBA booth (#929) at Print ’01.

What major announcements will you make at PRINT 01?

We have partnered with three major software and hardware providers to deliver this front-end software solution, titled Printanet. Gretag Macbeth supplies high-integrity color management; Markzware provides pre-flight checking; and Bestcolor supplies Rasta Image Processing (RIP). The Printanet software will be bundled with every KBA press sold beginning in September 2001.

Printers operating KBA presses with the Printanet solution can minimize the time between print jobs and allow their customers to place print orders and send digital files directly to their presses via the Internet. This saves time and money and makes the print management process significantly more efficient.

Our executives will conduct Printanet demonstrations at KBA’s booth (#929.)