FAIRFAX, VA–With a theme – Control Your Future – that has become a call to action in the ever-tightening economy since the tragic events of September 11, the Digital Printing & Imaging Association (DPI) is gearing up for a show that features what’s wider … larger … faster … and more profitable. DPI'02, the Association's tenth Annual Conference & Exhibit is scheduled for March 6-9, 2002 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California, USA. "Many, many industry leaders are looking to DPI '02 as a timely venue to gain market leads they missed when the September 11 tragedy caused the cancellation of SGIA'02 in Anaheim, California on September 12," said John S. Shaw, DPI Managing Director. DPI'02 offers more access to buyers than other digital events, more programs than other digital conferences and a more focused audience than other digital shows. "After the tragic events of September 11th," notes DPI’s managing director John S. Shaw, "We're going all-out to promote our March 2002 show to ensure that the quality of the sales leads generated, will continue to be as solid as out exhibitors have come to expect." A major thrust of the DPI Annual Conference is education – with numerous workshops, panels, and seminars focusing on basic skills and advanced knowledge sets, marketing and daily operations, and equipment-specific presentations. While most of the programming will involve graphics producers (printers) as presenters, several will be led by leading manufacturers and suppliers. There will be a series of clearly identified "Vendor" sessions, with manufacturers discussing developments in their own proprietary technology. There will be daily expert panel sessions, and daily round-table discussion breakfast programs are also being planned. "Networking with industry peers is one of the key benefits of DPI's annual show," says John Crawford, President of DPI. "There’s no time, day-to-day, to build relationships the way you can at a DPI show." More than 225 exhibit booths have already been reserved, and some sponsorship opportunities for increased visibility are still available. Being a sponsor of DPI's annual event – the premier showcase for the large-format digital graphics industry – denotes that a company is on the cutting edge and a major supporter of the digital graphics industry. Exposition hours are Thursday (March 7) 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Friday (March 8) 10:00 am - 5:30 pm; and Saturday (March 9) 9:00 am — 12 Noon – in the Palm Springs Convention Center, which adjoins the Wyndham Palm Springs hotel. The Wyndham will house all of DPI'02's seminars, meetings and social functions. The new Palm Springs Regional Airport is only five minutes away. Don't miss this opportunity to maximize profits and showcase the latest wide format systems, output equipment and consumable supplies to an inkjet marketplace that is expected to reap in excess of $25 billion in 2002. In an economy based on who’s fast, who’s fresh, who’s on top – anything that outpaces the competition is likely to change the shape of everything that is to come. The DPI website has an area specifically dedicated to the DPI’02 Annual Conference & Exhibit at the DPI website: www.dpia.org/dpi02, with current details and information. For specific expo literature and a floor plan, please contact Sylvia S. Hall, Vice President, Conventions & Conferences, Digital Printing & Imaging Association at DPI headquarters: 10015 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22031-3489 USA. Telephone: 703-385-1339. Fax: 703-273-0469. E-mail: [email protected].