NEW YORK, N.Y., NOVEMBER 4, 2005 – Tuesday, November 8, is Election Day in New York City, a day when suspension of classes in most metro area schools will give educators the opportunity to attend a special event: the Graphic Teachers Technology Conference, a free symposium sponsored by Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, hosted by LDI Color ToolBox, and organized by the Graphic Arts Educational Advisory Commission. Conceived for teachers of graphic arts in the metro area’s middle schools and high schools, the conference aims to update these instructors on the latest technology and business trends in graphic communications. The goal is to better equip the teachers to prepare their students for careers in the industry, which is changing faster than a full-time academic schedule permits most teachers to keep up with. “The industry requires a workforce that is conversant in the application of technology and how technology is impacting the way communication gets done,” says Annette Wolf Bensen, chair of the Graphic Arts Educational Advisory Commission. “By bringing together top industry practitioners, academicians, and analysts, this conference will help our teachers gain a better understanding of the technology as well as a hands-on overview of the industry today.” Subjects to be covered in the half-day program include the technologies of change; the outlook for offset and digital printing; the potential of one-to-one marketing; and the learning cycle for professional advancement. There also will be a panel discussion on the future of graphic communications and a tour of the host facility. Speakers and panelists include Ms. Bensen (AnGen Services); Jack Powers (IN3); Nick Patrissi (Kodak); Cheryl Kahanec (TanaSeybert); Aida Mysan (New York City College of Technology); Ken Lantz (FCB-New York); Marshall Mermell (Marketing WorksNow); and Doris Brown (Pantone) The program begins at 8:30 a.m. on November 8 at LDI Color ToolBox, 1500 Broadway at Times Square Plaza (10th floor). The event is open to all high school and middle school teachers in the New York City metro area. There is no charge, but online registration is required at www.gtexchange.org. The event is organized by the Graphic Arts Educational Advisory Commission, a volunteer group of industry professionals and educators under the supervision of the Advisory Council for Career & Technical Education of the New York City Department of Education. The conference host, LDI Color Toolbox, is a provider of digital color graphic services with plants in Manhattan and in Woodbury, N.Y. The principal sponsor, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, offers a range of products and solutions from intelligent business scanning, prepress, and workflow to high-quality digital and offset output. Others supporting the conference include AnGen Services, International Informatics Institute (IN3), MAN Roland, Marketing WorksNow, Markzware, Quark, Pantone, and TanaSeybert. For more information, visit www.gtexchange.org or contact Jack Powers, conference chairman, at [email protected] or (718) 499-1884.