SEWICKLEY, PA - February 20, 2006 - PIA/GATF's Digital Printing Council (DPC) officially kicks-off its 2006 Marketing 4 Digital (M4D) educational outreach program this week as Frank Romano presents the first M4D seminar of the year, hosted by affiliate Printing Industries of Northern California (PINC) in San Francisco on February 24. On February 28, Peter Muir, President of Bizucate, will present at PI of Michigan (PIM) in Livonia, Michigan. PIA/GATF affiliates like PINC and PIM are bringing "The Year of Digital Print" to printers nationwide in a variety of ways, including the M4D seminar series. M4D is a unique and extensive research project giving digital and conventional printers the information and insight they need to sell their services to 24 specific vertical market segments. "The M4D program consists of detailed reports that will help printers market to specific industries - and PIA/GATF is also helping members apply the M4D information through an extensive road show that will present the program to most of the PIA affiliates throughout the U.S.," says Frank Romano, Professor Emeritus at the RIT School of Print Media. The first set of 8 of the 24 total M4D vertical industry reports are being presented by Romano in San Francisco, and throughout the year in other locations by industry notables Ray Lawton, Peter Muir, and Stephen Schnoll. The segments are: 1.Advertising Agencies 2.Health Care (HMOs, Hospitals) 3.Cruise Industry (Hospitality and Tourism) 4.Department Stores (Retail Trade) 5.Gambling and Wagering (Casinos) 6.Automotive Industry (Manufacturers and Dealers) 7.Insurance 8.Real Estate (Brokerages) To date, the 2006 M4D Seminar Series schedule includes: Affiliate/Conference - Date Executive Leadership Conference 2006 - March 14 Sales & Marketing Executives Conference 2006 - June 27 PIA/GATF Webinar - May 4 PIA Northern California - February 24 PIA of Michigan - February 28 PIA Southern California - March 15 PIA of Georgia - March 16 PIA San Diego - March 16 PIA of Arizona - March 21 PIA of MidAmerica (Dallas) - March 24 PI of Carolinas (Charlotte) - March 28 PI of New England - April 6 PIA of the South (Nashville) - April 18 PI of Minnesota (Minneapolis) - April 19 PIA of Maryland and DC (PGAMA) - May 10 PI of Illinois - June 14 PI of Wisconsin - June 15 Printing Association of Florida - July 29 Graphic Arts Association - September 27 For more information on the M4D Educational Seminars visit the PIA/GATF DPC web pages at: www.digitalprintingcouncil.com or contact: [email protected]. M4D - Powerful, Practical, Easily-Implemented Tools for Selling M4D will arm companies and their sales staff with the specific details they require to understand the specific needs of current and potential customers in over 24 vertical segments. Plus, M4D will teach sales staff to "speak the specific language" of vertical segment customers, as the reports provide a deep understanding of each segment's respective environment and unique requirements. All Digital Printing Council members will receive the entire series of 24 reports as a benefit of membership. In addition, the studies will be available for purchase through the PIA/GATF bookstore. Packages of 8 reports each will be priced at $199 per set for PIA/GATF members, and $500 per set for non-PIA/GATF members. The entire 24 part series can be purchased for $499 (members)/$1200 (non-members) through the PIA/GATF Bookstore at www.gain.net.