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WhatTheyThink.com Event at Graph Expo, Featuring Dr. Joe Webb, Draws Large Crowd

Press release from the issuing company

-- Event Sponsored by MAN Roland Inc. October 23, 2006 -- Lexington, Kentucky USA – The fourth annual WhatTheyThink.com event with Dr. Joe Webb, a recognized marketing authority, forecaster and one of the best known speakers in the printing industry, once again played to a packed house at Graph Expo 2006, with well over 250 registrants. Industry professionals took advantage of the opportunity to hear Dr. Webb speak about the industry: Renewing the Print Industry Revisited: Taking our Place in the Offline Media Market. Sponsored by MAN Roland Inc., it was held October 17th at McCormick Place in Chicago in conjunction with Graph Expo. Download presentation and audio here. "The printing industry appears to be on the rebound, although the boom days of the 1980s and 1990s are gone," stated Randy Davidson, President of WhatTheyThink.com. "But in order for this recovery to be sustainable, business practices must change. Dr. Webb offered sage advice for printers as they continue to reinvent themselves. We are honored by MAN Roland's generosity as the exclusive sponsor of this important event for four years in a row." Dr. Joe Webb contributes a weekly column at WhatTheyThink.com for Premium Access Members entitled “Mondays with Dr. Joe Webb.” The column offers timely analysis of recent economic data as well as management advice for senior printing and publishing executives. “For the first time ever, smaller businesses can introduce new and innovative technologies more easily than larger businesses,” said Dr. Webb. “This is critical in an industry comprised largely of smaller businesses that is dealing with the approaching effect of ‘digital natives’—the next generation of buyers who have grown up in the digital world—on the world of business communications and media buying.” Dr. Webb offered seven strategies to renew a print business which he categorized as vital to ensuring that the industry continues to play a significant role in the future of business communications. "This event has become one of the most highly anticipated events at Graph Expo," said Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland North America. "While we might not always agree with Dr. Webb, he offers thought-provoking insight about printing and publishing that is a catalyst for much-needed change in our rapidly evolving industry." To download the presentation and audio, http://members.whattheythink.com/home/ge06event.cfm About WhatTheyThink.com WhatTheyThink.com is the print and publishing industry's leading online community. The company offers a mixture of free and subscription-based content for industry executives. Additionally, WhatTheyThink.com provides a robust content syndication program serving related web sites. About MAN Roland “A World of Profitability: MAN Roland Takes You There” was the theme of MAN Roland’s exhibit at Graph Expo 2006. The press maker is bringing the slogan to life by demonstrating advanced models of its press lines in real working environments. The focus is on the use of inline innovations and Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) to increase a printer’s profitability. MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG is the world's second largest printing systems manufacturer and the world's market leader in web offset. MAN Roland operates out of Offenbach, Augsburg and Plauen in Germany. It employs 9,000 staff and generates annual sales of $2.14 billion (EUR 1.7 billion), with an export share of 83%. Web and sheetfed offset are its major product lines for publishing, general commercial and packaging printing. MAN Roland is the only printing press manufacturer to be a partner of the WAN (World Association of Newspapers). In North America, MAN Roland Inc. operates a network of five regional sales and service facilities, staffed by over 250 employees. For more information visit www.manroland.com. About Dr. Joe Webb Dr. Joe Webb is one of the graphic arts industry's best-known consultants, forecasters, and commentators. He is the founding partner of the new business www.PrintForecast.com, which publishes the free newsletter PrintForecast Perspective, the paid newsletter/podcast PrintForecast Contrarian view, and other global print business planning and forecasting resources. A 28-year veteran of the graphic arts industries, he was the developer of the influential TrendWatch information service, which was sold to Reed Elsevier in 2000. Since January 2003, his "Fridays with Dr. Joe" column has become a popular feature on www.WhatTheyThink.com. His running commentary on the printing industry, new media, and the economy, can also be found at www.drjoesblog.com. He is a Ph.D. graduate of the NYU Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology (1987) and serves on the Center's Board of Advisors. He holds an MBA in Management Information Systems from Iona College (1981), was a magna cum laude graduate in Managerial Sciences and Marketing from Manhattan College (1978), and was a member of the economics honor society. Dr. Joe can be reached by e-mail through the PrintForecast.com website, where executives can also sign up for the free PrintForecast Perspective newsletter. His phone number is 1-401-709-4423.