CYPRESS, Texas (September 12, 2007). - The International Center for Entrepreneurial Development (ICED) celebrated the anniversary of its 40th year in franchising this month, holding its annual conference in conjunction with the National Association of Quick Printers Conference (NAQP) at Chicago's InterContinental Hotel on September 6-9. In a departure from previous ICED Conferences, this year's attendees were afforded the opportunity to attend the NAQP Executive Conference and Graph Expo, the printing industry's largest trade exhibition.
"There are years of printing and graphics communications expertise behind the execution of our conferences," said Bob Metzger, ICED vice chairman. "This month, ICED celebrates its 40th year in franchising, which began in 1967 with our flagship brand, Kwik Kopy Printing. The NAQP has been devoted to quick and small commercial printers in our industry for over 30 years, and NAPL [the trade association for excellence in graphic communications management] will soon celebrate 75 years of service to the printing and graphic arts community. I would say we are in good company."
Among the many highlights during the four-day conference and trade show was the PrintImage Excellence Award, accepted by winners Jerry Hays and David Vaughan, owners of Kwik Kopy Business Center in Spring, Texas. Bob Hall, executive editor of Quick Printing Magazine, made the presentation. Piers Mitchell was honored with the ICED "Best in the World" award; his Kall Kwik centre in U. K. posted the highest sales of all the printing centers in the ICED family of franchises worldwide.
The International Center for Entrepreneurial Development (ICED), located in Cypress, Texas, is the parent company of Kwik Kopy Printing, American Wholesale Thermographers, The Ink Well, Franklin's Printing, Women's Health Boutique, Parcel Plus, Kwik Kopy Business Centers and COMPUTER EXPLORERS. This group represents one of the world's largest international alliances of printing, communications and education franchises with business relationships in the United States and 10 other countries. These company names are all registered trademarks or service marks of I.C.E.D. Management, Inc.