Reston, VA - The Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) has announced that Andy Paparozzi, NAPL's Chief Economist, and Consultant Steven Schnoll will set the stage at the EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference for the bevy of consultants, printers and suppliers who will probe the evolving business models and technologies that will enable print to compete in an e-centric world.  EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK to be held on Saturday, October 2, the day before GRAPH EXPO opens will, according to its theme, focus on "The Challenge of Change in the New Era of Print." 

"A printer's success in the new era of print will depend upon a complex mix of the state of a still-recovering economy, changing customer requirements, the extent that electronic alternatives impinge on print, and the printer's ability to co-mingle print with e-alternatives in a multi-media environment.  EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK  will provide Conference attendees with information about the business and technology tools that are the keys to a printer's success in the new era of print," according to Conference Chair, Bill Lamparter, President of the PrintCom Consulting Group. 

The new era of print will be shaped by two forces-economics and customer demands-that are beyond the control of printers and their suppliers. Prevailing and somewhat unstable economic conditions, and the new continuously changing requirements of print customers coping with a multi-media necessity to reach their target audiences, will characterize the new era of print environment. 

"The first general session of the EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference will come to grips with these two fundamental considerations," Lamparter said. Well-known NAPL print economist Andy Paparozzi will discuss economic trends and their impact on print.  He will be followed to the podium by Steven Schnoll, Managing Director of Schnoll Media Consulting who will focus on what is happening in the print marketplace and what printers must do to participate in the evolving new era environment and the vertical markets most likely to offer growth opportunities.  Schnoll's consulting practice currently focuses on assisting printers with a practical approach to participating in the market with media integrated services.

Following these two general baseline-setting sessions, the Conference will then focus on new era technology including:  a review of digital print technology by InfoTrends Group Director Jim Hamilton; a rundown on trends in offset by consultant Ray Prince; ways that print can come alive by consultant Hal Hinderliter; "What Kind of a Printer Do You Want to Be-Quality or Commodity" alternative and industry programs probed by David Hunter, Principal of the Pilot Marketing Group; and, a review of IT trends and necessities by ConsultWare Principal Don Goldman.

A feature presentation Printers Panel moderated by NAPL's Howie Fenton will offer practical insight into how to achieve success with a mix of press technologies.  Printer panelists will include a digital specialist (operates only digital print equipment), a hybrid digital/offset printer, a digital label printer, a packaging printer, a DI printer, and an all-offset printer.

Afternoon sessions will be "how to" tutorials that get down to the nitty-gritty of how to harness the technology to cost-effectively produce an end product that provides a competitive edge and profit.

The formal Conference sessions end with a presentation of the MUST SEE 'EMS technology products and services exhibited at GRAPH EXPO that have been selected by a panel of 16 print industry consultants, educators and trade magazine editors as the most compelling and important for virtually all types of printers. 

But the day is not over yet-following the MUST SEE 'EMS presentation, Conference attendees will move to an adjacent area to toast the recognition recipients of the Positively Print program, which is designed to highlight companies that have conducted campaigns which feature the value of print in a competitive media world.  The reception to be held until 7:00 p.m. with food and beverage provided by EFI, is designed to provide additional discussion opportunities with Conference speakers and for printers to network with their peers.