Rochester, NY - PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, has announced the final schedule of speakers and sessions for the 9th annual AppForum digital printing conference, http://www.AppForum.org January 31 - February 2, 2011 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. One of the major focuses at this year's event is the opportunity digital printing opens up for companies who add high margin marketing services to their portfolios. Companies who are heading in this direction, or who are interested in transitioning to this Marketing Service Provider (MSP) business model, will find a full schedule of presentations designed to guide them.

"One of the big differences between the AppForum digital printing and direct marketing conference and other industry events is the first-hand experience of our speakers," says event organizer and Caslon General Manager, David Erlandson. "These are all people who have faced the same challenges our attendees face, and who have succeeded with the strategies and tactics they are sharing. If you want to know how to win with marketing services, the AppForum is the place to learn from the winners!"

Speakers straight from the frontlines of digital printing include:

Ted Raymond, President of Allegra Print and Imaging & Peter Winters, from the Winters Group, explain the process of transitioning to the MSP model; Winters also presents a Pre-conference Intensive on integrating cross-media into your business plan

Kathi Woolsey, VP Sales and Marketing at ImageSet Digital & Lee Weiner, CEO of Direct Marketing Concierge share firsthand experience in training (and retraining) your sales force to sell solutions

Kate Dunn, President of Digital Innovations Group, presents her popular solution sales training course; then joins The Standard Group's Calvin Grucelski for tips on hiring solution salespeople and solution architects

Alex Marchetti, President of Whitestone Marketing gives tips on partnering with agencies as a first step towards building marketing expertise

April DeRossett, President, DirectConnect Solutions joins Paul Strack, President of CustomXM in sharing two different strategies for remaking their brands

Sharon Buntain, Brand Manager for Tissot Swiss Watches reveals how she divides her channel marketing dollars and what she looks for in an MSP partner

Rab Govil, President of PODi and Caslon presents the conference Keynote on Best Practices in Direct Marketing Operations as well as a Pre-conference Intensive on Relevant Direct Marketing, both subjects vital to any business with an MSP plan

2011 AppForum sponsors: Gold Sponsors – Canon, FUJIFILM, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Pageflex by Bitstream, Xerox, xpedx / Silver Sponsors – CGS Technologies, HP, Online Print Solutions, Ricoh / Bronze Sponsors – Avanti, Finch Paper, MindFireInc., Page Technologies, Printable, PrinterPresence, Rollem International, XMPie. Media Sponsors – CANVAS magazine, In-plant Graphics, Printing Impressions, Print Media Centr, Process Magazine, Quick Printing, The Seybold Report, WhatTheyThink. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Get more information at http://www.AppForum.org/sponsors-info
The AppForum is produced by Caslon, a PODi Affiliate.