Chestnut Hill, MA - Print Buyers International (PBI) has announced the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference will be held at GRAPH EXPO in Chicago, Tuesday, September 13 – Wednesday, 14, 2011. Leading into the Conference will be the popular, full-day PBI Boot Camp on Monday, September 12th. The news, which creates a robust classroom and GRAPH EXPO show floor learning experience for attendees, comes in the wake of PBI's highly successful Print Buyer Forums held at GRAPH EXPO over the past three years.

Founder Margie Dana, who has shaped PBI into a leading educational and networking group for professionals that work with print and media communications, says the decision to leave Greater Boston for McCormick Place South in Chicago was not easy to make. "Our East Coast roots are deep, and we have benefited greatly from our New England connection, but we believe that co-locating at GRAPH EXPO would bring added value for both our attendees and sponsors."

PBI will be back in Boston next spring with PBI New England, modeled after the PBI Midwest show taking place next month in Chicago.

Building on PBI's past successes, the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference will focus on the needs of people who work with, or have responsibility for purchasing print and other media, including print buyers, print production specialists, graphic designers, and marketing pros. The Conference will offer world-class speakers and cutting-edge information about the latest innovations in print and digital media, the growing importance of digital marketing tools, the impact of new media on professionals who work in this field, and the 'how-to' and ROI of print-integrated media.

This year's PBI Print & Media Conference will add an exciting new element to the successful format of last year's event. The PBI ballroom will accommodate a special Networking Sponsor Center for conference sponsors, who are typically graphic communications service providers, as well as two breakout rooms near the ballroom to provide concurrent sessions on both days.

Dana predicts that PBI's strategic connection to GRAPH EXPO, combined with an exciting new location, will expand the audience for the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference. "Aligning with GRAPH EXPO puts us in the heart of the country's largest print market," she observes. "It's a very exciting event to be a part of."

Co-locating at the print industry's largest trade show this fall will provide a host of added benefits for PBI Conference attendees, including:

- FREE passes to GRAPH EXPO's 300,000 sq. ft. show floor featuring 550+ exhibitors who will showcase in live demonstration the latest technologies and most unique applications
- First-hand opportunities to explore the latest printing industry advances and gain the answers to their specific questions with access to hundreds of consultative experts-GRAPH EXPO exhibitors
- Generous discounts-with a lowest price guarantee-on rooms at 27 different hotels in the GRAPH EXPO housing block
- Access to the GRAPH EXPO seminar program's  array of more than 50 state-of-the-art learning opportunities.

"We're pleased to be able to host the PBI Print & Media Conference during GRAPH EXPO," said Ralph Nappi, President of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC). "GRAPH EXPO has always been committed to those who design for, and have purchasing authority for print. Now, by co-locating this program with the show this September, conference attendees will benefit from the expanded networking opportunities that GRAPH EXPO provides and find out about the very newest and most innovative technology and productivity- and revenue-boosting ideas to apply to their businesses."

Registration for the 6th Annual Print & Media Conference will begin in late spring. Watch for details about Early Bird Registration Discounts and other great incentives. For information about Conference sponsorships or registration, contact Barbara Graham at [email protected] or phone: (978) 490-0100.

For more information about GRAPH EXPO 2011 and to register, visit: www.graphexpo.com.