Speakers, topics selected for April 24-26 event in Arlington, Texas, based on input from regional members

Alexandria, Va. - The Southwest Chapter of Epicomm, the Association for Leaders in Print, Mail, Fulfillment, and Marketing Services, has developed a program for its annual Southwest Chapter Conference, April 24-26at the Sheraton Hotel in Arlington, Texas, based on the ideas and suggestions of its members.

“Our conference committee chose the ‘Constant Change’ theme and conference program because our members told us that understanding and responding to industry, technology, regulatory, and marketplace change is their greatest challenge,” said Chapter President Angie Garrison, Costing Support Specialist, Harte-Hanks Marketing Services, Grand Prairie, Texas. “The conference has been designed to address the real-world issues our members face in running their businesses profitably and provide them with ideas and solutions they can put to use immediately.”

The conference program covers topics ranging from implementing today’s new marketing technologies and understanding the challenging U.S. Postal Service’s Mailer’s Scorecard to current and future print technology, how to grow your business, and how to use today’s new technologies for effective marketing.

Addressing the value and relevance of the annual conference, Norm Pegram, Chief Executive Officer of PremierIMS in Houston, a panelist at the 2015 conference, recalls attending his first Chapter conference 35 years ago: “After attending my first annual event…I felt like I had come into the light from a cave,” he writes on the Chapter’s web page. “To suddenly be with a group of people in the same line of work from across the nation, and to see them greet one another as longtime friends, then attend meetings that presented relevant topics of the day that impacted our businesses, was fantastic.

“The real satisfaction,” he continues, “came near the end of the conference when we listened to the panels of my competitors as they discussed mutual problems while audience members contributed their insights to remedy those situations.  This was, for me, a wonder to behold.  I learned more in two days than I had in a year.”

2015 Conference Program

On Friday, April 24, conference attendees will enjoy facility tours of World Marketing, LLC, and Texas Offset Printing in Dallas. Opening speaker on Saturday, April 25, is Steve Deitz, President/Creative Director of 900lbs of Creative, Dallas, a marketing firm that focuses on creating buzz-worthy, non-traditional experiences utilizing emerging technology such as virtual and augmented reality, motion-tracking and gesture-based interactivity.

Saturday’s program also includes sessions on the latest happenings at the Mailers' Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) and the newest trends in postal software with Bob Schimek, Senior Director of Postal Affairs at Satori Software; the present and future state of printing technology with Hughes Boris Hughes, HP Strategic Business & Market Development Manager; and the USPS Mailer’s Scorecard and how it affects your business, with Schimek and Tom Glassman of Wilen Direct. 

The day concludes with a panel discussion featuring four chapter members on how successful companies hire sales personnel and what they are selling to grow their business, followed by a postal update from Epicomm Vice President-Postal & Member Relations Leo Raymond.

The final conference session is on Sunday, April 26, as Epicomm President & Chief Executive Officer Ken Garner speaks about the state of our industry and the direction the association is taking to deliver the greatest value to its members. 

There will be numerous opportunities for networking, both during the daytime sessions and at evening social events, including the Friday Night Vendor Kick-Off Party and Saturday Night Gala. The conference spouse program includes a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Campus of Southern Methodist University.  In addition to its extensive archive of documents, photographs, and videos, the museum features a piece of steel from the World Trade Center, a full-sized Oval Office, and a Texas Rose Garden.

Annual Golf Tournament

Immediately preceding the conference is the Southwest Chapter Golf Tournament at the nearby Riverside Golf Club in Grand Prairie, Texas, on April 23. Situated along the banks of the Trinity River, the course is a challenging mix of traditional links-style holes designed by Roger Packard. The tournament will be played as a Florida best ball scramble and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Buses will take conference attendees from the Arlington Sheraton to Grand Prairie.

Conference Registration is $300 for the first attendee and $280 for a second attendee (both include the Friday and Saturdaynight galas). Spouse’s special registration is $200 (Bush Library tour plus Friday and Saturday night galas only). Registration for the Saturday sessions only is $190; Golf Tournament entry is $80. Attendance at the Vendor Kick-Off Party only is $85; Saturday night gala only is $130. For more information or to register, go to http://ilink.me/SW2015 or call Epicomm at (703) 836-9200.