The 2024 PIAS Annual Convention will be held June 2 – 5, 2024 at the Hilton SanDestin Beach Resort in Destin, FL.
Download the Agenda here.

2024 Speaker Lineup:

Kristin Scroggin, genWHY Communications
“Bridging Generational Gaps”
Understanding the ‘origin story’ behind key generational differences can really help Bridge the Gaps in your office. In this presentation we will briefly examine the date divisions of American generations before launching into an exploration of where many of those different views points came from. From understanding how each generation views intelligence to explaining why some groups are better at managing time than others, we figure out how to better appreciate one another by discovering that its usually less about rebellion and power and more about how you grew up.

Greg Lovensheimer, Millcraft Paper
“Navigating the Turbulence in the Printing Paper Supply Chain”
An in-depth analysis of the global, macro and individual issues impacting the managing of a sustainable and world-class supply chain in the printing papers industry. Millcraft Executive Vice President and COO, Greg will share his insights on the biggest domestic and global factors impacting the marketplace and how to navigate the supply chain turbulence.

Debbie Nicholson, Think to Ink!
“Selling Wide Format Printing”
Is your wide-format business the profit-making powerhouse it could be? Are you simply an order-taker? Do you want to learn how to be an order-maker?

This Wide-Format Business Master Class is led by Debbie Nicholson, President of Think to INK!, an authority on the business of wide-format printing. Debbie is sought after for her experience and has been a successful owner of a wide-format business. She understands the pain points, challenges, and the tremendous profit potential of a wide-format operation. Through her onsite workshops, she has worked with printing companies of all sizes to build their wide-format business.

If you know your business and understand the numerous nuances your customers’ experience, then you are more likely to say what needs to be said — when it needs to be said!  Debbie will walk us through how to make your time with clients more meaningful by understanding what you should and shouldn’t do!  Sounds easy, right?

“Effective Marketing Language That Will Expand Your Wide Format Business”
Words can inspire action in people.  Fancy jargon does not resonate with customers.  In most cases, it creates a barrier.  Customers must be able to visualize how your product or services will improve their lives.  Often, it is not what you say; it’s how you say it!  Learn how to engage and captivate your customers and prospective customers to ensure a long-term relationship.

This Wide-Format Business MasterClass is led by Debbie Nicholson, President of Think to INK!, an authority on the business of wide-format printing. Debbie is sought after for her experience and has been a successful owner of a wide-format business. She understands the pain points, challenges, and the tremendous profit potential of a wide-format operation. Through her onsite workshops, she has worked with printing companies of all sizes to build their wide-format business.

Look, it’s hard to keep wide-format printing language to a minimum.  After all, it is one of the most complex genres of the printing industry.  We should learn to treat sentences like building blocks.

Our knowledge often gets in the way of our ability to be precise.  We hedge on words, use insider terms, and lengthen sentences.  We’re familiar with the problems we solve…but don’t take the appropriate time to be familiar with our customers’ issues that they need us to solve!

Peter Schaefer, New Direction Partners
“Succession Planning”
One of the most often overlooked aspects of strategic planning is succession planning. When you are looking for an exit strategy, area ready to hand off the business to other family members and head for the beach, or face unforeseen circumstances, having a strong succession plan in place is critical. And it can take several years to execute on that succession plan. In this session, participants will learn about the key elements of the plan to successfully transfer leadership and ownership of a printing and packaging firm, typical timelines, and strategies for ensuring optimum valuation.

“8 Mega Trends Driving Success in the Printing Industry”
In a highly competitive industry, printers must focus on two things to succeed: efficiency and growth. The first delivers a better bottom line; the second produces a more robust top line. In this session, New Direction Partners experts share what they have found to be the 8 mega trends driving success for printing companies, providing insight to owners and managers about how they can ensure enduring success in their own businesses.

Stephen Price, Jackson Lewis PIAS Labor Counsel
“Labor & Employment Law Developments”

Ralph Williams, Associate Professor of Management, MTSU
“Extracting Actions from Financials: What Should We Do?”
Determining the best path forward is essential to your printing firm’s success and to leading your team. Drawing strategic actions from financials is vital to seeking the best action path forward. Prompted by suggestions from printing company leaders, Dr. Ralph Williams explored how printing company leaders might systematically review financials and draw actionable knowledge. Ralph presents that systematic approach with a hypothetical example.

To Register to attend, download the registration form and fax, mail or email to PIAS.