Clear Roles for Industry Groups

Last month, members of the IRgA’s 2010 Convention Committee met with representatives from American Reprographics Company (ARC), ReproMAX and Reprographic Services Association (RSA) – groups that hold their meetings in conjunction with the IRgA’s Annual Convention.

The meeting was held to clarify the roles that each organization plays within the industry and discuss productive changes to the groups’ relationship with the IRgA.

IRgA’s expected role is to contribute to the advancement of the industry through the following actions:

1. Provide advocacy and representation to the public and our end markets (e.g., government agencies and customer-based industry trade orgs like AIA, AGC, ABC, etc.);
2. Provide broad and end-market focused information to the membership (e.g., research, reports and best practices based on what’s happening within the reprographics industry, how construction markets are changing, etc.); and
3. Continue to be a business networking facilitator through educational programs and the Convention & Trade Show.

The groups also discussed ways to work together in regard to the Conventions & Trade Shows, which may result in some agenda revisions, timing changes and a shorter convention event.

Participants included:

• Members of the 2010 Convention Planning Committee: Dan Mulrooney (Stockton Blue), Casey Simpson (ARC), Mike Cully (Air Graphics) and John Davis (Alabama Graphics);
• Affinity Group representatives: Rick Bosworth (ReproMAX), Mark Beilman (RSA) and David Stickney (ARC/PEiR);
• Steve Bova and some members of the IRgA staff.

The meeting was facilitated by Mark Thorsby, a vice president within SmithBucklin Corporation.

If you have any questions, comments and/or general feedback, feel free to e-mail me at SBova@IRgA.com.

New Online Directory Boasts Enhanced Functionalities

Need to reach a reprographer in your area? Want to connect with a vendor you met at the 2009 IRgA Convention & Trade Show? Look no further than the IRgA’s new Online Membership Directory. It includes a wealth of features that will make your search more dynamic and accessible. READ MORE

Were you or some of your colleagues not able to make it to the 2009 IRgA Annual Convention & Trade Show? You can still take advantage of this year’s event by purchasing audio recordings of the educational presentations. For more information or to view available presentations, click here.

The IRgA recently hosted two Webinars – “Leverage Intelligent BIM to Stay Ahead of the Curve” and “The 3D Printing Panel Webinar” – during the last three weeks. If you were not available during the original presentations, the information is still available online. IRgA members have exclusive access to a robust Webinar archive. Visit the IRgA's online Webinar page for more information.

Ninety-three percent of what we communicate is non-verbal. And Janine Driver, speaker at IRgA’s 2009 Annual Convention & Trade Show, NBC’s The Today Show, body language contributor and author of The Masters of Success and You Say More Than You Think, coming out in January 2010, will teach you how to add more impact when building rapport and in your communication with others.

She’ll teach some seven-second fixes so you can apply to everyday situations. It’s all about the R.O.A.R.: rapport, observe and listen, ask powerful questions and reaching your potential! READ MORE

The IRgA is committed to reinventing the organization in the same manner that you are reinventing your companies. It’s time to move forward and create the reprographics industry of tomorrow. There are many great minds among us, and we need your leadership to mold an enduring, successful industry. To become involved and make a difference, click here and “sign up” to work for an IRgA committee between now and the 2010 Convention next May. There’s lots of work to do and many hands will make for light work. Who’s in?

IRgA’s Knowledge Library contains educational and research documents, including white papers, past conference presentations, policies and procedures, and support information.  As an IRgA member, you can download various documents. In addition, you can also contribute documents that you have developed and wish to share with other members. IRgA has made it easy for you to contribute by using the “Submit Content” tab within the Knowledge Library. If you have any technical questions regarding any utility found on the IRgA Knowledge Library, please contact IRgA Headquarters.

This is a reminder to respond to the quarterly Baird-IRGA Industry Survey. We would greatly appreciate your participation in making the results as robust and insightful as possible. We will share the overall results and our analysis with those who participate.  We will not disclose individual responses. Please complete the online survey, which takes less than two minutes to finish. If you have any questions, contact IRgA Headquarters at 800.833.4742 or e-mail info@IRgA.com.

Mutoh America Inc. Announces Randy Rickert as VP/GM

Randy Rickert has been promoted to vice president/GM of Mutoh America Inc. Rickert has dedicated more than 10 years to MUTOH and has previously acquired a wealth of experience in the Digital Signage and Graphics Industry before joining Mutoh. READ MORE

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Change of Guard

This article originally appeared in the May/June issue of Repro Report, which is available for download at the IRgA Web site. Your IRgA Web site username and password is required to enter the archive area. If you know your login but can't remember your password, click on “Reset my password.” If you do not know your login or password, please call the IRgA Headquarters toll-free at 800.833.4742.