2009 Convention Registration Live! See Details Below

People Care 
As this month’s News Digest is distributed, many of you earlier today experienced the IRgA’s free Webinar available to members, “Right Sizing Your Company in a Downturn.” Reducing staff is one of the most difficult tasks one must do. If you missed the Webinar, IRgA members can access the archived copy by logging onto the members-only section of the IRgA Web site and download the audio and visual files – anytime 24/7/365.

Webinars offer a snapshot of the value of the IRgA, on a smaller stage than the Annual Convention & Trade Show. While you might need to make some difficult decisions for your company, you still need to consider those people who are part of your long-term future – those around whom you are building your team.
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Drytac® is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of mounting and finishing equipment and products. This year Drytac® debuts its line of UV curable and aqueous liquid laminators with models ranging from the wide-format VersaCoaterTM XL to the ultra-small VersaCoaterTM. DocuMate. Visit the Drytac website at www.drytac.com to learn more. Drytac.com

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IRgA Remembers Board Member Chuck Hayes

It’s with great sadness that we report the passing of IRgA Board member and OCB Reprographics CEO Chuck Hayes. He died in the company of his family and close friends on Friday, Dec. 12 after an extended illness.

Hayes was an industry giant who spent his life in the reprographics industry, leading OCB to be one of the most recognized and well-run businesses in the country.

Hayes will undoubtedly be remembered for his passion, his beliefs and his commitment to his company, the IRgA and the reprographics industry. The IRgA wishes the Hayes family its deepest condolences during this time. READ MORE

Edgar Allen Christy, Jr., 82, was born in Tulsa, Okla., on April 13, 1926, and died in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 5.

Christy moved to Houston in 1958 and founded Triangle Reproductions, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008 and he remained active in the business until the time of his death.

Always active in industry affairs, Christy served as president of the International Reprographic Association and the Mid-South Reprographic Association. READ MORE

Registration and housing is now open the 2009 IRgA Convention & Trade Show, April 29-May 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Get the greatest return on investment by securing your spot now. All IRgA members receive $300 in savings on registration over non–members and an additional $100 discount when registration is received by March 20, 2009. The IRgA has also negotiated discounted room rates at the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh and the Omni William Penn when rooms are reserved by April 3, 2009. Start your new year out right by visiting the quick links below for all the up-to-date information:

2009 Advance Program Highlights:

• Attendee Resource Center
• Exhibitor Resource Center
• Schedule of Events
• Registration Information
• Hotel & Travel Information
• Golf Tournament Information
• Convention Preview Video
• Add Event to Outlook Calendar

Visit the convention Web page to access full event details as they become available. Contact the IRgA at 800.833.4742.

Below is a list of some of the educational sessions offered during the 2009 IRgA Convention & Trade Show. For full descriptions, access the educational breakout session Web page. 

Thursday, April 30
The Power of Influence: How to Get What You Want from Team Members, Partners and Customers
New Trends in the International Market
Increase Efficiencies with Adobe’s Intelligent Construction Document Workflows
SalesMap™: Creating a Selling Machine at Your Company
Networking Forum: Share Ideas & Form Relationships
FM 2.0: Take Your FM Business to the Next Level

Friday, May 1
Tap Dancing on Raindrops: Communication Strategies for Sales Performance and Results
Talent Management in Economic Hard Times
Maximize Advancement in Digital Technology
The New Reprographer: Streamline Your Operations and Start Making Money
Trendspotting Color Market Opportunities
Leverage Intelligent BIM to Stay Ahead of the Curve
Advanced Color Services Integration

The IRgA would like to thank its exhibitors and sponsor companies of the 2009 IRgA Annual Convention & Trade Show.

Exhibitors as of Jan. 14

Sponsors as of Jan. 14

ARC
Avanti
Canon
Contex
Cylix
Digital ES
Drytac
eDistribution
ES-TE Folding Systems
GreatAmerica Leasing
HP
Image Products of CA
KIP
MV Software
National Azon
Nukote
Oce
Paradigm
Pinnacle Infotech
PLP
Repromax
Ricoh
RSA
Seiko
Sepialine
TechParts
Thoroughbred Software
Valley Supplies
Xerox

Given the recent economic downturn, it is now more important than ever to share industry knowledge on ways to get ahead during leaner times. To learn more about this topic, download IRgA's most recent free, member-only Webinar -- “Right Sizing Your Company in a Downturn.”

A panel of industry experts gave insight on the following areas:

• What the 'right size' for your company is in this market;
• How to make those painful downsizing decisions; and
• Creative ways to keep your people while reducing costs.

Panelists included Ross Banks, president, Ford Group; Roger Gremillion, regional vice president, A&E – The Graphics Complex, a division of Thomas Reprographics; and Myles Cowherd, president, San Jose Blue. READ MORE

Ten deserving “children of our industry” received CREST Foundation scholarships sure to take the sting out of their college tuition payment this year, the student scholars splitting $100,000 between them in the first-ever CREST scholarship offering. The ten are the sons and daughters of peers working within our industry at various shops around the country.

This year’s student scholars were identified as: Delane Bass, Kate Borghgraef, Giang Chau, Andrea Clabaugh, Jonathan Corrigan, Hannah Dean-Wood, Anna Goodrich, Michael Hamman, Amanda Race, and Samantha Pye. Their parents work at Air Graphics; BHFX LLC; Blair Graphics; CADCopy & Supply; City Blue Print; Duncan-Parnell, Inc.; Print-O-Stat, Inc.; Reprographic Consultants; San JoseBlue/Inprint; and Veenstra Reprographics. READ MORE

Now is the time to submit your entries for the 2008 Bukovsky Award, our industry's highest honor.

The Bukovsky Award honors the memory of George K. Bukovsky, who worked in the reprographics industry for more than 30 years. During his long career, he was actively involved in the IRgA and worked to further the industry. The award was established after his death in 1990 to honor his outstanding contributions, and in 2007, the IRgA will celebrate 16 years of recognizing individuals, reprographers and vendors who have also made a lasting impact on the industry. There are several well-deserving candidates, so don't be shy.

Award criteria and the nomination form are available at the IRgA Web site. All nominations must be received at the IRgA headquarters by Jan. 31, 2009.

The IRgA has formed the Green Reprographics Task Force to educate the reprographics industry about running a green reprographics shop and to build industry alliances to further the green initiative within the construction industry.

Visit the Green Repro Task Force Web page at IRgA.com for resources to help make your company green.

The IRgA wants to hear what your company is doing to be green! Let the IRgA know what you are doing and your company might be featured on the IRgA Green Repro page! E-mail your green initiatives to info@IRgA.com.

GREEN TIP: Participate in local tree planting and tell your customers and the community how many trees your company planted and how many sheets of paper that is equal to.

Océ ColorWave 600 Printer: A BERTL Star is Born

Océ, an international leader in digital document management, has received an outstanding 4.5 star BERTL® evaluation as well as the BERTL’s Best 2008 Award for best innovative and new technology wide format printer. The BERTL 4.5 star outstanding certification, along with recognition of the new Océ CrystalPoint™ technology as a BERTL’s Best for 2008, further highlights the worldwide success of Océ’s innovation in product and technology development. READ MORE

Reprodux Limited Attains FSC and SFI Certifications

Reprodux Limited, a leading Toronto based print, copy, and document solutions provider, recently announced it received both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certifications. By achieving these certifications, Reprodux joins a growing group of companies, land-owners and social and environmental organizations committed to improving forest practices on a global scale. READ MORE

Other Headline News:

•  Adobe Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Revenue
• Barry Malkin Joins C2 Reprographics as Senior Vice President & General Manager
• Seiko I Infotech Expands Its Product Portfolio for Outdoor Graphics Printing Worldwide
• Repropoint Limited is now FSC, PEFC Certified
• Graphtec CSX300HDPlus Receives Bertl’s Best Award

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Brand New: Is Rebranding in Your Firm’s Future?

Monitoring the value of your firm’s brand equity can pay big dividends from increased market share to decreased consumer price sensitivity. Find out when and how to rebrand effectively. Repositioning your brand is like revising your company’s story, the morale of which is your promise to customers.

This article originally appeared in the November/December 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.