The Rich Get Richer

There are a few interesting dynamics about the IRgA and its Conventions & Trade Show.

• There’s always a core group of “regulars,” who, not coincidentally, are the most successful companies in the industry;
• There is a group of “non-joiners,” who simply do not see the value and do not attend; and 
• The final group is the “fence-sitters,” who recognize the value and attend based on several factors: Time away from the business, distance, who is attending or some other factor (e.g., current or anticipated economic conditions) related to cost.

One of the few concepts I remember from my Economics 101 class is that of opportunity cost: “The value of the next best alternative foregone as the result of making a decision.” Attending the convention means the business must survive on its own while you’re out. On the flip side, staying home to tend to the business means missing opportunities to gain a broader perspective, seek new solutions and solve current challenges. READ MORE

Early Reprographer Rate Extended to Tax Day – April 15

In an effort to make the 2009 IRgA Convention & Trade Show accessible to all, the association extended its early-registration deadline to April 15 at midnight CST! The IRgA recognizes that times are tight and extending these rates ensures the entire reprographics community has the opportunity to connect with peers, strengthen their network and view the most innovative products in the marketplace.

Register now to take advantage of these reduced registration rates! Visit the quick links below for all the up-to-date information:

The Details

• Register online
• Watch the convention preview video
• Download 2009 advance program
• View the schedule of events
• Book your hotel reservations
• View keynote speaker details
• View educational breakout sessions
• Register for the annual golf tournament
• See who’s exhibiting
• Read convention FAQs

About Pittsburgh

• Learn more about Pittsburgh: here and here
• Get an inside look at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Important Dates to Remember

• April 15: Early registration deadline (Save $200) 
• April 17: Register for IRgA golf tournament
• April 29-May 1: IRgA Convention & Trade Show

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

A spot check of round-trip flights from Chicago to Pittsburgh during the convention dates is $118; Los Angeles is $251 and New York is $223.

Visit travel search engines to find flights and prices that meet your schedule and budget. And, given the convention schedule, you have the opportunity to travel on off-peak days, creating additional savings for you and your company.

Get a taste of the educational sessions before you even arrive in Pittsburgh! Get access to the following speakers in the March/April issue of Repro Report:

• "Culture Shock: How to Adjust Staffing in Tough Economic Times" by Debra Thompson, president of TG & Associates. Read full article.
• "The New Reprographer: It’s Time for a Reinvention" by Tanner Bechtel, director of ReproMAX Technologies. Read full article.
• "Tap Dancing on Raindrops: Communication Strategies to Increase Sales" by Janine Driver, famed body language expert. Read full article. 

View information on all sessions.

The 2009 IRgA Annual Golf Tournament will be hosted at Quicksilver Golf Club, the premier golf destination in Western Pennsylvania. Former home to Senior PGA and Nation Wide Tour events, Quicksilver sits among rolling farmlands, meandering streams and rich forests that provide for a scenic, challenging and enjoyable golf experience.

Designed in 1971 by Don Nagode and reworked 19 years later by Bob Murphy and Sean Parees, Quicksilver weighs in at a healthy 7,083 yards from the silver tees and a much more tame 6,389 yards from the whites. Seventy-three bunkers and five lakes dot the landscape of the course. Visit www.quicksilvergolf.com for additional information.

Transportation will be provided to and from the Westin Convention Center and Omni William Penn to Quicksilver Golf Club. Continental breakfast will be provided before tee time. Luncheon, awards and prizes will be presented at the conclusion of the tournament.

For registration information, visit the www.IRgA.com.

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

Exhibitors as of April 8. 

Sponsors as of April 8.

ARC	MV Software
Air Fast	National Azon
Avanti	Nukote
Bertl	Oce
The Blue Book	Paradigm
Bowe Bell and Howell	Pinnacle Infotech
Canon	PLP
CRA	Precision Paper
Colortrac Inc.	Raven Industries
Contex	ReproConnect
Cylix	Reprographic Technology
Dietzgen, a Division of Nashua	ReproMAX
Digital ES	Ricoh
Drytac	RSA
eDistribution	Seiko
ES-TE Folding Systems	Sepialine
Digital Imaging Services	SRA
GEI WideFormat	TechParts
GreatAmerica Leasing	Thoroughbred Software
HP	Universal Media Solutions
Image Products of CA	Velley Supplies
KIP	Wide-Format Imaging
Mutoh	Xerox

The IRgA Association recently announced Mike Carter, president, Lynn Imaging, Lexington, Ky., as the 2009 recipient of the George K. Bukovsky Award, the association'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 career, he served as a champion for the IRgA and actively promoted the industry. More importantly, he served as a friend and advisor to countless IRgA members. His enthusiasm and spirit were an inspiration to all those with whom he worked. After George’s death from cancer in early 1990, more than $4,200 was raised for the IRgA Educational Foundation as donations were sent in his memory. At that time, the Bukovsky Award was established to honor George’s memory and the contributions of others who have similarly made a lasting impact on the reprographics industry.

Carter, too, is a champion for the reprographics industry and the IRgA.

In 2003, Lynn Imaging was honored with Wide-Format Imaging’s “Reprographic Shop of the Year” award. The nomination came from Lynn’s customers. In addition to his responsibilities with Lynn Imaging, Carter also dedicated himself to the IRgA. He joined the association in 1978 and has held many leadership positions in the past several years, including convention chair (2005), secretary/treasurer (2005), vice president (2006), president (2007), past president (2008) and nominating committee chair (2008).

Overall, Carter is a fine example of a businessperson that can balance work and family and have fun while doing both. Glenn Norvell, CFO of Lynn Imaging and Carter’s close friend of more than 15 years, says Carter is a devoted family man. He is loyal to his friends, family and colleagues. He’s also quite the fisherman and is currently learning to love golf.

Mike Carter’s professionalism and dedication to the reprographics industry is nearly unmatched. Furthermore, so is his devotion to his family and friends. Carter and his wife, Dottie, have four children and five grandchildren.

Earlier in the year, the IRgA created a 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.

Has Your Company Gone Green?
The IRgA wants to hear what your company is doing to be green! Let the IRgA know and your company could be featured on the IRgA Green Repro Web page, in News Digest and even in Repro Report! E-mail your green initiatives to info@IRgA.com.

Earlier today, the IRgA hosted another highly informative Webinar — “Grow Your Display Graphics Business.” The Webinar presentation will be available on the Webinar archive page at IRgA.com within the next week.

Once you log-in, you will find more than 60 minutes of information provided by various industry experts, including moderator Peter Lawrence, Océ North America; and panelists Mark Newton, Midwest Division President, Western Blueprint; JL Lynn, President, Lynn Imaging; and Tom Giglio, National Consulting Manager, Display Graphics Systems, Océ North America.

The industry insiders offered tips and tricks on how to grow your display graphic business. Key points explained during the presentation included:

• Find out how to become successful in the display graphics business;
• Get information on resources available to help make the transition;
• Learn how to reshape your business for the market;
• Check out some creative applications for display graphics;
• Obtain information on new color technologies; and 
• See how you can expand your business beyond AEC.

Save the Date 
The IRgA will host its next Webinar — “The 3D Printing Panel” — July 8, 11 a.m.-noon CST.

3D modeling is a fairly new service for the reprographics industry, yet one that reprographics customers have been using for decades. The evolution of model creation from an expensive, laborious, hand-crafted process into a rapid, accurate and cost effective service has created an opportunity for new revenue streams and exciting new services for reprographers to offer their customers. READ MORE

CREST Foundation, Inc. recently announced that online applications are open for the 2009/2010 academic year. To apply for a CREST Foundation scholarship, students may go to: http://apply.crestfoundation.org/.

The mission of the CREST Foundation is to fund and award scholarships to children of reprographics industry employees who wish to pursue a better education but who lack the financial means to do so.

The foundation awarded $100,000 in scholarships in its inaugural year for the 2008/2009 school year. The foundation will process applications this summer for Fall 2009 Scholarship Awards. The online application session will be open through the end of May. READ MORE

Roll Bond Converting’s Commitment to 
Green Practices Recognized by Industry Groups

Roll Bond Converting announced that it has been awarded Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification with the nonprofit Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) after rigorous audits of their facilities and processes. READ MORE

PacBlue Printing Launches New Brand and New Web Site

PacBlue Printing (formerly doing business as PacBlue Digital Imaging, Inc.) recently launched a new brand platform that uses every opportunity to showcase creative customer projects, including a new Web site. READ MORE

In Other Headline News:

• Nukote to Partner with HOP Industries
• Océ Arizona 350 GT Printer Achieves 4.5 Star BERTL Outstanding Product Rating
• Drytac Welcomes Marc Tischer to Its Liquid Coating Division
• Joe Ison Wins Mutoh America’s The Bad Wrap Software Drawing
• Intelligent Colour Launches to 200 International Guests 

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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Understand the Right Way to Right Size Your Company

This article originally appeared in the March/April 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.

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