Get Connected
It was Frank Sinatra's kind of town. And the Print Services & Distribution Association (PSDA) agrees with Ol' Blue Eyes.
Once again, Chicago will host the association's 2011 Print Solutions Conference and Expo from May 17 to May 19 at the Navy Pier Convention Center.
Attendees of this year's show will have the privilege of hearing two keynote speakers. The opening keynote, "The Passion of Leadership," will be given by Henry S. Givray, chairman, president and CEO of SmithBucklin Corp., which now manages PSDA.
Leadership is easily recognizable, but can be difficult to perfect. Givray believes leadership must be learned through "a process of personal, active engagement and self-discovery." His presentation is structured to assist others in identifying opportunities to grow as leaders, and also encourages continuous learning in this area. Practical ideas and principles for everyday use will be provided.
Givray has written two articles for BusinessWeek: "Leadership Lessons from Mom" and "When CEOs Aren't Leaders." Also, his commentary "We Need Real Leaders—Not Just Lofty Titles" was published in Crain's Chicago Business. Finally, Givray's thoughts on leadership and culture have been cited in several books, and he is one of 25 leaders featured in the 2007 book Apples Are Square: Thinking Differently About Leadership, by Susan Smith Kuczmarski and Thomas D. Kuczmarski.
The closing keynote, "Creating a Winning Momentum," will be presented by Krish Dhanam, CEO, Training International Inc.
Dhanam will show audience members how to take what they learned at the 2011 show and apply new concepts into their already existing foundation. By following a formula focusing on "foundation, definition, expansion and conclusion," companies can achieve their desired end result, and will be prepared for any changes headed in their direction as well.
A true success story, Dhanam's journey began in southeast India with the hopes of moving to the United States to achieve the American Dream. He reached his destination in 1986 with only $9 in his pocket. He won a sales contest and a ticket to a seminar conducted by Zig Ziglar. That encounter in 1991 led to a relationship with Zig and his company, Ziglar Inc. From telemarketer to vice president of training for Ziglar Training Worldwide and director of international operations for Ziglar Training Systems, Dhanam's climb to the top speaks for itself.
In addition, he is the author of The American Dream from an Indian Heart with a professional speaking career that has taken him to 45 states and 30 countries.
Event sponsors include: Appleton, Broker Forms, growll.com, MAR Graphics, Printgraphics, SICPA, Strata-Tac, THP, Ward/Kraft and Wilmer.
Come see the best of the printing industry during the following exhibiting hours: 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on May 18; and 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 19. 
This year's show will feature more than 150 exhibiting companies and more than 230 booths. Exhibitors include:
3M Promotional Markets Department
Booth 115
Booth 921
Booth 1018
Booth 212
Booth 713
Booth 201
Apex Color (A member of the Strategic Print Alliance)
Booth 405
Booth 803
Booth 815
ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute)
Booth 920
Booth 704
Booth 204
Barco Labels, A Div. of Xertrex
Booth 421
Booth 917
Booth 702
Booth 123
Booth 106
Booth 412
Booth 914
Booth 611A
Carbonless and Cut Sheet Forms Inc.
Booth 101
Booth 1020
Booth 817
Booth 110
Booth 924
Booth 307
Booth 506
Booth 107
Booth 925
Booth 211
Booth 802
Booth 1105
Booth 916
Data Management Center
Booth 611
Booth 418
Booth 810
Booth 811
Dayton Mailing Services, Inc. (DMS)
Booth 521
Booth 103
Booth 801
Booth 102
Booth 504A
Diversified Labeling Solutions
Booth 525
Booth 501
Booth 424
Booth 1101
Booth 202
Exhibitor Education Session Theater
Booth 1019
Booth 121
Booth 904
The Flesh Company (A member of the Strategic Print Alliance)
Booth 401
Booth 417
FME/Forms Manufacturers Equipment
Booth 816
Booth 210
Booth 818
Booth 600
Booth 1123
Booth 716
Futek Forms, Tags & Labels, Inc.
Booth 1016
Booth 723
Booth 112
Booth 310
Glatfelter Carbonless & Printing Papers
Booth 321
Booth 617
Booth 603
Booth 814
Booth 517
Booth 416
Booth 411
Booth 825
Booth 206
Booth 1117
Booth 612
Booth 214
Hospital Forms & Systems Corp.
Booth 601
Booth 520
Identity Group | Business Stationery
Booth 819
Booth 217
Booth 807
Booth 507
Booth 514
Booth 621
Booth 113
Booth 618
Booth 522
Booth 820
Booth 1115
Booth 317
Booth 610
Booth 504
Booth 918
Booth 902
Booth 624
Booth 111
Booth 104
Booth 711
Booth 812
Booth 319
Booth 200
Booth 607
Booth 1008
Booth 823
Booth 1022
Booth 502B
Booth 719
Booth 912
Booth 215
Booth 408
Booth 724
Booth 822
Booth 722
Booth 207
Booth 323
Booth 511
Booth 622
Booth 910
Booth 906
Booth 500A
Booth 308
Printgraphics (A member of the Strategic Print Alliance)
Booth 300
PRINTSouth
Booth 919
Booth 500B
Priority Systems
Booth 718
Booth 518
Booth 100
Promotional Products Association International
Booth 312
Booth 425
PSDA & Print Solutions magazine
Booth 1011
Booth 225
Booth 124
Booth 325
Booth 407
Booth 700
Booth 619
Booth 922
Booth 908
Booth 1121
Booth 423
Booth 923
Booth 213
Booth 105
Booth 707
Booth 301
Stylecraft Printing/Stylerite Label
Booth 907
Booth 720
The Tab Shoppe LTD
Booth 623
TABBIES, A Div. Of Xertrex International Inc.
Booth 419
Booth 523
Booth 313
Booth 510
THP (Thorn Hill Printing, Inc.)
Booth 1025
Booth 324
Universal Manufacturing Company
Booth 1111
Booth 516
Booth 911
Warwick Publishing Co.
Booth 119
Booth 1024
Booth 717
Western States Envelope & Label
Booth 413
Booth 901
Booth 502A
Booth 1003
Booth 616
(Available exhibitor information was up-to-date at the time of publication.)
A Letter from PSDA Executive Vice President Matt Sanderson
Dear Print Professional Readers,
As the Print Services & Distribution Association's (PSDA) 2011 Print Solutions Conference and Expo approaches, Print Professional magazine asked me to contribute to this issue as part of its pre-show coverage of this year's event. I thought it would be helpful to provide some insight into the development of this year's programs and their highlights.
As you may know, I joined the PSDA as its executive vice president last fall. Early on, we decided to develop this year's show, our team's first, by getting "back to the basics"—asking our members and past attendees for their opinions on what makes a successful event. Our staff team met and talked with literally hundreds of PSDA members and past attendees and we developed a plan that took into account their valuable feedback. This year, we are focused on delivering value in three key areas:
1. Educational Programs
We have heard from many of our members and industry participants that better educational programming could directly improve their business performance. This year's conference educational program is extensive and well integrated, with tracks for principals/CEOs, sales professionals, customer service representatives and technology experts. All sessions will be designed as workshops—with the common objective of exposing participants to a concept or topic and then tying it back to their core job or business, our industry and our purpose as an association—the distribution of print and related solutions. In fact, the most consistent complaint we have had from our early registrants has been "there's too much to choose from"—which from my perspective is a good problem to have. Anyone interested in this year's conference sessions should attend with their teams. You won't be disappointed.
2. Event Experience
The event will take place less than a half-mile from PSDA's new headquarters. We have a unique opportunity to show off our city, our exhibitors, our most innovative and differentiated members and those on our staff team who are new to the organization. Our team has taken a hard look at what has worked well for this conference historically, and made improvements where they were needed. We want the event to be memorable—even if memorable means the event delivery is seamless. Shuttle service between the event and our host hotel (Hyatt Regency Chicago) will be efficient and frequent; signage will be plentiful; the exhibit hall is Wi-Fi enabled and there will be plenty of time and space to network and catch up on business. Furthermore, we have integrated the general session main stage and seating area into the exhibit hall to provide a more holistic event experience and to connect our speakers and educational program with attendees and exhibitors. I know that you will feel a difference.
3. Exhibitor Return on Investment
PSDA is a nonprofit association, and we depend heavily on the support of our members and other industry participants for the resources that drive our programming. The conference and expo illustrates this fundamental connection well—in that our exhibitors enable us to develop the kinds of educational programming and event experiences that we want to provide for our attendees. We have talked extensively with our exhibiting members and non-members about ways for us to improve their return on investment from the expenses of exhibiting and have worked hard to create an experience for them that enhances the value of exhibiting. Among these tweaks are exclusive opportunities for exhibiting firms to network on the expo floor—including an integrated reception and trade show experience on Wednesday night for all exhibiting companies. I am confident these changes will highlight the value of exhibiting and showcase the support our exhibiting firms provide for education and other components of the event.
Final Thoughts
The challenges facing many PSDA members and other industry participants are real. Our association is a reflection of our membership and the industry at large. Fundamentally, however, our firms and associations like PSDA will not be defined by the challenges, but by their ability to respond to them—to adapt, and find ways to create value in a rapidly changing economic environment. That's the opportunity we all have. I firmly believe that PSDA is better positioned to have an impact on its members' businesses than it was only six or 12 months ago. The feedback we have heard consistently from our members and the level of engagement on our website (www.psda.org) and within our member discussion forums supports this.
PSDA's current and future members have a unique opportunity to help advance our industry, shape the strategic direction of PSDA and strengthen their own companies. We welcome anyone with a passion for print and an interest in turning what we collectively do well into a strength for whatever is on the horizon. It is, after all, at the very core of an association—that by exchanging ideas and deepening relationships within our industry we are collectively better positioned to respond to economic and competitive changes.
I invite the readers of Print Professional magazine to attend the 2011 Print Solutions Conference and Expo if you haven't registered already. PSDA members receive discounted pricing, but the event is open to members and non-members. There is no better way to evaluate the PSDA membership experience than at this show, this year. So please take a look at the program, and plan to join us. I hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
Matt Sanderson
Executive Vice President