GRAPH EXPO: A Learning Emporium
Want to learn what it means to be a marketing services provider? Interested in incorporating digital printing or QCodes into your production toolkit? Need to know more about interactive documents, leveraging social media, or the latest in newspaper publishing trends?
GRAPH EXPO is all about education, whether you’re an industry professional with more than 20 years under your belt, a neophyte beginning your journey in the world of graphic communications, or a member of tomorrow’s workforce. While the trade exposition is recognized as the industry-leading event for viewing and discovering the most advanced technology and equipment, it is also equally known for the top tier, varied instructional experiences offered. GRAPH EXPO’s educational spectrum not only includes seminars, free exhibitor presentations, one-on-one sessions with industry experts, and computer labs, but also co-located learning events from across the graphic communications field, including the Xplor Conference, Print Buyers International 6th Annual Conference, G7 Summit, and the MOGO media ePublishing Media Conference.
Printing Industries of America, NPES, and NAPL—the industry associations that comprise the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC)—contribute in a host of ways to the GRAPH EXPO educational experience, whether it’s sponsoring seminars, conferences, or having experts on hand to discuss a broad range of topics significant to attendees and/or vendors.
“Printing Industries of America is always pleased to add our training expertise to the educational events at GRAPH EXPO,” says Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America. “Starting with the Executive Outlook (held Saturday, September 10) to the daily seminars, attendees will find our subject-matter experts complementing the full agenda on topics encompassing mailing, digital printing, color, and troubleshooting, as well as newer areas such as QR codes, augmented reality, and social media. In addition, the Teacher’s Conference (held September 10-12), funded with a grant from GASC, is our annual event, which more than 80 teachers attended to hear the latest updates on the industry.”
Education Main Street
An integral part of GRAPH EXPO’s education focus is Education Main Street, which gives industry executives and interested students easy access to representatives of graphics communications colleges and universities and industry organizations. “Education Main Street offers GRAPH EXPO attendees and vendors the opportunity to learn about the academic area of graphic communications all in one location,” says Dr. Ervin A. Dennis, Managing Director of the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications, Inc, (ACCGC).
Adds Dr. Dennis, “It's a sincere thrill for me to arrive at GRAPH EXPO; walk to the GAERF exhibit booth which my wife, LaVada, and I operate within Education Main Street, and see the numerous collegiate graphic communications related exhibits. The professors and their students, who have prepared and work these exhibit booths, are excited about being at GRAPH EXPO and wish to talk with and explain their academic programs to interested attendees and show vendors. Everyone, attendees and vendors, at GRAPH EXPO 2011 should take time to walk "Education Main Street" and learn about what is happening in graphic communications education. With their support - financial/equipment/supplies contributions and, very importantly, hiring their next employee(s) from one or more of the academic programs present on Education Main Street, graphic communications education will continue and flourish.”
Career Awareness Day
Speaking of students, you may notice a few more on the show floor today. Nearly 800 high school students from throughout the greater Chicago area, as well as the neighboring states of MI, IN, and WI, are participating in this year’s Career Awareness Day, an event that the Graphic Arts Education and Resource Foundation (GAERF), in collaboration with the GASC, has staged for more than two decades.
An award ceremony honoring the GAERF 2011 Student Design Competition’s first place winners will kick off the program today, Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of McCormick Place. (See sidebar for details.) Immediately following, the SkillsUSA graphic communications gold medalists will receive awards from Susan Nofi, Senior Vice President, Heidelberg USA, Inc. Christina Hillman from Effingham County High School, Springfield, GA who took the gold at the secondary level, and Jonathan Hand from Appalachian State University, Boone, NC who placed first in the post-secondary division, will be honored.
Sam Glenn, a nationally-acclaimed corporate speaker, will conclude the program, giving students the chance to visit the exhibition floor and see firsthand the latest technologies, perhaps even getting the opportunity to speak with industry professionals.
.
Continuing education
For industry associations, education initaitives continue well after GRAPH EXPO closes its doors. “To service our members, we have initiated a new conference titled ‘Integrated Print Forum,’ where we will address realistic strategies for growth and guidance for savvy printers who are adding new media products and services to support their customers’ marketing campaigns,” says Makin. “The new conference, which takes place October 24-25 in Pittsburgh (http://www.integratedprintforum.org/) is one of our many education and training offerings that help personnel in printing companies perform more effectively. Other areas where we continue to provide programming for the industry include our Color Management Conference, Offset & Beyond Conference, and Continuous Improvement Conference. Other special industry groups that we continue to serve include the Label Printers of America and the Binding Industries Association. All our initiatives result from our strong active printer committees who offer advice and guidance and provide feedback to our professional staff for our endeavors and directions in education and training.”
Winners of the GAERF 2011 Student Design Competition
From the 225 entries submitted to GAERF’s 2011 Student Design Competition, six winners were chosen, three at the secondary school level and three at the post-secondary school level.
This third annual contest challenged secondary school and post-secondary school students to design marketing materials to promote graphicCOMMcentral.org, a comprehensive website providing visitors with a direct connection to an extensive network of resources and information for and about today’s graphic communications industry (see sidebar). GAERF President Ralph Nappi will present $2,000 checks to post-secondary winner Kaela SooHoo from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA and secondary winner Kyle Daum from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fall River, MA.
All student entries are featured in a special display within GRAPH EXPO 2011's Education Main Street, and posted on both the GAERF website: www.gaerf.org and the graphicCOMMcentral website: www.graphiccommcentral.org.
"GAERF is proud to continue its commitment to supporting education initiatives by encouraging creativity and self-expression in students through the art of design and production," sys GAERF President Ralph Nappi. "Most impressive is the significant number of entries received, a 64% increase over the number received for last year's contest. The GAERF 2011 Student Design Competition has served to recognize our best and brightest students, as well as the significant commitment of their instructors."
And the winners are:
Secondary School Winners:
1st Place: Kyle Daum
Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School
Fall River, MA
Instructor: Raymond Machado
2nd Place: Tyler Hayes
Rockland BOCES
West Nyack, NY
Instructor: Patrick Mitrione
3rd Place: Karissa Tollier
Applied Technology Education Campus
Camden, SC
Instructor: Walker Canada
Post-Secondary School Winners:
1st Place: Kaela SooHoo
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
Instructor: Lorraine Donegan
2nd Place: Sierra Norman
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
Instructor: Lorraine Donegan
3rd Place: Hallie Helbert
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
Instructor: Lorraine Donegan
