PODi and DICE Announce Merger

ROCHESTER, NY—May 12, 2009—PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, and DICE, the Digital Imaging Customer Exchange, announced today that the two member-supported organizations will merge and move forward under the management of Caslon, a PODi Affiliate. When the merger is completed, members will enjoy the full resources of both of these prominent digital print industry organizations.

Rab Govil, President of PODi and Caslon, says, “PODi has focused on supporting marketing and service provider members with a strong portfolio of business strategy, self promotion, sales training, case studies, and research tools. DICE complements this with their User Group Forums, which are designed to create community and provide opportunity for sharing knowledge and networking on all these topics, as well as assisting users with platform-specific technical forums. Our organizations mesh very well. As a result, all members will receive more value than ever before.”

Current DICE and PODi members will be invited to participate in the DICE User Group Forums, interactive online communities. Four groups are platform specific, for users of selected digital print equipment. Contributors share technical information and experience, helping each other optimize their technology investments. DICEMAIL, the most trafficked group, is open to all members and tackles sales, marketing, operations, and business topics. All members will also have full access to PODi resources, including the Find a Service Provider directory, the Digital Print Case Study Database, the Strategic Solution Sales Council tools, the free monthly Webinar series, and much more.

“This is a logical roll up that makes total sense to all involved,” stated Mike Chiricuzio, owner of Blue Moon Solutions, the current management company of DICE. “DICE members are excited about the new PODi benefits and we look forward to extending our User Group Forums’ networked community, unbiased technical support and guidance to PODi member companies.”

Waleed Ashoo, President of Lithexcel (a PODi member since 2003), and Chairman of the DICE Board of Directors, knows the value of both organizations. “We’ve been working on this opportunity for some time, and we’re very pleased with the outcome. DICE and PODi provide very relevant, valuable, yet different services. It’s a real win for both memberships.” Mr. Ashoo will serve on the Board of PODi.

The merger is expected to be completed by early June 2009. PODi and DICE Members will receive information on how to take advantage of these new combined benefits. For more information about PODi membership, visit www.podi.org/membership

About PODi
PODi (www.podi.org) is a global industry initiative with hundreds of member companies, including Executive Board members EFI, HP and Xerox. Our goal is to help members build & grow successful businesses using digital print

About DICE
DICE (www.dicegroup.org) is the independent users group for owners of high-end digital color presses. DICE members own Xerox, Kodak, HP, or any direct imaging press utilizing Presstek imaging or plate technology.

About Caslon
Caslon (www.caslon.net) helps companies leverage rapidly advancing digital technologies, especially digital printing. Since 1998, Caslon has been the Affiliate of PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, a consortium of leading hardware, software and service providers in the digital printing industry. Caslon provides top-level services for the PODi organization, including creating content, managing the Case Study Database, Find a Service Provider Directory and the annual PODi AppForum.