Eastman Kodak Co.

ROCHESTER, NY—July 2—Kodak customers from the commercial printing, publishing, newspaper, data center, in plant, and creative markets gathered for information sharing, educational sessions and networking events at the 2007 Graphic Users Association (GUA) North American Conference. The event occurred May 30 to June 2, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix. Digital printing, mailing and TransPromo communications were new topics added to the more than 90 sessions that took place during four days. Guest speakers from Adobe, Apple, Business Resource Services, Four51 and the Direct Marketing Association made informational presentations. Other highlights included a full day of Kodak’s Network Symposium. The

EAST HAMPTON, NY—This past week the Board of Directors of DICE, The Digital Imaging Customer Exchange, sent a letter to Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen, as well as other top Adobe managers expressing its members’ concerns over the Adobe’s decision to include a “send to FedEx Kinko’s” command in Acrobat 8.1. DICE is perhaps the oldest digital printing users group in the industry, boasting 328 member companies, all who own high-end color digital presses from either Kodak, HP, or Xerox In the letter it was stated that “DICE members collectively own thousands of Adobe applications, Adobe font packages, and Adobe RIPs. They helped to make PostScript

Installing a six-color press in an in-plant is like witnessing a total solar eclipse. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it is a big deal. Securian Financial Group’s in-plant recently discovered that the rare can happen. Thomas Neckvatal, director of Graphic Services, says his operation recently purchased a six-color, 40˝ Heidelberg CDLX press to accommodate its ever-growing business. “It is unusual in this day for in-plants to have large-format presses,” acknowledges Neckvatal. “Our business has been developed to the point that we have emulated commercial vendors and have attracted commercial grade business; therefore, the need to have the level of commitment needed to

LAST MONTH’S In-plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) conference certainly provided a packed schedule of activities for those lucky enough to have attended. It boasted a blend of technology demos, educational sessions, plant tours, networking, baseball, Indian dancing, an Olympic medalist and a small dose of hypnotism. Digital color printing was a popular topic, with at least four sessions and numerous informal discussions dedicated to it. Other hot subjects were PDF workflows, marketing, best practices and mail. After the sessions, attendees took strolls along the Oklahoma City Bricktown river walk with new friends from all over the country, then cheered their colleagues during

It was big news when The Principal Financial Group installed its first five Kodak NexPress 2100 digital presses beginning in 2003. Then the Des Moines, Iowa, company added a sixth NexPress 18 months ago. And now, with business booming at The Principal’s 120-employee Print to Mail operation, the company has made history by adding four NexPress 2500s, making it the largest single-site NexPress user in the world. “Those machines just run non-stop” at the end of each quarter, says Rex Brooker, manager of the Document Automation Team. They are busy pumping out 401k statements for the company’s growing Retirement and Investor Services (RIS) business unit. Brooker

Frost & Sullivan has selected Jeffrey Hayzlett, Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, as a winner of its 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award acknowledges his management, vision, and dedication to making a difference in his industry as well as his exceptional marketing leadership. The award is being presented to Hayzlett at a ceremony during the 8th Annual Sales & Marketing 2007, East: A Frost & Sullivan Executive MindXchange, July 22-25 in Alexandria, Va. “Jeff Hayzlett has distinguished himself as a passionate promoter of print and most recently helped Kodak strengthen its market position in the graphic communications industry,” said

The recent ACUP conference in San Francisco was both a good time and a great educational experience. Now you can see what it was like.

In-plant managers from across the country gathered in Oklahoma City last week for the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association conference. Three days of sessions, roundtables, plant tours and vendor visits equipped attendees with lots of great information to bring back to their in-plants. Keynote speaker Josh Davis, a three-time Gold medalist in the 1996 Olympics, spoke of his journey to become a swimming champ, even after his first coach suggested he switch sports. He described how having an “attitude of gratitude” for the good things in his life has motivated him to do the things he didn’t want to do. In-plants broke into groups by

PEWAUKEE, WI—June 12, 2007—More than 100 members of Wisconsin’s printing and education communities were on hand during a sunny and pleasant midday dedication ceremony for the new Harry V. Quadracci Printing Education and Technology Center (HVQ PETC) in Pewaukee, WI. Located on the campus of the Waukesha County Technical College, this new facility represents a partnership between Wisconsin’s thriving printing community and the state’s technical college system. The 23,600 square foot facility (constructed at a cost of $3.5 million) contains fifteen offices, three lecture halls, two computer graphics classrooms, a digital photography studio, a color measurement lab, a bookstore and a 4,000 square foot

NORMAN HOWARD sums up the feelings of most faith-based in-plant managers in just one sentence: “I just feel like I’m serving God here doing what I’m doing,” says Howard, director of printing for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Va. It’s a sentiment shared by countless in-plant managers at religious organizations—and one that drives them to put forth their best efforts in the service of their faith. “It’s not just a job; I’m working for the Lord,” echoes Trout Davis, print shop manager at Grace Baptist Church, in Santa Clarita, Calif. The devotion of in-plant managers like these has certainly been a blessing for the churches and