Winter 2006                    return to newsletter contents page

Registration Strong for FPPA Convention

Chris Horton

FPPA President

As I write this column, I am pleased to report that pre-registrations for the upcoming Annual Convention in Amelia Island, Florida are very strong – ahead of last year’s preliminary attendance numbers. We expect a strong turnout in Florida on March 12-14, no doubt in response to the strong program that the Program Committee has put together for the meeting.

Our Technology Committee has been working with several of our plate material suppliers, and has recently performed press runs at Clemson and FTS, as part of a

product study. The results of this plate material comparison will only be presented at the Annual Convention. You don’t want to miss this valuable information.

The Customer Panel will once again tell us what they expect from us as trade shops and how we can help them be successful in the future. This year’s panel includes two large CPCs – Albertson’s and Georgia Pacific. With so much of our livelihood today surrounding the CPCs and their decisions surrounding private labeling, brand management, digital asset management and the procurement process, this will be a worthwhile discussion

For those of you who are researching digital asset management software, or evaluating your current systems, you’ll want to attend the Digital Asset Management Panel presentation on March 14. This will be an open and frank dialogue about what’s out there and what you really need.

I’m looking forward to recognizing FPPA’s first “Supplier of the Year” during the opening session on March 13. Platemaker members have submitted ballots rating our suppliers in such critical areas as sales support; technical support; order fulfillment and customer support; and product enhancement opportunities. Following the presentation of the award, all supplier members will be sent their own company results, in the spirit of constantly improving cooperation between platemakers and their suppliers.

I am excited to announce that FPPA has been in discussions with AICC about the possibility of co-locating our Fall Management Workshop with their Annual Meeting & Trade Fair, to be held in Chicago in October. Both FPPA and AICC are excited about the synergy that exists between these two meetings and want to give the members of both associations an opportunity to experience the other event. Details on this proposed joint event will be forthcoming.

It has been a pleasure serving as your President over the past year. I have enjoyed serving the membership and am excited about FPPA’s prospects moving forward. I look forward to serving with Jan Noller, our incoming President for 2006-2007!

See you in Florida!  

Chris Horton