Avanti User’s Conference Brings In-plants Together
Avanti Computer Systems held its 19th annual user’s conference in Washington, D.C., in June, bringing together a mix of both in-plant and commercial printers. During the three-day event, attendees networked with their peers, swapped ideas and attended numerous sessions on industry topics.
“Printers are re-defining themselves, and their business management software has to change to help them do so,” remarked Patrick Bolan, Avanti’s president and CEO, in his opening keynote.
Automation, integration and cloud computing were dominant themes of his presentation.
Other speakers included Sappi’s Daniel Dejan, who gave an inspirational presentation on the changing role of printing in today’s market. Frank Nardi, of New Jersey-based Print Art, talked passionately about how his company transformed by challenging the status quo and developing a personality. Its new, fun and energetic culture is attractive to both customers and employees.
A busy agenda of presentations and roundtable discussions was augmented with onsite tours of shops running Avanti software. Attendees spent time at two of the U.S. Senate’s in-plants: the digital operation and the litho/mail facility. They also toured Alexandria-based Global Printing.
Attendees were very pleased with the event. Notes Karen Meyers, business manager at Michigan Farm Bureau Printing Services, “It really is that one time per year to catch up with old friends and to make new friends with users that attend the Avanti conference who we communicate with and rely on as resources throughout the year.”