IPMA Conference Splashes Down in Orlando

The In-plant Printing and Mailing Association conference came to an exciting (and slightly soggy) close last week in the middle of the Central Florida Everglades, where the 140 or so attending in-plant managers assembled for a farewell barbecue. With air boat rides and alligator sightings to spice up the evening, it was a fitting ending to an inspiring three-day conference (despite the unexpected downpour).

In-plant managers listen to a presentation at IPMA 2015

Social media played a bigger part than usual in the conference this year, thanks to IPMA's partnership with Grow Socially. John Foley, president and CEO of the strategic marketing and web design company, gave a keynote session in which he stressed the need for in-plants to transform their business and market their services in new ways, including with social media. IPMA also unveiled its new website at the conference, which includes an expansive online community.

But it was the new IPMA conference app that brought the most social media engagement (and distraction) during the event. Throughout the conference, members shared photos of one another and posted updates using the app, which led to numerous face-to-face conversations. In fact, the camaraderie did seem to have risen a notch this year, though it's hard to say how much of that can be credited to the app. (And most definitely the constantly photographed rubber chicken had nothing to do with it.) The app also brought the conference agenda and session descriptions right to attendee's mobile devices.

In-plant managers John Sarantakos, Mike Lincoln, Brian Patterson and Catherine Ciardi sit on a panel.

Though keynotes from two motivational speakers provided an entertaining and inspiring start on Monday and Tuesday, with guitar playing and chocolate galore, Wednesday morning's presentation by Howie Fenton, of InfoTrends, was perhaps the most thought provoking keynote. He detailed the results of a new in-plant survey showing the types of activities and applications that typify the leaders of the in-plant community, contrasted with the actions (or inaction) of the "laggards."

A number of sessions featured panels of in-plant managers sharing best practices, and speakers covered topics as wide ranging as procurement, mail piece design, production inkjet, partnering with marketing and copier fleet management.

The awards ceremony took place on Monday evening, and after the In-Print awards were handed out, the audience learned the identities of the two Best of Show winners: Brigham Young University won the offset Best of Show award, and Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield dominated the non-offset part of the competition. (Watch a video interview of the winners.)

Managers visit the Kodak booth

Though some attendees stuck around Thursday to tour the University of Central Florida's in-plant, for most managers, the conference ended Wednesday evening, with an air boat ride in the Everglades. Watch for more coverage of the largest in-plant conference of the year, including video, in the days ahead.

Here are some of the top tweets from the conference, collected under the Twitter hashtag #IPMA15.

. @HowieFenton is on at #IPMA15 @InfoTrends #inplants pic.twitter.com/r8kldKdptz

— IPMA HQ (@IPMAHQ) June 17, 2015

https://twitter.com/HowieatNAPL/status/610830306518638592

Packed room for @eKasinskas @Roc_Softw_Assoc "Colorful In-Plant Ideas" session!!! #IPMA15 pic.twitter.com/LWdQ1NkKrM

— IPMA HQ (@IPMAHQ) June 15, 2015

https://twitter.com/KarenLoueez/status/610478988448956416

Big news at #IPMA15. Rob Lingard is president again after Alvin Griffin resigns. pic.twitter.com/SZh7iTKVEx

— In-plant Impressions (@IP_Impressions) June 15, 2015

Rob Piersielak of @XeroxCorp gives the opening presentation at #IPMA15 this morning in Orlando pic.twitter.com/Ord4d5rJNv

— In-plant Impressions (@IP_Impressions) June 17, 2015