Exciting Line-up of Top Industry Experts to Lead Tracks at PODi's AppForum

Online, September 11, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Rochester, NY - September 3, 2009 - PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, announced today that its eighth annual AppForum, January 25 - 27, 2010 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, will be shaped by four of the digital print and marketing industry's most experienced and visionary leaders. In their roles as AppForum Track Chairs, they'll develop lively, educational tracks focused on the most popular high margin applications. Explains Dave Erlandson, PODi & Caslon GM, "What makes the AppForum different is the fact that attendees are able to learn which digital applications are in demand and can make them money, from people who are actually in the trenches doing it successfully.

Successful candidates will have unique, results-driven digital print or marketing stories, strategic business or sales knowledge, exceptional technical proficiencies, or expertise in new, profit-generating applications, including cross-media, direct marketing, web to print, social media, and more. New ideas and proposals geared to these tracks are welcome:

* The Direct Marketing Track will be led by Debora Haskel, VP of Marketing for IWCO Direct. Debora has been a key mover in the growth of the direct marketing industry and is a frequent contributor to DM News and Target Marketing. IWCO is transforming the way businesses use direct mail with their integrated suite of response-driven direct mail services.

* The all-new Leading Edge Applications Track is chaired by Bill Marchiony, CEO of First Name Basis. Bill has created world-class personalized print programs for franchise, financial, casino, automotive, healthcare, and real estate clients. First Name Basis delivers agile, affordable multi-channel direct response marketing systems on a daily basis.

* The new Print on Demand Track will be directed by Mike Chiricuzio, President of Blue Moon Solutions; Director, Arizona State University Print & Imaging Lab. Mike's position as a pioneering advocate of digital printing and his recent leadership of the DICE organization give him a first-hand perspective on topics ranging from short-run POD, workflow automation, web to print, and VDP.

* The Sales and Business Strategies Track is headed by Kate Dunn, President of Digital Innovations Group (DIG). DIG is an award-winning marketing firm specializing in targeted, personalized sales campaigns and collateral. Kate is an AppForum favorite and has helped many clients and past attendees grow with digital print and personalized communications.

"The PODi AppForum is by far the most educational and best networking event for our marketplace," says three-time attendee, Lou Berceli, Print & Converting Solutions Executive. "You'll bring home many real Applications, Best Practices, and networking connections to hit the ground running with, once you are back with your team."

This year's two newest AppForum tracks feature provocative insights on harnessing innovative applications for growth; as well as exploration of rapidly changing issues vital to the IT and Operations teams who deliver digital print. In conjunction with the Sales and Business Strategies Track and the Direct Marketing Track, both marketing pros and print service providers alike will find all the tools they need to grow profitable businesses using digital printing.

Direct Marketing Track
Debora Haskel's stimulating leadership approach ensures that the Direct Marketing Track will educate business owners and sales executives on all aspects of servicing and producing relevant direct response programs. Enterprise marketers will learn latest best practices and strategies for creating and delivering innovative direct marketing solutions.

Leading Edge Applications Track
This challenging new track is for marketers and service providers interested in the latest applications, like mobile printing, social media, on-demand books, web-based applications, or fulfillment systems. Track Chair Bill Marchiony will be assembling a team of inspiring speakers to address hot issues like these.

Print on Demand Track
PODi has had many requests for a more dedicated technology-driven track and now Mike Chiricuzio will direct these new Print on Demand sessions. Technical and operations teams charged with controlling quality, automating process, integrating new technologies, and increasing efficiencies across the board will benefit from this Track.

Sales and Business Strategies Track
Kate Dunn's Sales and Business Strategies Track is designed to help service provider senior management boost profits with new digital print-enabled business models and growth strategies. Sales and customer service teams will improve selling processes and customer relationships with valuable tips they'll pick up in these sessions.

To Register for the 2010 AppForum, visit www.podi.org/2010AFRegistration
The PODi AppForum is produced by Caslon, a PODi Affiliate. For more information on the 2010 AppForum visit PODi's website. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. AppForum sponsors include: Gold Sponsor - Pageflex; Silver Sponsors - HP and USADATA. The AppForum is also supported by Media Sponsors, CANVAS magazine, In-Plant Graphics, Printing Impressions, and WhatTheyThink.

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About the PODi AppForum
The annual three-day PODi AppForum is the only conference dedicated exclusively to digital printing applications, and the focused agenda lets attendees concentrate on issues that matter most to their business success. Thought-provoking sessions tackle productivity, operations, applications, technology, one-to-one campaigns, business strategies, selling and more. Print service providers and marketing experts learn the latest trends in selling and using digital print solutions. The diverse audience of printing and marketing professionals, end users, technology experts and others make the AppForum a productive and stimulating networking opportunity. The intimate, low-key vendor hall encourages meaningful one-to-one communications, while showcasing the latest digital technology and professional services.

About PODi
PODi (www.podi.org) is an industry initiative with hundreds of member companies, including Executive Board members EFI, Pitney Bowes and Xerox. The organization's goal is to drive demand for marketing applications powered by digital print & help members build successful digital print businesses. Membership in PODi is open to companies and organizations involved in digital printing.

About Caslon
Caslon (www.caslon.net) helps companies leverage rapidly advancing digital technologies, especially digital printing. Since 1998, Caslon has been the international Affiliate of PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative. Caslon provides top-level services for the PODi organization, including managing the online case study database, the annual PODi AppForum, Find a Service Provider and the S3 Council.