Here's what's covered in today's "HOTLINE" :
  • GALAS ~ galas ~ GALAS!
  • PIA MidAmerica Sales Development Training
  • People's Choice with Designing for Print Author, Marina Joyce
  • DFW Lean In Action May 10th
  • HIRE KC Youth Job Fair
  • Email Subscription
  • State of the Industry Webinar
  • Digital Technology Council - The Value of Digital Enhancements
  • Bipartisan Postal Reform Bill Introduced
  • Need to Know: EPA's Updated Hazardous Waste Rule
  • Office Manager Opening in Dallas
  • Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
  • Printers & Publishers Launch Coalition to End Canadian Uncoated Groundwood Paper Tariffs
  • Calendar of Upcoming Events
 
GALAS ~ galas ~ GALAS! 

Our DFW print & graphics community celebrated a fabulous evening on April 5th at Globe Life Park in Arlington. With over 260 attendees it was a terrific time to network, view AMAZING print & celebrate success!

We could not have done it without the help of our trusted sponsors & volunteers and are grateful for their support. 

Our Willy Wonka inspired theme had everyone seeing gumdrops & lollipops. With golden eggs, fizzy lifting drinks, golden tickets and more it was an event not to be missed. Congratulations to all of the winners! Now is the time to order duplicate certificates and trophies to present to your customers to continue to build your relationship. Click HERE to order today.

Next up is the Kansas City gala on April 26th at Arrowhead Stadium. You don't want to miss this event! Register NOW and you could be the lucky winner of the golden ticket!


There will be a special tribute to Tim Trabon as our Print Evangelist of the Year Awards are being named in his honor. The nominees for the 2018 Print Evangelist are:

-Lee Gabbert, H&H Color Lab
-Evan James, James Printing
-Marie Langdon, Midland Paper
-Chris Tucker, INX International

The nominees for CREATIVE Print Evangelist are:

Brenda Reagan, Sandbox
Cynthia Shrock, Posty Cards
Christy Vaught, MMGY
Freddie Wise, VML

The online community vote will be announced the night of the gala. Be sure to attend and congratulate all of the nominees as well as our 2018 Missouri/Kansas Executive of the Year, Colleen Pruetting with Maywood Printing. 

REGISTER FOR KC TODAY!

PIA MidAmerica
Sales Development Training

In response to many member requests, PIA MidAmerica has spent significant effort over this past year developing our sales development program. We have listened to our members and are thrilled to announce our program has been designed, launched, and is in place with select members who are already experiencing positive results.
 
What we knew at the concept is that, while the individual quarterly sales training sessions are a great benefit to offer our members, the types of gains our membership organizations are asking for cannot be achieved merely through sales training alone. Therefore we've developed peer groups where small groups or entire sales departments gather for a 2-day session (6 hours per day) plus 12 weeks of weekly webinar training which includes on demand access (phone/email) to our partner/trainer Dave Mantel.
 
An organization which overachieves in its selling  does so through several moving pieces and people. At the heart of success is certainly the salespeople and sales managers. However, a holistic solution to all sales components must be available and encouraged. In addition to top-tier sales and sales management training, an offering which addresses the areas of:
  • Vision and Strategy
  • Systems and Processes which support sales
  • Effective Sales Process
  • Management Implementation
  • And Effective Recruiting is essential in what must be offered 
In ad d ition, because PIA  MidAmerica membership is made up of a myriad of organizations, scalability, and relevance to organizational size and available investment resources, must be conside red. Ther efore, offering solutions to the needs at each level of the sales organization, either in part or in full is imperative.
No matter your role in the sales process, if your strong desire is an increase in performance which consistently outpaces your marketplace, please contact your Regional Directors; Stacy Steiner (KS/MO) at StacyS@piamidam.org , and Cristen Perkowski (OK/TX) at CristenP@piamidam.org for more information. Our partner & trainer Dave Mantel is available for a no-cost consult focused on your specific sales development requirements.

People's Choice with  Designing for Print, Author 
Marina Joyce
Kansas City ~  May 1, 2018



Calling all Designers, Marketers & Print Professional! 
Join us May 1st to network, view & vote for your favorite award-winning print entry and 
get inspired by Marina Joyce!

8:00 - 8:30 am. . . . . . . Barista & Black Coffee
8:30 - 9:30 am. . . . . . . Marina Joyce Presentation
9:30 -10:30 am. . . . . .   Barista Opens Again
11:30 am. . . . . . . . . . .   Light Lunch
Noon - 1:00 pm. . . . . . Marina Joyce Presentation Again 
1:00 - 3:00 pm. . . . . . . Coffee Again Served

Location: Posty Cards, 1600 Olive Street, KC MO 64127


Raffle Drawings for Marina's Designing for Print Book ($95 Value)


Learn How to get Buy-in While Improving Your Business

Top-down management is a thing of the past ... it's a new day with new methods in play! Empower your employees to help create Continuous Improvement within your organization using project management as the key to driving results. At PIA MidAmerica's next Lean in Action luncheon, Nosco's Jim Mullen will share how to: *run meetings efficiently, *use Lean tools and when *create action timelines to stay on track, *know who should be on the project & *sustain your gains. Nosco, Inc. is a full-service packaging supplier 10 years into its Lean journey with results to show. Sharing ideas is a major Lean principle, so join us and learn how to use this important process to drive your own results.
 
11:30am-1pm * Thursday, May 10
Clampitt Creative Center
9207 Ambassador Row in Dallas
$25 for PIA Members, $50 non-members * Lunch included
 
Jim Mullen is Production Planning Manager and Lean Implementation Manager at Nosco's Carrollton facility. In addition to overall planning, he is also responsible for developing Lean Manufacturing projects and programs. He is a certified Yellow Belt and has guided 32 people to Yellow Belt status in Carrollton while facilitating or leading more than 35 Lean projects within the past 2 years. Jim has more than 30 years of experience in the printing industry and has been with Nosco the past 27 years. He has held various positions ranging from customer service and plant management to his current Planning/Lean role.
 
Register HERE

100 North American 
Companies Remove 
"Go Paperless - Go Green" Claims

From Two Sides

Two Sides' anti-greenwash campaign reaches a milestone as more leading corporations change their marketing messages to recognize the sustainable features of print on paper

Two Sides North America confirmed that over 100 leading North American companies have removed or changed inaccurate anti-paper claims as a result of the group's efforts.   
The list includes many of the Fortune 500 companies in the financial, telecom, utilities and insurance sectors who have engaged with Two Sides and modified their marketing messages to consider the social and environmental benefits of print and paper, as well as the life cycle of sustainable forests and paper products.  A full list of companies is available to Two Sides members.
"The 'go green and save trees' claims used to promote digital services over paper-based communications are misleading for many reasons, and they are a form of greenwashing that needs to be corrected," said Phil Riebel, president of Two Sides North America.  "The claims don't consider the renewability of paper, or the numerous social, environmental, and economic benefits of well-managed North American forests, which in the U.S. have grown by over 1.3 million acres per year between 2005 and 2015, or approximately 22,000 tennis courts per day (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005-2015).

To read the full article click HERE

HIRE KC Youth Job Fair


PIA MidAmerica represented our industry at the Hire KC Youth Job Fair on March 24th at MCC-Business & Technology College. Thank you to Boelte Hall and NextPage who attended to help spread the word about job opportunities in PRINT.
 
We are working on your behalf to address workforce development concerns across the region and continue to grow our Print & Bindery Apprenticeship program. Summer classes begin June 4th at MCC in Kansas City. If you have an employee or temporary worker that would be a good fit please contact Stacy Steiner at  StacyS@piamidam.org.


Email Subscription

It is our goal, as your trusted trade association resource, to provide timely, pertinent information to you without flooding your inbox. Our analysis shows that you are busy and it may take several reminders to get your attention via email. 

Our email management system does not allow for opting in on individual specific topics. Therefore, you are subscribed to ALL or NONE and we don't want you to miss out on pertinent information. If you receive email topics from PIA MidAmerica that do not interest you, please simply delete them versus unsubscribing. This will ensure you don't miss any valuable content. 

State of the Industry Webinar

Print is off to a running start in 2018 - an Olympic year and a mid-term election year, which means a double boost for print. Tai McNaughton, Senior Economist with PIA National (Printing Industries of America) will discuss the growth potential foreseen on multiple fronts and the macroeconomic forecast, micro-trends, market opportunities, outside policy influences and how print companies can leverage each of these dynamics to succeed.


Tuesday, April 24, 2018 ~ noon - 1:00 pm

Register  HERE

Sponsored by: EFI

The Value of Digital Enhancements

This webinar will address the growing trend of 2D/3D texture and foil embellishments to generate new business opportunities, strengthen customer relationships, expand application revenue streams and add value and profit to existing print jobs.

We will cover ways to shrink costs, reduce cycle time, increase capacity and put more money in the bank without making investments in equipment or staff. 

About the speaker -
Kevin Abergel, MGI Vice President of Marketing and Sales, is an expert digital printing technology strategist and a featured speaker at many international print industry& trade association events. He has led the worldwide implementation of the Konica Minolta / MGI global alliance on a country-by-country basis by working with both executive management teams in Tokyo and numerous Konica Minolta national business unit leaders in regional markets. 
Under Kevin's leadership, MGI has achieved revenue double-digit growth rates and has established worldwide market leadership in the digital print enhancement sector with the renowned global brand of JETvarnish 3D Series embellishment presses. In addition, to his current executive marketing & sales duties, he is also helping to develop a shared business strategy for MGI & Konica Minolta to lead the marketplace in future directions with advanced digital technologies such as Intelligent Inks, Printed Electronics and Smart Packaging applications.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018,  ~ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm  
Free for PIA MidAmerica Members/$39 for not-yet-members

Register  HERE

Bipartisan Postal Reform 
Bill Introduced

"The Postal Reform Act of 2018: Improving Postal Operations, Service, and Transparency" was introduced in the U.S. Senate as a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). If passed, the legislation would make sweeping changes to current rules and regulations that have led, in large part, to the dire long-term financial situation of the U.S. Postal Service, including 11 straight years of net losses and a net loss for its first quarter totaling $540 million - despite the USPS setting a record on Dec. 18, 2017, when more than 37 million packages were delivered, the most packages delivered in a single day in its more than 200-year history.  Read More.

Support for the Postal Reform Act

The Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service (C21), an organization of the private sector mailing industry, today announced support for S. 2629, Postal Reform Act of 2018. 

"C21 is very pleased that a bipartisan group of Senators has introduced the Postal Reform Act of 2018," said Art Sackler, Manager of the Coalition. "It would go a long way toward fixing the broken finances of the Postal Service, and ensure it will continue to deliver each year, as the public expects, the nearly 150 billion mail pieces that support our economy and the postal system."

C21 has very strongly supported the similar Postal Reform Act of 2017, HR 756, and its bipartisan sponsors in the House, and plans to do everything it can to secure passage of S. 2629 before a very urgent financial problem for USPS becomes dire later this year.

Need To Know: EPA's Updated Hazardous Waste Rule

In 2016, the EPA finalized a rule that updated the hazardous waste generator regulations to make the rules easier to understand, facilitate better compliance, provide greater flexibility in how hazardous waste is managed and close important gaps in the regulations. This rule went into effect in May of last year and all states must adopt the new provisions by July 1, 2018. These changes may affect how your business handles hazardous waste. This webinar will provide an overview of the new rule, what's changing, and how it might affect your business. Additionally, Kaitlin Rundle and Marci Kinter will share some resources you can use to help comply with the new hazardous waste regulations.

Who Should Attend:
* Company Owners
* Environmental Teams
* Management Teams
* Production Managers

Hosted by PIA National in a joint effort with SGIA
Presenters:  Kaitlin Rundle (Printing Industries of America); Gary Jones (Printing Industries of America);  and Marci Kinter (SGIA)

Thursday, May 3, 2018, 1:00 - 2:00 pm ~  Register  HERE

Office Manager Position Open         
Do you know someone that would be the perfect Office Manager to join our AWESOME team? We are looking to fill a full-time Office Manager in our Dallas office near the Galleria. If you know of an interested candidate please have them send their resume via email to TeresaC@piamidam.org The job listing details can be found  HERE.

Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
         
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made major changes to the tax law. Because of this, you and your employees should do a paycheck checkup using the  Withholding Calculator on  IRS.gov and, if necessary, complete a new W-4 form. The calculator will help determine the right amount of withholding and can help prevent having too little (or too much) tax withheld.

Recent changes affecting withholding include:
  • Reduced tax rates 
  • Elimination of personal exemptions
  • Increased standard deductions: $12,000 for singles, $18,000 for heads of households and $24,000 for married couples filing jointly
  • Increased child tax credit: $2,000 per qualifying child and a new $500 credit for other qualifying dependents 
  • Changes to itemized deductions
A paycheck checkup is especially important if you or your employees:
  • Are a two-income family
  • Have two or more jobs at the same time or who only work part of the year
  • Claim credits like the child tax credit
  • Have dependents age 17 or older
  • Itemized deductions in 2017
  • Have high income or a complex tax return
  • Have a large tax refund or tax bill for 2017
For more information, please see IRS.gov/taxreform. For updated withholding tables, please visit the IRS newsroom and the IRS withholding table FAQs.

Printers & Publishers 
Launch Coalition to End Canadian Uncoated Groundwood Paper Tariffs
         
Members of the printing, publishing and paper-producing industries have announced the formation of Stop Tariffs on Printers & Publishers (STOPP), a coalition to fight proposed countervailing duties (CVD) and anti-dumping duties (AD) on imports of Canadian uncoated groundwood papers, including newsprint and other papers.  Read more.
MEMBERS RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE  OF OFFICE SUPPLIES

UPCOMING EVENTS

April 24, 2018
Quick Takes Tuesdays
State of the Industry Webinar
sponsored by EFI
noon - 1:00 pm
Free for PIA MidAmerica Members / $39 for Not Yet Members
Register 


April 25, 2018
Digital Technology Council
The Value of Digital Print Enhancement Webinar
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Free for PIA MidAmerica Members / $39 for Not Yet Members
Register 
 
April 26, 2018
Kansas City Graphex Awards Gala
Arrowhead Stadium
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Register HERE

May 1, 2018
Kansas City People's Choice Open House
Breakfast & Lunch Speaker - Marina Joyce, Designing for Print Author
Posty Cards, 1600 Olive St., Kansas City, MO 64127

May 3, 2018
PIA National
EPA's Updated Hazardous Waste Rule Webinar
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Register HERE

May 10, 2018
DFW LEAN in Action
Learn How to Get Buy-In While Improving Your Business
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Clampitt Creative Center, 9207 Ambassador Row, Dallas, TX
Register  HERE

May 10, 2018
Automation READY!
PIA National Virtual Conference
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Just $99 for Members 

June 1, 2018
PIA National
Intertech Technology Awards Entry Deadline

June 19-20, 2018
Print Voice - D.C. Industry Lobbying
2018 Print & Packaging Summit
Washington D.C.

September 18, 2018
Kansas City Golf Tournament
Paradise Point Golf Complex
(the only double course in the city to accommodate our size)
Smithville, MO
SAVE the DATE!

November 15, 2018
Inkjet READY! Part 2
PIA National Virtual Conference
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Just $99 for Members 
SAVE the DATE!

November 12-16, 2018
PIA MidAmerica
P rintGuard OSHA 30 Hour Training Course
Chicago, IL
SAVE the DATE!

January 12-15, 2019
Color Conference
San Diego, CA
SAVE the DATE!

October 23-25, 2019
PrintUnited
Dallas, TX
SAVE the DATE!


PIA MidAmerica | (800) 788-2040 | www.piamidam.org
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