Big Easy

Attendees had the perfect opportunity to experience their marketplace, New Orleans style at this year’s SGIA Expo. Imagers were able to enjoy the specialty imaging community while getting their fill of culture, music and food in the Crescent City, specifically at key social networking events hosted by the Association.

The Keynote Breakfast
SGIA President and CEO, Mike Robertson kicked things off over fresh fruit and beignets at this year’s revamped Keynote Breakfast (formerly the Keynote Luncheon). Then, best-selling author Marc Miller, (“Selling is Dead” and “A Seat at the Table”) took the stage to discuss how to drive revenue growth by connecting to customer strategy.

“It’s not just about productivity, but how you can differentiate yourself from the competitor,” Miller said during his presentation. “The question to ask is, ‘Can you differentiate your business and add unique value?’”

“Marc gave a very interesting presentation and provided useful take-away information,” said Marcos Comparato, Sign Supply (Sao Paulo, Brazil). “I was intrigued by the Blue Ocean and Red Ocean business strategy he talked about.”

Thursday Night Dinner Party
Later that day, SGIA Expo attendees were treated to an evening of playing Wii (pronounced “we”) at the Hilton Riverside, followed by industry awards presented by SGIA’s 2009 Chairman of the Board, Carl Baldwin and ASPT Chairman Alex Zuckerman. Attendees also were introduced to SGIA’s 2010 Chairman of the Board, Joe Shondel.

A moment of significance, however, came when Baldwin presented the industry’s highest honor, the Howard Parmele award, to long-time industry supporter, Larry Graefen, President of Harbor Graphics Corporation (a Vomela Specialties Company) in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

There was good food, good conversations and friendly competition, when the three Wii systems were raffled off in good humor by Baldwin and Shondel.

Check out the Golden Image and Product of the Year Award Winners!