I’ve always wondered why anyone would stage an exposition in the middle of winter–in Green Bay, WI, no less. Well there’s one very good reason that I think even Green Bay Packer legend Vince Lombardi would agree with–to do serious business! And, yes, I’m taking my 4WD Escape to make sure the weather doesn’t factor into my attendance. more…

If you’ve had a chance to read PFFC’s current January cover article titled, “2010 Year of Recovery” by Bill Hornell of Mesirow Financial, you would have seen complementary input provided by some of our industry’s leading associations. (Also check out a free recorded webinar that PFFC hosted live with sponsorship from Fife on our industry’s Critical Trends.) While I recognize that I have a somewhat biased view, I thought their comments were particularly insightful and contributed to making this article a “must read” as we say in the publishing business. more…

What efforts or contributions has or can your company make to helping those in desperate need in Haiti? This morning the island suffered another aftershock that measured 6.1 on the Richter scale. Then it dawned on me that the converting industry probably has a lot to offer. more…

In order to know what direction your 2010 strategy should take, it helps to know where you’ve been. Armed with 2009 converter benchmarks, discover how you stack up against your converter competitors to strengthen your 2010 plans for success. Let what happened in 2009, stay in 2009! more…

Now that CMM is history, what will make the new Mack Brooks Exhibition (MBE) group’s ICE USA (April 6–8, 2011, in Orlando) successful? Will it be the conferences, the number of exhibitors, the type of exhibitors, working equipment? How can they attract attendees? more…

I’ve been receiving some feedback about CMM’s demise–all from email, of course. I think it warrants repeating more…

So it’s official, Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd. (MBE), owners of the new ICE USA show that purchased CMM, has picked the Orange County Convention Ctr. (OCCC) for the show’s site on April 6–8, 2011. Michael Boyle is the event director. more…

I love it when I hear from readers who respond to questions within any of PFFC’s publications. One of our subscribers’ favorite monthly reads in the magazine is a guest column titled, “Experience Speaks,” and I posted a question at the bottom of the November column featuring David Premo, VP/General Manager of Adhesive Applications Inc. I asked: “What’s the best advice you ever got?” more…

Pennwell (Tulsa, OK) (www.pennwell.com) has announced that Mack Brooks Exhibitions (MBE) has purchased CMM, the Converting Machinery/Materials Conference & Exhibition,(www.cmmshow.com) from them. I’ve contacted Mack Brooks and CEO Stephen Brooks says he will make an announcement a week from today on the first day of ICE Europe in Munich, as they are still finalizing details on how they will proceed. CEO Brooks confirmed the deal was completed on Friday, November 13, to allow MBE to have time to set things in place before the 24th. It was promised that all will be revealed on the 24th, so stay tuned HERE!

So what does everyone think???? Let me hear some reactions, People!

Received a press release from NFI Research delivering the results from a survey it distributed on the value of e-mail. Can you identify with any of the findings? Here’s what NFI reported:

Forty-five percent of business leaders spend three or more hours daily using e-mail. Thirty-seven percent spend one to two hours while 19% spend less than an hour. The majority (63%) of executives and managers use both a computer and a mobile device for e-mail. Three percent of business leaders use just a phone and 34% just use a computer. more…