ACUP Is Back On

The Association of College and University Printers conference will take place April 11-15 in Charlotte, N.C.

No one was more disappointed than Richard Griffin when the Association of College and University Printers conference had to be cancelled last year. As host and president of ACUP, Griffin made the fateful decision due to very low registration numbers, the result of travel bans at many universities. 

But ACUP’s 44-year tradition is too strong to let a little thing like a recession keep it down. So from April 11-15, Griffin is hosting ACUP’s comeback conference—though with a few modifications due to an anticipated lower turnout.

For one thing, the event has been moved from Myrtle Beach to Griffin’s hometown, Charlotte, N.C., where he works as director of Campus Printing at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC). 

“In this economic climate, people are looking for value, and Charlotte costs less than Myrtle Beach,” he explains. “We were able to get a great hotel with Internet and free transportation to and from the airport for more than 40 percent less than ACUP 2009’s hotel, which included none of those services.” 

The scope of the event has been scaled back as well. While ACUP 2008 drew 130 managers, less than half that number may attend this year, creating a more intimate setting. This, Griffin feels, will be perfect for in-depth discussions on a variety of issues. 

“One thing we plan to offer is a peer review session,” he reveals. “We plan to break attendees up into groups of like-sized operations, and...each group member will get the opportunity to run her/his issues by other manager/peers.”

To further capitalize on the smaller group size, Griffin has several roundtable discussions planned on topics like digital presses, online ordering and wide-format printing. Other sessions will cover good financial management practices, best business practices, peer evaluation, using social media to grow your business and utilizing Microsoft Outlook to manage your time. 

IPG Editor Bob Neubauer will provide a “state of the industry” address using data from a major in-plant industry survey currently being conducted. And the keynote address will be given by CPCC’s president, Dr. Tony Zeiss, on the topic “Becoming Indispensable to Your Organization.”

ACUP 2010 will also feature a vendor exhibit area, a tour of a major commercial printer and a visit to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Racing Museum.