Electronics For Imaging’s (EFI’s) annual Users’ Conference, EFI Connect, will be among the most informative and valuable in the event’s 20-year history – thanks in part to keynote sessions that deliver new insights and expertise in workflow management and automation, integrated digital print, and industry growth marketing strategies, said the company. Keynote speakers for the conference – taking place January 21-24, 2020 at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada – include former IBM senior executive Alfred Zollar, who’ll share his expertise in enterprise management systems. Jeff Jacobson, the longtime print industry leader who joined EFI as its CEO and Executive Chairman in 2019, will also share his vision for the future of the industry in a Connect keynote. Plus, a special “fireside chat” keynote session will feature a conversation between Jacobson and former EFI CEO Guy Gecht. The sessions are part of an extensive, dynamic conference that’s become one of the print industry’s most important conferences. “Every year print and packaging professionals from around the world attend Connect to obtain a technological, operational and management edge in the growing digital space,” EFI added.
The new frontier in IT for efficiency in automation. Zollar, who’ll speak at the 4:45 pm session on January 22, is currently part of the executive partner team at Siris Capital and helped structure the mid-2019 private equity acquisition of EFI by a Siris affiliate. Prior to working with Siris, he had a 34-year career in IBM’s enterprise software businesses in information management, application development, networking, operating systems and security. Drawing on his experience leading IBM’s multi-billion-dollar Tivoli Software infrastructure management technology, IBM Lotus software and many other business-critical enterprise applications, the 2011 Harvard Advanced Leadership Fellow and software engineer will explore future trends and strategies for success for print professionals in the next era of IT. “The Connect audience is the industry’s most engaged in terms of businesses commitment to improvement by leveraging data and ERP tools,” Zollar added. “I look forward to sharing many important future trends with them – including developments that affect how printing companies can manage their businesses to maximize productivity, flexibility and security in increasingly complex computing environments.”
Two CEOs and the future of print. Jacobson’s January 21 keynote session will give attendees a clear vision for the future of print based on the major trends shaping the future of communication, marketing and commerce. He’ll bring a perspective gleaned from his three decades in print – a tenure that includes roles as the CEO of Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Presstek, and most recently, Xerox. His keynote insights are informed by the extensive contact he’s made working with customers since assuming the top executive role at EFI in August of 2019. The special fireside chat keynote later that day will, for the first time, feature two EFI CEOs on stage at a Connect event, as Jacobson interviews the company’s longtime leader, Guy Gecht. “EFI Connect’s typically unpredictable fireside chats will once again have a fresh perspective on industry challenges and opportunities – with the former executive who spent nearly 19 years leading EFI from its early days as a RIP technology developer to its status as a provider of complete, integrated portfolios for digital industrial, display graphics and commercial print applications,” the copmany said.
“I interviewed Jeff Jacobson for a fireside chat in 2017, and now the tables have been turned,” said Gecht. “I’m excited about being on the other side of the table and looking forward to sharing new reflections on the industry and its future opportunities. As print service providers continue to face challenges and opportunities, their ability to quickly learn and adapt is key in realizing profitable growth. As we start a new decade, I’m excited to come back to Connect, which continues to be a unique conference for customers and suppliers to gather actionable insights about trends in the industry and in technology,” he added.
With approximately 200 sessions across a wide range of topics, EFI Connect 2020 will be an ideal venue for open dialogue and idea exchanges, with educational talks, hands-on training, and networking with a large community of print professionals committed to driving growth. “Attendees from all over the world learn the best ways to use EFI’s portfolio of production and industrial inkjet, integrated MIS/ERP workflow and Fiery digital front ends (DFEs). Customers will also benefit from being able to provide in-person feedback to senior EFI executives and technical development staff. A ‘solutions center’ exhibit area at the conference will feature the latest EFI workflow, Fiery DFE and inkjet display graphics offerings. Plus, attendees can view advanced solutions from participating partners, including: Aberdeen Fabrics; Color Concepts; Duplo; Enfocus; Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.; MBM Corporation; OneVision; The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation; Progress®Software Corp.; Ricoh Americas Corp.; RISO; SpencerMetrics; Thomson Reuters; and Zünd,” EFI pointed out.
For more information about EFI Connect 2020, and to register for the event, please visit www.efi.com/connect.
EFI Connect 2020 to explore key industry issues and feature digital print visionaries
