It’s been a busy summer on many fronts. In one of the biggest takeovers in our industry’s history, Wisconsin-based Quad/Graphics will acquire World Color Press (formerly Quebecor World) of Montreal. The agreement was to be finalized at press time and is still subject to the approval of the Québec Superior Court, but no bumps in the road are expected.
Congratulations to KBA as 30 of its newspaper customers won awards from WAN-IFRA’s exclusive International Newspaper Color Quality Club. Users of compact KBA presses represented an impressive one-third of the winners.
On the people front, Xerox appointed Mandy Shapansky as president, CEO and chairwoman of Xerox Canada as of July 1. St. Joseph Communications’ CEO Tony Gagliano received an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University, his alma mater.
The Ottawa-based Lowe Martin Group participated in the city’s Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program, creating many in-shop strategies that will reduce future energy consumption and its impact on the environment – and received a $25,000 cheque from Hydro Ottawa! Who said going green doesn’t pay?
Be sure to mark October 3 – 6 on your events calendar. That’s when the 2010 edition of GraphExpo will be held once again at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Graphic Arts Magazine will be there, so be sure to drop by our booth. Check out www.graphexpo.com. Another must-attend is Print World 2010 at the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto November 20 – 22. This is North America’s largest show specifically for the shorter-run printing market. Go to www.printworld.ca.
It’s always nice to see leading members of our industry give back to the community, such as J.F. Moore’s recent involvement in the first annual Joe Carter and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament on June 23. The company printed all communications for the tournament and built the event’s interactive portal. Proceeds went to the Children’s Aid Foundation.
Finally, in the midst of World Cup fever, some leading European contenders have been knocked out of the competition, and it appears that we’re headed for a showdown between two South American countries. However, at press time, Germany was still a force to be reckoned with. I must say that I’m awed by the high level of player skills, but even more impressed with the level of excitement and camaraderie, even amongst opposing fans, that it has brought to Toronto. The final match should be quite a spectacle.
As always, stay positive and stay focused.
