This month I’d like to welcome two new columnists: Erik Godchaux and Kevin Karstedt. For the last 25 years, Media Strategy Group CEO Erik Godchaux has helped owners, CEOs and CMOs modernize their branding, strategic messaging and sales development efforts. His “customer-first” strategies have generated awareness and sales of high-value and high-margin products and services. He’s helped companies enter new vertical and geographic markets, and played a key role in the launch of profitable B2B e-commerce ventures. He also has more than two decades in the printing, packaging and paper industries in Canada and the U.S., creating and executing highly differentiated brand and sales-driving campaigns. He’ll share his insights on branding, marketing and related topics.
Since the mid-1980s, Kevin Karstedt, CEO of Karstedt Partners, has worked with consumer product companies, package printers, converters, and suppliers of products and services for the packaging industry. His company has also published a number of important industry whitepapers and is one of the foremost thought leaders regarding technological innovations for packaging and packaging graphics. Karstedt has also been on the cutting edge of digital technologies – from the early days of workflows, to current innovations such as RFID, track and trace, brand security and process improvements. He’s been a sought-after speaker on digital workflows and digital printing and packaging for many years. He’ll be sharing his expertise on digital technologies, packaging and much more.
I’d also like to call out a wonderful friend and an acknowledged leader in our industry. Jeff Ekstein is President of the Willow Printing Group (Concord, ON) and Chair of the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund (CPISTF). On pages 28 and 29, he makes a very compelling argument for printing companies to invest in the future, become donors, and get access to the most talented individuals coming out of our best educational institutions. These hard working, tech-savvy young people represent the future of the printing industry in Canada, and will be a valuable addition and asset to any company’s staff.
Finally, Canada’s largest tradeshow for the printing industry, Graphics Canada, will take place April 6-8 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. We’ll be previewing the biennial event’s many specialty areas, attractions and exhibitors in the weeks to come on our website and in our March issue. Please remember to stop by our booth, say hello, subscribe to our free printed editions, and be part of our free draw for a fabulous prize.
Until next time, always remember that we’re here to help you.