Third Annual Bill Treadaway Printing Leadership Forum
January 31, 2008
Clemson University, Department of Graphic Communications

The Event
It is expected that 50 % of upper management is expected to retire in the next ten years due to the surge of baby boomers approaching retirement age. How fitting that the theme for the Third Annual Bill Treadaway Print Leadership Forum focused on the “Evolving Face of Graphic Communications.” Industry leaders on hand to speak at the day-long event, held at Clemson University on January 31, 2008, covered a broad range of topics from accountability, corporate rebranding, the state of the industry, company culture, to global warming. Over 330 students, alumni, university faculty, and industry participants attended the event.
In the opening keynote, Maury Hiers of Partners in Leadership helped participants see that through accountability we can achieve the results we desire. Hier’s interactive session focused on the skills and attitudes necessary to create a culture of accountability through the four steps to See It®, Own It®, Solve It®, Do It®. Larry Kroll, Vice President of Heidelberg’s Print Media Academy, spoke on the topic of transitioning, from a manufacturers standpoint, in response to a new generation or owners, employees, markets, and equipment. Kodak Graphic Communications Group Chief Marketing Officer and Eastman Kodak Company, Vice President, Kevin Joyce, presented on the topic of “Rebranding an Icon”. He provided the 10 Steps to Transformation for companies like Kodak in response to implementing new technology. Michael Makin, President and CEO of PIA/GATF provided an overview of Market trends and Economic Outlooks for the industry contrasting industry leaders and industry laggards. The afternoon session wrapped up with a call to action by the president of Derek Smith Associates, Derek Smith, for each individual and company to calculate their own carbon footprint and make efforts to reduce it. Rick Green, President of Green Communications Strategies, described by one attendee at the forum banquet as “not your average speaker,” closed the event with an entertaining, yet insightful, look at company culture and commitment. Steve Johnson, Chair of the Treadaway Steering Committee stated, “This year’s forum was our best ever; with terrific participation by students, faculty, and industry. We are excited about the funds made available from the Forum’s supporters being used to provide on-going leadership development initiatives at Clemson University.”
According to the forum chair, Carol Jones, the next Bill Treadaway Print Leadership Forum is planned for January 29, 2009 and will focus on “Print Leadership: Our Commitment to Progress.
Proud Sponsors of the 2008 Treadaway Forum:
Platinum–Adobe Systems; Gold–Copac Incorporated, RR Donnelley-State, and Southern Graphic Systems; Silver–BCM Inks, Classic Graphics, CL&D Graphics, Cyrel Packaging Graphics, and Exopack LLC, Flint Group, Harper Corporation, Kodak, MacDermid Printing Solutions, PICA Foundation, and Sealed Air Corporation; Bronze–Alliance Display & Packaging: A Division of Rock-Tenn Company, HBP Incorporated, Keys Printing, Pratt Corporation, and Think Patented.