The first meeting of FESPA’s Americas Steering Group took place during FESPA 2010 in Munich. The Group was brought together to represent all FESPA’s stakeholder groups in the Americas, including exhibitors, print service providers, regional business support organisations, media and sector analysts.
Chaired by FESPA board member Christian Duyckaerts (photo: far left), the Group comprised Frank Tueckmantel (EFI); Charlie Taublieb [Taublieb Consulting]; Scott Fresener (T-Biz International); Tim Greene (InfoTrends); [Rich Gottwald] (ISA); Michael O’Ryan (Sampco); Nicholas Hellmuth (FLAAR); JR Kraft (Build a Sign). FESPA was represented by board members Lascelle Barrow, Yasar Guvenen, managing director Frazer Chesterman, and sales and marketing director Marcus Timson.
FESPA managing director Frazer Chesterman explains: “We created this steering group as a forum in which FESPA could listen to real feedback and ideas on how we can shape a FESPA Americas event that precisely meets the current needs of stakeholders across North, South and central America and the Caribbean.
“What we heard is that there is a real appetite for FESPA’s brand of event in the Americas, offering a blend of well planned and presented exhibition features, plus high quality educational and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The participants reinforced our own belief in the benefits to be gained by printers from an exchange of experience and best practice between Europe and the Americas. We came away with a very clear understanding of what FESPA Americas should be delivering for all types of visitor, and will be working hard in the coming months to develop the show to meet these needs.”
JR Kraft of BuildASign.com comments: “FESPA provides the Americas sign and graphic community with a new and fresh event. This has clearly challenged the show market in the USA but in my opinion this is a good thing. I personally feel tired with the current choices I have and I believe that a new event designed to do different things, for different people is absolutely what we need. That’s what we call innovation, and as an innovative business person I think this should be encouraged and I will most certainly be at FESPA Americas in February in Orlando.”
The next FESPA Americas steering group meeting will take place in Orlando in October 2010, at IFAI Expo, where Frazer Chesterman & Marcus Timson will deliver their 60 Minutes to Innovate! Seminar.
The first FESPA Americas event is confirmed to take place from February 24-26 2011 in Orlando, Florida, occupying around 72000 sq. ft. (8000m2) of exhibition space at the city’s Orange County Convention Center. The event will run alongside the established Graphics of the Americas (GoA) show, organised by the Printing Association of Florida (PAF).