EFI has announced the addition of a fireside chat keynote session with Joel Quadracci, chairman, president & CEO of Sussex, WI-based Quad/Graphics at EFI Connect 2017 – the EFI users’ group conference taking place January 17-20, 2017, at Wynn Las Vegas. Quadracci’s January 18 fireside chat keynote session will be moderated by EFI CEO Guy Gecht, who will review Quadracci’s outlook on the future of media communications, the rising importance of cross-media technologies, and Quad/Graphics’ targeted growth initiatives in signage and packaging.

Quadracci has become a transformative leader in the global printing industry, taking Quad/Graphics into new markets and territories in the ten years he has led the venerable print, digital and marketing services company founded in 1971 by his father, the late Harry V. Quadracci.

“Joel’s perseverance and vision leading Quad/Graphics have made it one of the most influential and important businesses in terms of expanding the scope and presence of print as a central part of a multimedia world,” says Gecht. “His EFI Connect presentation will be a valuable and unique opportunity for EFI customers to learn more about the many strategic, technological and customer service advantages Quad/Graphics has established to enhance and redefine leadership in the global graphic arts industry.”

Connecting print with the spectrum of multimedia communications, Quad/Graphics, which recorded $4.678 billion in annual revenues last year, is North America’s largest long-run printing company and has a long history of innovation in the retail, publishing, insurance, financial and healthcare industries, among others. Quad/Graphics operates locations throughout North America, Latin America and Europe and has strategic partnerships in Asia and other parts of the world. These operations deliver solutions that improve efficiencies, reduce costs, lift response and increase revenue. As a leading provider of print and marketing services, the company is continuing to advance the industry by helping marketers and publishers capitalize on print’s ability to complement and connect with other media channels.

“Efficiency and effectiveness are central to Quad/Graphics’ strategy in driving cost-effective, relevant, and targeted print and multimedia offerings,” adds Quadracci. “EFI, which provides technologies that Quad/Graphics uses across our facilities, is part of that strategy, as is EFI Connect – a conference that Quad/Graphics employees have attended from the beginning to sharpen their essential skills developing leading-edge, integrated production workflows.”

Quadracci’s January 18 fireside chat is part of a complete agenda of informative and educational sessions for graphic arts executives at EFI Connect. Additional sessions at the users’ group conference include:

• More than 200 educational sessions on business management, sales, marketing and production technology for users of EFI products
• An opening day fireside chat with Xerox Technology Group President Jeff Jacobson
• EFI executive and product portfolio sessions.
• The users’ group conference also will have a solutions center featuring new EFI technologies and exhibits from EFI partners, including: Canon; KDX America; Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc.; The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation; Progress Software Corp.; Ricoh Americas Corp.; and Zünd.