Print & Graphic Communications Association members have access to many resources which can help increase their profitability, keep their workers safe and provide education which can help them reach their strategic goals. Throughout the year, PIA promotes our various services and benefits, but with all the mail and email you receive every day, maybe you missed hearing about something that could really help your company. Plan to take advantage of more PIA services in 2017 and you’ll be glad you did. 

Print & Graphic Communications Association staff is constantly engaged with members, providing consultation, etc.  Here are the highlights from 2016 –

Return on (Your Industry) Investment: PIA announced that members had collectively achieved an amazing 759% return on their membership investment in 2015.  All active members received a letter detailing the savings they received. Improve your company’s ROI – visit https://printcommunications.org/benefits/buying-power-discounts.html

Safety Webinars Held:  In the fall, PIA set up a schedule of webinars which made it easy for members to get in compliance with the latest requirements in the Hazard Communication Standard.  Over 250 employees at 15 PIA member companies were trained. Jerry Banks conducted the webinar training and also conducted three sessions on how to prepare for an OSHA inspection. Check out the schedule at https://printcommunications.org/safety-webinars.html.

HR Services Provided:  From the PIA Human Resources Conference held in April, to continuous updates on various employment law developments, to union avoidance assistance, PIA members have enjoyed the expert help provided by Nick Fiorenza and Mike Dodd at Ferrara Fiorenza PC. Contact PIA’s Association Counsel at (315) 437-7600 for help with your HR challenges. The year ahead promises to be a surprising one, with the new administration taking over in January.

Alerts sent from our Voter Voice Legislative Action Center:  Many members responded to the alerts on the application of the New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) for “Preferred Source” status on mail fulfillment and document production. PIA continues to maintain that NYSID and its partners have been illegally awarded contracts through Preferred Source and that granting them preferred source would take work away from PIA members, many of whom employ disabled workers in their operations. We will keep you posted on the latest news in this matter.

Pass the Word:  Print Drives America:  PIA has put together statistics regarding the dominance of print among media, to assist members in driving home the point that Printers Sell Print, But Print Sells Everything.  Print has a total ad value of over $150 billion, which is larger than all other media combined.  Sales of printed books are on the rise, especially among millennials. Watch for more news about how Print Drives America in the coming year.

New Member Services: PIA staff is constantly researching new benefits for members. This year we announced a new shop towel program with ITU Absorbtech, a safety supply program with Northern Safety and a new menu of employee benefits services with our PIA Employee Benefit Connection program. Visit https://printcommunications.org/benefits/buying-power-discounts.html

drupa Activities: Last May, PIA sponsored a group program to the watershed 2016 drupa show in Germany. For those who couldn’t make it to the show, we brought drupa to the states, complete with bratwurst, at our Post-drupa event held in New York City in August. 

Leaders honored:  Close to 400 industry executives gathered together to honor industry leaders at our Franklin Luminaire event in October. A number of individuals and companies were recognized including former PIA Chairman Steve Zenger, President & CEO, Zenger Group, in Buffalo, NY and 60 Minutes correspondent Armen Keteyian.

Watch for some exciting new announcements in 2017.