Educational Programs

PICA/xpedx Graphics Management Institute

History

The Graphics Management Institute (GMI) was established in 1977 to provide a program of continuing education to the graphic arts and printing industry.

Each year, GMI presents a major program geared toward keeping company owners and other key managers up-to-date on industry trends, management practices, and developing technologies.

The GMI curriculum, which PICA prepares and coordinates, includes seminars on sales and marketing, personnel, industrial relations, financing, computer applications, industrial relations, government affairs, and technical skills.

PICA Foundation and Dillard Paper Company -- now called xpedx -- jointly endowed GMI, each contibuting $50,000 to the fund, which partially underwrites tuition and fees. Endowment funds also help provide stipends for institute instructors and speakers.

Graphic arts is a major industry segment in the Carolinas. Like other American industries, graphic arts is faced with a serious workforce shortage. Consequently, PICA Foundation and xpedx have recognized the need to take the initiative now to develop the educated, motivated employees needed to run our businesses, today and in the future. It is that need which the Graphics Management Institute addresses -- the need for an advanced workforce.

Past GMIs

The first program was held in 1961 and the GMI was produced annually until Dillard became the sponsor in 1977. A list of past GMIs are:

Marketing Management for Printing Sales -- 1977
Supervisory Management for Tomorrow’s Success -- 1978
Sales Leadership for Printing Professionals -- 1982
Higher Profits for Small Shop Printers -- 1983
Now That’s Customer Service -- 1986
Small & Quick Printers’ Conference -- 1987
Sales Marketing -- 1988
Quest for Quality/Small Printers Conference -- 1989
The State of Print 1990 -- 1990
Bridging to a Digital Future -- 1994
Managing Your Electronic Prepress for Profitability -- 1996
Winning in a Changing Environment -- 1996
Buying the Iron -- 1999
Sales 2000 -- 2000
Managing and Financing Independent Business -- 2002
Level One: Managing & Financing Independent Business: Practical Tools for Control, Survival & Success
Level Two: The Advanced Fiscal Physical: Your Road Map to a Bigger Bottom Line -- 2003
Pricing Printing for Profit -- 2004
Technology Blast -- 2005