PACA 2012: Your Industry, Your Company, Your Conference
Always flexible, PACA 2012 will truly be your conference! You asked and we answered. You voted and we responded. We’ve reexamined fees, locations, sponsorships, networking opportunities, and the program to make this our most attend-able, most personalized, Conference experience!
Our early-bird rate is a greater value than ever. We’ve reduced fees way below 2011 prices while delivering the informative sessions, historic venues, networking areas, free conference-area WiFi, and fine fare that the PACA meeting is known for.
The PACA 2012 International Conference is moving to Chicago, one of the country’s most popular convention locations. Home to more that 400 corporate headquarters, Chicago is a where the nation comes to do business.
This year’s new program format will help you streamline your business while you’re in Chicago. The schedule will be split between business and technology tracks, helping attendees to plan their meetings and attend the sessions that best benefit their company.
VENUE
Our event will be held at the chic Chicago Marriott Downtown, where you’ll encounter the epitome of luxury and convenience. Located on Michigan Avenue, this renowned Windy City landmark is walking distance to the city’s main attractions.
We’ve secured an amazing rate of just $199.00 per night for this lovely hotel where all the action will be taking place for the weekend. You can book your room here until September 27, 2012.
Nearby O’Hare International Airport, a major airline hub and the second busiest airport in the world, ensures ease of access for attendees coming from anywhere in the world.
Chicago’s walkable downtown is packed with distinctive neighborhoods featuring delectable restaurants, expressive art galleries, and trendy boutique shopping perfect for a quick break or unwinding after a productive day at the Conference.
The big draws, of course, are Wrigley Field (home to the Chicago Cubs) and the United Center (Chicago Bulls); Lincoln Park Zoo, a surprisingly free animal attraction; and Navy Pier, a carnival-like outdoor entertainment experience (think Ferris Wheel, carousel, and funhouse).
THE MARKETING HUB
It’s back! While there will be many opportunities throughout the weekend, the Marketing Hub returns this year as the Conference’s primary networking area. The Hub is the place to find new distribution partners, check out the latest technologies and services, and schedule meetings with Conference attendees. Book one of the tables pictured below for a solid, scheduled, on-site presence throughout the Conference weekend. Tables are limited, so book early to take advantage of this enormous networking opportunity.
You can register for the Conference and reserve your specific table online using your credit card. Please note that you must already be registered to attend the Conference before you can reserve a table in the Hub.
PROGRAM
Our sessions begin bright and early Saturday morning, alternating between the business and technology tracks.
We are pleased to announce that Ken Carson, EVP and General Counsel of Cengage Learning, will be launching our 2012 Conference with "Thoughts about the future of Image Licensing in Educational Publishing".
The digital transformation in educational publishing presents many opportunities and challenges for both publishers and image providers. The need to adapt content within digital products stands in stark contrast to the static world of print books. While both mediums will be in use by publishers for the foreseeable future, editorial and content acquisition processes are already evolving to a new digital-first mindset. He will explore some of the products and solutions that are requiring that educational publishers think differently about licensing images, and why we hope that image providers will work with publishers to our mutual benefit.
Licensed visual media will play a part in this changing online landscape, but will it be shot and bought the way we do it now? Jason Amunwa, one of the design world's most prolific writers and Director of Products at Digital Telepathy, sees that the web is changing visual storytelling and will begin this conversation on Sunday morning with "The Rise Of Visual Storytelling On The Web & Implications For Visual Content Sources".
Between the billion-dollar acquisition of Instagram, the rocket-fueled ascension of Pinterest, and the virility of the millions of image-memes floating around online, it's clear that consumers are increasingly demanding the ability to communicate quickly, easily—and most importantly, visually. This talk will focus on the trends powering the rapid adoption of the visual tools facilitating this medium, and speak to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for visual content creators and curators.
Panel discussions throughout the weekend will include:
- Editorial Buyers’ Panel “Sourcing for a Changing World” with representatives from McGraw-Hill, Lerner Books, The Great Courses, and Delta Sky Magazine.
- “Buying and Selling Imagery in Today's Marketplace-How Can We Reduce the Stress” a Buyers’ Buyers' Panel with representatives from Microsoft, Ogilvy and other local ad agency representatives.
- "Robots, Crowds and Clouds— Keywording Meets The Future" KeywordSmart, Tagasauris, Picworkflow and Mark Milstein.
- “Agency in a Box” with Yaymicro, Photodeck and PhotoShelter.
And much, much more. Keep checking www.pacaoffice.org/conference.shtml for the latest program information. |