Xplor Community Update June 11, 2025

Industry Professionals Newsletter & EDP Community Updates

Xplor Community,

Though the Xplor headquarters office closed, our community continues to offer industry professionals opportunities to learn, grow, and advance. The EDP Commission has continued to meet monthly to serve our peers seeking an EDA, EDP, and M-EDP through the Xplor EDP Certification program, in addition to supporting our existing EDPs as they work on their Re-Certification.

Since the 2024 Xplor Summit, the EDP Commission has certified six industry professionals as EDPs, and we currently have more than that number of EDP candidates preparing to take the online certification test. Since the launch of the EDP certification test in 2024, most candidates have opted to take the online test. The 2025 EDP class is on track to regain double-digit EDP certification counts for the first time since the 2017 class.

We look forward to recognizing our latest EDPs during the Xplor Educational Track at PRINTING United Expo in Orlando in October.

Learn more about the EDP Certification program at xplor.org/edp. If you would like to talk with an EDP mentor or have questions about your EDP recertification, email us at edp@xplor.org.

A group of Xplor members will host an Xplor Educational Track at the PRINTING United Expo. Join us to learn the latest news and industry insights from industry panelists.

  • Session 1: Track Opening with Skip Henk
    Moderator: Pat McGrew, McGrew Group
  • Session 2: Practical AU for Enterprise Print Shops and PSPs
    Moderator: Betsy Keplinger, OSG
  • Session 3: MailPrep in 2025: Modern Tool Solutions for Production Operations
    Moderator: Scott Mulkey, Quantre Solutions
  • Session 4: Accessibility for Enterprise and DM Mailers
    Moderator: Joanne Gore, Joanne Gore Communications
  • Session 5: Building a Cost-effective, Efficient Enterprise Workflow
    Moderator: Ernie Crawford, Crawford Technologies
  • Session 6: Wrap-up: The Big Takeaways and What to Do Next
    Moderator: Pat McGrew, McGrew Group

We want to hear from you. Please take our two-question survey to help us understand which industry topics interest you.

Our industry is growing! Keep an eye on Xplor.org for new things to come to support you as an industry professional!

Advancing CXM together,

Scott Mulkey, M-EDP
Secretary, EDP Commission

Xplor International Closes After 40+ Years

Lutz, FL – March 26, 2025 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that after more than 40 years, they have made the difficult decision to cease operations effective March 31, 2025.

“This decision was not made lightly,” says Skip Henk, EDP, who led the organization for the past 23 years as president and CEO. “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the attendance at our annual conference has not recovered and we have reached the point where we are unable to sustain our operations. We are proud of the connections, knowledge sharing, and experiences we’ve fostered, and we hope our community gained valuable insights, enjoyed our events, and most importantly, built meaningful relationships with fellow professionals.”

What happens now?

  • The Xplor website will remain active throughout 2025, allowing members to access a wealth of resources through the Xplor Member Portal, including recorded webinars, past conference presentations, videos, and more.

  • The Xplor Certification Program will continue under the management of another organization, with more details to be announced.

  • A group of Xplor members will host an Xplor Educational Track at the PRINTING United Expo in Orlando this fall. The show will also feature an Xplor Pavilion on the exhibit floor for Xplor exhibitors.

As this chapter closes, Skip expressed “On behalf of past and present Xplor staff, we are grateful to our members, partners and community. Their support, collaboration, and passion have made a lasting impact, and we are proud of the legacy we leave behind.”

While Xplor International is ending, the connections and knowledge built together will carry on through their certification program and educational efforts, which will continue through the efforts of dedicated Xplor volunteers. The Xplor Association Board of Directors encourages the Xplor community to take full advantage of the resources that remain available through the Xplor website and stay connected through future industry events like the PRINTING United Expo.

As Skip says, “It’s been a good ride. Hope to see you at PRINTING United in October.”

About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

We enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.
Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Florida, with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Cal Poly Team Takes Fifth Consecutive Win at the 2024 Xplor Summit for the Association’s Annual Design Competition

Lutz, FL – October 2, 2024 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the winners of their 2024 Communication Design Competition. Sponsored by Quadient, the annual contest is open to university students and challenges them to conceptualize and present a real-life application design, while having a bit of fun.

Participating teams from California Polytechnic State University’s Graphic Communication Department and the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Packaging and Graphic Media Science each consisted of up to five student members from their university. A team can only submit one entry, but the university can have multiple teams. Each student can only participate on one team.

A total of eight teams competed at the university level, with the top team from each university advancing to present their solution on Wednesday, September 25th during the 2024 Xplor Summit. Quadient and Xplor presented the winning team with the 2024 Xplor Communication Design Competition Victory Cup on stage later that afternoon.

This year’s runner up is a team from the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Packaging and Graphic Media Science and includes Sophia Inglis, Owen Kimbrough, Jeffrey Liu and Aoife Plunkett. Their faculty advisor is Dr. Malcolm Keif.

The winners of the 2024 design competition are from California Polytechnic State University’s Graphic Communication Department, or Cal Poly, and the team includes Olivia Cooper, Hailey Jones, Malia McCaig, Amelia Petroff, and Ella Williamson. Their faculty advisor is associate professor Dina Vees.

“Seeing the passion and talent from the two teams along with the poise and confidence of the students at this point in their careers is mind-blowing,” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “The design competition truly is a highlight of our annual event and I want to thank all the teams for their dedication as well as Quadient for their investment in supporting this wonderful program.”

The winners were selected based on their team’s presentation and explanation of the redesign to a panel of judges. In addition to travel stipends, each participant received a complimentary full-summit pass to the annual event where they attended educational sessions and panels, a career speed dating session and networked with other attendees and our exhibitors.


About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver, and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

Xplor enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Pat McGrew, M-EDP, to Present a Keynote at 2024 Xplor Summit

Lutz, FL – September 3, 2024 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that Pat McGrew, M-EDP, CMP, Managing Director of McGrewGroup Inc., will be presenting the keynote address to kick-off the 2024 summit on September 24th. The event takes place September 24-26, at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista (Disney Springs Area) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. To register, visit register.xplor.org/summit.

Her session titled “Where in the World is Pat McGrew? An Xploring Life!” will delve into over 30 years’ and 30 countries’ worth of stories and experiences to share. Attendees will find out what’s new from the big shows since the last Xplor Summit, and also about the richness and friendships a life in print and communication brings. From Australia to Austria, Singapore to Sweden, Brazil to Belgium, Pat will share her learnings and advice, and the value of Xploring.

Since there are many journeys, Pat will expand the sharing! For the second half of her keynote, she mustered up a star-filled array of luminaries to share their perspectives on how far we have come, and what they see on the horizon. Pat will moderate a panel with Ernie Crawford, M-EDP, Roger P. Gimbel, EDP, and Mia Papanicolaou, who each bring unique backgrounds we can learn from.


About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver, and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

Xplor enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor International Awards Four University Scholarships for 2024

Lutz, FL – August 29, 2024 – Xplor International today announced that they have awarded four member scholarships for the 2024-25 school year. The recipients include:

  • Yesenia Beltran, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • Keilana Calder, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
  • Eric Dennis, EDA, Georgia Southern University
  • Morgan Mulkey, Kennesaw State University

In 2010, Xplor decided to go beyond its traditional member offerings to help promote and support the next generation of industry professionals. The Xplor Member Scholarship program was founded to provide financial assistance to Xplor members and their immediate families who are pursuing careers in the field of document and communication technology including such studies as web design, marketing, IT, business, print, cyber security, etc.

The program is funded by the Xplor Association Partners and the Herman L. Gimbel and Audrey M. Gimbel Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Qualifications for an Xplor Scholarship include being an Xplor member (or immediate family) and maintaining a 3.0 GPA at an accredited master, four-year or two-year college or university degree program in the United States or Canada. Scholarship recipients were selected based on their application submission, response to an essay question, academic achievement, participation in school activities, and service to the community.

“For 14 years now, we have done our best to support the next generation of print professionals,” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Thank you to our Association Partners for supporting this great program and we look forward to awarding more next year!”

Xplor 2024 Association Partners include: Platinum – Gimbel & Associates, Gold – Crawford Technologies and Quadient, Silver – Quantre Solutions and Solimar Systems, Bronze – Canon Solutions America


About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver, and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

Xplor enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Industry Leaders Support the 2024 Xplor Summit

Lutz, FL – August 20, 2024 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the line-up of summit sponsors for the 2024 Summit, being held September 24-26, at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista (Disney Springs Area) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. To register, visit register.xplor.org/summit.

“A big thank you to all of our summit sponsors,” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Without you, there would be no summit, and your continued support allows us to consistently produce this educational and fun event, each and every year.”

  • Diamond Summit Sponsors
    • Crawford Technologies – Wednesday Reception Co-Sponsor
    • Gimbel & Associates – Beverage Breaks, Tuesday Lunch, Awards Ceremony, Educational Tracks
    • Quadient – Mobile App, Lanyards, University Communication Design Competition
    • RenderX, Inc. – Wednesday Reception Co-Sponsor
  • Sapphire Summit Sponsors
    • Canon Solutions America – Attendee Bags
    • The Cincinnati Insurance Companies – Printed Event Guides
    • Joanne Gore Communications (JGC) – Morning Tea
    • McGrewGroup Inc. – Registration
    • OSG – General Session Panel
    • Solimar Systems, Inc. – Booth Scramble, Lunch & Learn, Career Speed Dating

2024 Summit Vendor Forum:

  • Allyant, Crawford Technologies, Equidox PDF Accessibility Solutions, FCI CCM Inc., FedEx Office, Gimbel & Associates, Kyocera, MHC, OSG, Papyrus Software, Quadient, Racami, RenderX, Inc., Solimar Systems, Inc.

About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver, and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

Xplor enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

2024 Application and Technology of the Year Award Winners Announced

Lutz, FL — August 13, 2024 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the recipients of their 2024 Technology and Application of the Year Awards. The awards will be presented at a ceremony Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during the Summit event in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Application of the Year Award:

The Application of the Year Award is presented to an individual, a company, or an organization to recognize outstanding achievement in the imaginative application of current technology and/or unique implementation of existing digital document and communication systems. This award is open to members and non-members alike.

This year, Xplor presents two honorable mentions, in addition to the winner of the award.

  • The winner of the 2024 Xplor Application of the Year is OSG & InfoSlips for Transforming Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) to Patient-Centric Experiences.
  • An Honorable Mention is awarded to RRD for their Business Communication Intelligence.
  • A second Honorable Mention is awarded to Solimar Systems, Inc. for their Secure and Streamlined Printing of National Exam Books with JDF Job Tickets and Intelligent Workflow Automation.

Technology of the Year Award:

The Technology of the Year Award honors an individual, company or organization that has conceived and developed an original concept leading to a significant advancement in the industry. This can be a new program, product, or technology that notably enhances the capabilities of digital document and customer communication systems. This award is open to members and non-members alike.

This year, Xplor presents two honorable mentions, in addition to the winner of the award.

  • The winner of the 2024 Xplor Technology of the Year is Crawford Technologies’ AccessibilityNow® Translate.
  • An Honorable Mention is awarded to Quadient for their Inspire iForms
  • A second Honorable Mention is awarded to Papyrus Software for Papyrus PDF/UA for Accessibility.

“Advancements in technology, how people communicate and the solutions that address them continues to push the boundaries of technology and has made it more and more difficult for the Awards Committee,” says Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Congratulations to each of our 2024 award recipients and thank you to all who took the time to submit a nomination.”

Xplor International will also be announcing the recipients of additional awards during the 2024 Xplor Summit on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during the awards ceremony.

For more information regarding the event, or to access the registration site, please visit register.xplor.org/summit. Questions should be directed to Register@xplor.org or +1-813-949-6170 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday. Vendors interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor can contact Xplor HQ, at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at sales@xplor.org.


About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry.  Our members design, produce, implement, deliver, and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor’s mission is to provide the education and resources necessary for the development of engaging customer communications.

Xplor enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor Q&A: Annual Communication Design Competition

Xplor International’s University Communication Design Competition has completed its first stage, which included participants from California Polytechnic State University and the Rochester Institute of Technology. As stated in Xplor’s recent press release, the contest was open to undergraduate university students and was created to challenge students and promote real-life application development of a multichannel medical billing statement. Quadient has sponsored the competition since its inception in 2017 and today I had the pleasure to speak with Avi Greenfield, Quadient’s Vice President of Product Management, who took a minute to sit down and talk about Quadient’s support and generosity which allow Xplor to encourage the next generation of communications management professionals.


Skip: Avi, thanks for taking the time to talk today about the design competition. Xplor, with Quadient’s support, originated this competition several years ago. What is behind your company’s continued sponsorship over the years?

Avi: For Quadient, it is about bringing excitement to the next generation of customer communications designers. We support the competition because we believe in the mission of Xplor to continue educating and inspiring professionals in the industry. The competition is one way to expose these students to career potential and opportunities for professional growth, which is important to us, as well.

Skip: We expanded the competition to include Rochester Institute of Technology this year along with Cal Poly. What are your thoughts on that?

Avi: I had the pleasure of being on the panel of judges last year. At that time, the two teams competing were both from Cal Poly. I was excited to learn that this year the competition was open to include Rochester Institute of Technology. Both have well-known graphic design programs coming from different ends of the country, so it will be fun and interesting to see what the two final teams present this year.

Skip: As a judge, how did you evaluate the projects that were entered last year?

Avi: The direction of the project was to remake a statement. The teams were challenged with redesigning an ordinary bland medical billing statement to make it more functional, aesthetically pleasing, and expand its purpose to include a marketing opportunity. I was one of four judges who made notes and rated them on many different criteria around the design, the presentation and organization, along with making sure the statement was appropriate for print, as well as digital channels, such as email, mobile apps and websites. The students came up with interesting approaches, such as using QR codes to help the consumer easily pay their balance, along with other creative design elements to improve the readability and call to action of the communication.

Skip: Do you think being involved in the competition, in addition to being exposed to the conference, brought any added benefits to the students?

Avi: Definitely. I think it really helped to expand their perspective and horizons. It made them appreciate the impact communications have on the customer experience and how a well-thought-out communication can drive both the experience and the business outcome. While the students were experienced in doing creative projects in Photoshop and InDesign, it was great to introduce them to the breadth and capabilities of the CCM solutions represented at the event.

Skip: Do you believe the investment in this kind of project has an ROI?

Avi: Yes, since it raises awareness of CCM software and how it is used to improve customer experience and business outcomes. I don’t think any of the students participating ever really thought about the availability of software that helps produce millions of customer communications at once, such as statements, insurance policies and contracts. They also may not have known about how CCM software provides creative ways to approach other essential communications. That was something that resonated with them and opened their eyes to the ability to produce mass, personalized customer communications that still could be relevant and meaningful to the audience. They saw the need for specialized software and it encouraged them to start thinking about different opportunities. There were multiple students I talked to that said, “Yeah, I really need to look into CCM as a real career path.” That vision for the future is exciting to all of us at Quadient.

Skip: Avi, on behalf of Xplor and the industry in general I want to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me and to Quadient for their ongoing support of the competition and the industry in general.


Until next interview! Take care.

skip_Henk_Photo_2011

 

Skip Henk, EDP
President/CEO
Xplor International

Agenda Populated for 2024 Xplor Summit

Lutz, FL – July 30, 2024 – Xplor International today announced that the summit agenda for the 2024 Xplor Summit has been populated. The summit is being held September 24-26, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs Area. View the agenda at: register.xplor.org/summit

The Education Committee researched the topics that dominate our industry and focused on two tracks: Business and Technology. Each track will offer sessions and discussions from beginner to intermediate, as well as sessions that anyone will enjoy which will cover everything from artificial intelligence to process automation.

The two-and-a-half-day event brings together end users, analysts, consultants, industry experts, and vendors dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the Customer Communications Management (CCM) industry. The event will feature educational sessions, birds of a feather discussions, general sessions, daily networking, and more.

Questions regarding the 2024 Xplor Summit can be directed to Register@xplor.org or +1-813-949-6170 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday.

Vendors interested in exhibiting can email sales@xplor.org for more information.


About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the CCM and transactional communication industries. Our members design, produce, implement, deliver and manage high-volume, highly regulated and highly personalized communications across all channels and in all formats.

Xplor membership enhances organizational success and advances the careers of our members by providing research, analyst access, industry certification, professional development, and educator guidance. Global members benefit from our in-person annual conference, virtual events, and networking opportunities.

Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with active membership across the globe.

Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

12 Unbeatable Reasons to Attend the 2024 Xplor Summit

As we count down to the Summit, the anticipation is building for what promises to be the most comprehensive and dynamic event in the customer communications management (CCM) industry. With just 11 weeks to go until the September 24-26, 2024 Summit at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Florida, here are 12 unbeatable reasons why you should mark your calendar for this event.

  1. Experience the All-Encompassing Approach: The 2024 Xplor Summit brings together every facet of the CCM industry under one roof. This two-and-a-half-day event unites end users, analysts, consultants, industry experts, and exhibitors dedicated to the education, evolution, and success of the CCM industry.
  2. Engage with an Inspiring Keynote: Kick off the summit with a thought-provoking keynote address that will set the tone for the entire event and provide valuable insights into the future of CCM.
  3. Discover New Vendors in a Rapid-Fire Session: Our unique session introduces exhibitors quickly so you can learn about the latest solutions and innovations from leading-edge companies.
  4. Tailor Your Learning Experience: Choose from our simple educational breakout session format, featuring both Business and Technical tracks to suit your specific interests and needs. Check out the agenda at go.xplor.org/summitagenda
  5. Participate in Interactive Panels: Join relevant and interactive panel discussions where industry leaders share their experiences and insights on pressing CCM topics.
  6. Network with Peers in Birds of a Feather Discussions: Connect with like-minded professionals to share challenges, solutions, and best practices.
  7. Explore the Latest Solutions: Visit our exhibition area to see firsthand the most recent advancements in CCM technology and services from industry-leading vendors.
  8. Easy Registration Process: Secure your spot at this must-attend event quickly and easily through our online registration portal at register.xplor.org/summit. Early bird specials end 7/19/24.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the premier event in the CCM industry. Register now for the 2024 Xplor Summit and prepare to unlock new possibilities for your business in the beautiful setting of Lake Buena Vista, Florida!

Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or a first timer, our event offers unparalleled opportunities for learning, networking, and discovering the latest trends and technologies in customer communications management. We look forward to seeing you there!