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Xplor International Accepting Applications for 2017 Scholarships

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Association Scholarships Open to Xplor Member’s and Their Immediate Families

Lutz, FL – May 30, 2017 – Xplor International, today announced that they are accepting applications for their 2017 scholarship program through the deadline of July 14, 2017.

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 generosity of Xplor Elite Sponsors: NEPS, Crawford Technologies, GMC Software Technology, Canon Solutions America, Compart, OpenText Exstream, Ricoh, and Solimar Systems.

To qualify for an Xplor Scholarship, one must be a current Xplor member (or immediate family) and maintain a 3.0 GPA at a four-year or two-year college or university degree program in the United States or Canada.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their application submission, response to an essay question, as well as academic achievement, participation in school activities, and service to the community.

“The scholarship program is a great member benefit.” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Not only are member’s eligible, but their spouses, children. I encourage members to apply.”

Each year scholarships are awarded in various denominations, up to $1000 USD. The 2017 deadline for applications is July 14th. For more information, or to apply, visit www.xplor.org/scholarship.

About Xplor International

Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Director of Marketing
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award Presented at Xploration® 17

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Lutz, FL — March 28, 2017: Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today named the recipients of the Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was presented at Xplor’s Annual Conference, Xploration 17, on Tuesday, March 28th during the awards ceremony.

Tweet this: Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Recognized at Xploration® 17 http://bit.ly/2mJd0JV #Xplor17

The Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2007 and is given to an individual, or individuals, whose efforts and contributions have significantly changed the course and development of the digital document industry. This award is open to Xplor International members as well as non-members.

This year, two Brian Platte Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented.

The first recipient is Kemal Carr. Kemal is the President of Madison Advisors, an industry research and consulting firm that provides project-based advisory services designed to assist clients with business strategy and technology selection decisions. Prior to forming Madison Advisors in 2001, Kemal held various system roles including three years with the industry analyst group at Doculabs and seven years in the systems company of Fidelity Investments. Kemal is also a frequent writer for leading industry publications and speaks at industry events around the world.

Mr. Carr supports the New York University Prism Award Luncheon, has served on the Board of the Colleyville Grapevine Youth Football Association, and volunteered on a committee working with his local City Council to pass a bond for improvements to area schools. He also supports the Woodland Hills Community Park, nurturing 100-year old pecan trees and planting more in an effort to beautify the area for all the community to enjoy.

A second Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Harald Grumser, who founded Compart 23 years ago and has run the company like a family ever since. The innovation that the company was built upon gives users the ability to convert any kind of print format to any other kind of print format. The unique approach Harald took to accomplish this any-to-any conversion is called “Docponents®” and remains an idea well ahead of its time that has proven to be a uniquely prescient approach.

In addition to Harald’s contributions to the industry, he has shown his deep social consciousness by sponsoring giving campaigns for victims of earthquakes, floods, famine and the tsunami caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004. His sense of humanity has been touched by the plight of Syrian refugees streaming into Europe and Germany. Sensing that money was not enough, he initiated a program to teach refugees German, using Compart’s office space, volunteers, and facilities. Volunteers were granted time off from their usual assignments in order to teach both adults and children the language skills they will need in order to thrive in Germany and adapt to their new country.

“I’d like to congratulate both Kemal and Harald for their achievement, it is well deserved.” says Skip Henk, EDP, President/CEO of Xplor International. “Our industry as a whole and the world around us are better places due to their efforts.”

Other Xplor annual awards, recognized and announced at Xploration® 17, include:

Technology of the Year
Winner – Pitney Bowes / Clarity Solutions
Honorable Mention – Xerox Corporation / Xerox Direct to Object Inkjet Printer 
Honorable Mention – Elixir Technologies Corporation / Tango+

Application of the Year
Winner: BMO Bank of Montreal / GMC Software / The CX Ecosystem and Digital Transformation
Honorable Mention: Gore Mutual / uBiz
Honorable Mention: Health First / Ricoh USA, Inc. / RICOH ProcessDirector

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Leading Vendors Line Up to Sponsor Xploration® 17

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Lutz, FL – March 9, 2017 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the line-up of conference sponsors for Xploration® 17, being held March 28-30 at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

“Our sponsors are critical to the success of our programming.” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “I’d like to thank our long-time sponsors for their continued support and welcome a few new players as well!”

Xploration® 17 Conference Sponsors include:

Registration:

  • Conference Bag– Canon Solutions America
  • Lanyard/Badge Holder– OpenText
  • Writing Pad – Appvion

Food and Beverage

  • Tuesday Lunch – Elixir Technologies
  • Wednesday Lunch – Crawford Technologies
  • Beverage Breaks – GMC Software
  • Thursday Breakfast – Xplor Canada

Networking Events

  • Opening Reception – NEPS, Inc.
  • Wednesday Happy Hour Reception – Crawford Technologies and RenderX, Inc.

Conference Programming

  • Industry Analysts’ Workshop – GMC Software
  • Track – All Things Data – Compart North America
  • Track – Customer Experience – Elixir Technologies
  • Track – Business Management – OpenText
  • Keynote Speaker / Gary Vitti – Ricoh USA

There are a couple more sponsorships still available. Vendors interested in either a sponsorship or becoming an exhibitor should contact Xplor’s Director of Sales, Deborah Green at 770-444-3845 or via email at deborahgreen@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a not-for-profit association that provides thought leadership to the customer communications industry. As a community Xplor provides advocacy, education, training, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Our members are decision makers and recommenders who are involved in the conception, design, implementation production and delivery of multi-channel client, member and customer communications.

Xplor’s mission is to enhance organizational success and advance the careers of our members by providing research, publications, industry certification, professional development, web-based events, and conference programming. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

“Xplor at Graph Expo” Event Sponsored by Industry Leaders

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Lutz, FL — July 26, 2016: Xplor International today announced that Canon Solutions America, Compart North America, Pitney Bowes and Xerox Corporation will be sponsoring this year’s Xplor at Graph Expo event being held September 27, 2016 during the Graph Expo show.

Customer Experience: A Critical Factor for Achieving Success will be moderated by Matt Swain of InfoTrends who, along with panelists, will address whether the advancements in technology and changes in human behavior make superior customer experience a moving target. A superior customer experience has emerged as a critical success factor for companies. It is about meeting, and ideally exceeding, the expectations of your customer.

The complimentary event is limited to the first 200 registrants. Registration includes admission to the panel session, a networking breakfast, and a Graph Expo exhibit hall pass, all courtesy of the event sponsors. For more information, or to register for the event, visit the event page: http://bit.ly/1U9jX6g

“Over the last couple of years the concept of delivering a great customer experience has taken center stage and has become a critical success factor for companies.” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “Our panelists will discuss the critical success factors in delivering a superior customer experience, as well as the obstacles and how companies can overcome them.”

Event Details:

Date: September 27, 2016
Time: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM (Breakfast starts at 7:30 AM)
Location: OCC North Building – Level 3, Room N310 E&F
Cost: FREE (Registration required and limited to the first 200 registrants)

For information about Xplor at Graph Expo, please visit: http://bit.ly/1U9jX6g. You can also contact Xplor Headquarters at +1-813-949-6170.

About Canon Solutions America
Canon Solutions America is a leading provider of digital document technology solutions.  The Océ brand has a reputation for delivering high speed, outstanding quality and rock-solid reliable production printers to some of the biggest industries and brands. From cut-sheet to continuous feed, monochrome to full-color, and toner to inkjet, these scalable printing and workflow solutions are customized for your business and backed by award-winning service. As part of Canon Solutions America, we have the brightest R&D minds advancing tomorrow’s innovations to help you grow your business, control costs, and practice environmental stewardship. Whether it’s improving productivity or opening new markets and applications, we can help you be ready for the future. Learn more at pps.csa.canon.com.

About Compart North America
Over the course of two decades Compart has helped over 1,200 companies worldwide, across a broad range of industries, to successfully implement output management solutions. Our international team has extensive technological expertise in providing output management solutions for complex enterprise environments. We work with you to design the ideal output management solution for your business. www.compart.com

About Pitney Bowes
Pitney Bowes (NYSE: PBI) is a global technology company offering innovative products and solutions that enable commerce in the areas of customer information management, location intelligence, customer engagement, shipping and mailing, and global ecommerce. More than 1.5 million clients in approximately 100 countries around the world rely on products, solutions and services from Pitney Bowes. For additional information, visit Pitney Bowes at www.pitneybowes.com.

About Xerox Corporation
Xerox is a global business services, technology and document management company helping organizations transform the way they manage their business processes and information. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., we have more than 140,000 Xerox employees and do business in more than 180 countries. Together, we provide business process services, printing equipment, hardware and software technology for managing information — from data to documents. Learn more at www.xerox.com.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. The association provides educational products and programs for its members and the industry at large through conferences, meetings and annual events. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida, with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int or @Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Customer Experience: Put the patty on the damn bun!

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By Skip Henk, EDP, President/CEO of Xplor International

Over the last year I have been spending a great deal of time better understanding the varying intricacies of a customer experience, its relationship to our industry, and how a great customer experience can pay big dividends.

An article I read the other day by Warren Buffet said, “Your business will succeed if you execute this three word mission, DELIGHT YOUR CUSTOMER.” Speaking at the 20th Graduation of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses at LaGuardia Community College, Buffett told the graduates: “Tomorrow morning when you look in the mirror after you’ve gotten up, just write — or just put it in lipstick or whatever you want — ‘delight my customer’ not ‘satisfy my customer.’ ‘Delight my customer.’”

This perhaps is the most descriptive and succinct definition of a the Customer Experience I have read.

(To read the article http://tinyurl.com/jxgghuy )

We have dozens of customer experiences each week which can vary greatly. Whether you are dropping your clothes off at the cleaners, going to the grocery store or ordering on Amazon we have plenty of opportunity to be delighted.

Some of the most mundane of interactions can be delightful with delight being driven by expectations.

Setting Expectations
Customer experience is how we expect to be treated in a given situation. When we go to the cleaners, we don’t want to wait in line too long to drop them off and we want our clothes cleaned properly and ready when promised. At the grocery store, we expect shelves to be well stocked, for the store to be clean and for there to be plenty of cashiers or self serve kiosks to minimize our wait when leaving. When ordering online, we look for availability, price, shipping costs and time. Then we expect our purchase to arrive on or before the date promised.

Expectations vary based on the task and whether we have high or low expectations. When expectations are met, it represents a good experience.

Put the Patty on the Damn Bun
I occasionally go to a fast food restaurant, typically with fairly low expectations. I do expect to wait if I go during a peak times and I automatically assume my order is will not be right, so I check it. I also expect that it is at least warm.  Reasonable but certainly not high expectations.

hamburgerLast week, I had a Big Mac craving and ventured to McDonald’s to order myself a Big Mac and fries.  (Don’t judge me, I know the Big Mac is 560 calories and fries add an additional 368 calories; this isn’t the point)  The “customer experience” was going along well, I did not have to wait long, the order appeared correct and I saw the fries come out the fryer, so they were nice and hot. I was good to go. I sat down to eat and opened my Big Mac finding BOTH patties were hanging halfway off the bun. Not sure exactly why it crossed me but it did.

As I looked at my burger I contemplated taking it back but decided not to do so. What I realized is that the customer experience can in fact be a moving target with expectations theoretically changing with each transaction. The same may hold true for our industry.

At the Xplor at Graph Expo breakfast session, September 27th in Orlando, our panel, moderated by Matt Swain of Infotrends, will try and answer the question:  “With advancements in technology and changes in human behavior, is offering a superior customer experience a moving target?”

If you are planning to attend Graph Expo, I invite you to attend our complimentary breakfast session sponsored by Canon Solutions America, Compart North America, Pitney Bowes and Xerox Corporation. For more information and to register, visit the event website.

As far as my Big Mac expectations, “Put the damn patty on the bun!”

skip_Henk_Photo_2011

 

Skip Henk, EDP
President/CEO
Xplor International

Xplor at Graph Expo Registration Now Open

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Lutz, FL— June 15, 2016: Xplor International today announced that registration for their keynote breakfast panel during the Graph Expo event, September 25 – September 28, 2016 at Orlando Convention Center, is now open. Registration is available here: http://www.cvent.com/d/xfqvqg

The breakfast keynote session, moderated by Matt Swain of InfoTrends is titled “Customer Experience: A Critical Factor for Achieving Success” and will focus on the importance of the customer experience, as well as understanding customer expectations, with end user panelists sharing their insights in their efforts to create the perfect customer experience.

This sponsored breakfast session is presented at no charge, thanks to sponsors Canon Solutions America, Compart North America, and Xerox Corporation. Space will be limited to the first 200 people who register.

When:  September 27, 2016
Where: Orlando Convention Center
Time: 7:30 AM-10:00 AM
Registration Fee: Complimentary (Registration Required here: http://www.cvent.com/d/xfqvqg)

Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Xplor Headquarters via phone at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at info@xplor.org. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain open for the event. For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Deborah Green, Director of Sales, at +1-770-444-3845 or deborahgreen@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify, and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. The association provides educational products and programs for its members and the industry at large through conferences, meetings and annual events. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

 

Xplor to Host Breakfast Panel at 2016 Graph Expo Event

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Customer Experience: A Critical Factor for Achieving Success

Lutz, FL—May 25, 2016 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that it will once again host a breakfast panel during the Graph Expo event, September 25 – September 28, 2016 at Orlando Convention Center.

The breakfast keynote session, moderated by Matt Swain of InfoTrends is titled “Customer Experience: A Critical Factor for Achieving Success” and will focus on the importance of the customer experience, as well as understanding customer expectations, with end user panelists sharing their insights in their efforts to create the perfect customer experience.

The concept of providing a superior customer experience has emerged as a critical success factor for companies. It is about meeting, and ideally exceeding, the expectations of your customer. The fact is that price/cost leadership is no longer sustainable for customer retention, shifting the focus of companies to delivering superior customer experiences. Along with developing various integration and automation tools to organize customer information better, how can companies drive customer perception, satisfaction, and customer loyalty?  With advancements in technology and changes in human behavior, is offering a superior customer experience a moving target?

This sponsored breakfast session is presented at no charge, thanks to our sponsors Compart North America and Xerox Corporation. Space will be limited to the first 200 people who register. Additional sponsorship opportunities remain open for the event. For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Deborah Green, Director of Sales, at +1-770-444-3845 or deborahgreen@xplor.org.

When:  September 27, 2016
Where: Orlando Convention Center
Time: 7:30 AM-10:00 AM
Registration Fee:   Complimentary (Registration Required)

Registration will open June 1, 2016 and will be accessible from the Xplor website (www.xplor.org).   Questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Xplor Headquarters via phone at +1-813-949-6170 or via email at info@xplor.org.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify, and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. The association provides educational products and programs for its members and the industry at large through conferences, meetings and annual events. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor International Accepting Applications for 2016 Scholarships

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The Association’s Scholarships Open to Xplor Member’s and Their Immediate Families

Lutz, FL – May 18, 2016 – Xplor International, today announced that they are accepting applications for their 2016 scholarship program through the deadline of July 15, 2016.

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 generosity of Xplor Elite Sponsors: Crawford Technologies, GMC Software Technology, NEPS, Solimar Systems, Canon Solutions America, Compart, HP, Ricoh, Transformations, and Xerox.

To qualify for an Xplor Scholarship, one must be an Xplor member (or immediate family) and maintain a 3.0 GPA at a four-year or two-year college or university degree program in the United States or Canada.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their application submission, response to an essay question, as well as academic achievement, participation in school activities, and service to the community.

“The Xplor scholarship program is a great member benefit” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “And not only are member’s eligible, but their spouses, children and grandchildren as well. I encourage all Xplor members to spread the word.”

Each year scholarships are awarded in various denominations, up to $1000 USD. The deadline for applications is July 15th. For more information, or to apply, visit www.xplor.org/scholarship.

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify, and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. The association provides educational products and programs for its members and the industry at large through conferences, meetings and annual events. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org

Sold-Out Exhibits Reported for Xploration® 16

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Lutz, FL – March 29, 2016 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today reported a sold-out exhibition for Xploration® 16 being held April 5-7, 2016 at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

Tweet this: Xplor Reports Sold-Out Exhibits for Xploration® 16 http://bit.ly/1pIl5zN #Xplor16

By design, Xplor limits the number of exhibitors we have participating in the event. We did add a couple of additional booth spaces this year and are excited that we sold out for the sixth year in a row,” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International. “As Xplor continues to expand its programming to accommodate new technologies and processes, I am pleased to have some new vendors join us this year as well as welcome back our returning vendors.”

Xploration 16 Vendor Forum Participants Include:

  • 360 Advanced, P.A.
  • AccuZIP, Inc.
  • Adphos North America, Inc.
  • Appvion
  • Bell and Howell, LLC
  • Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
  • Canon Solutions America, Inc.
  • Click2Mail.com
  • Compart North America
  • Content Critical Solutions
  • Crawford Technologies
  • Delphax Technologies, Inc.
  • Ecrion Software Inc.
  • EMC Corporation
  • enChoice, Inc.
  • GMC Software
  • Holland House B.V.
  • HP
  • IBM Corporation
  • Icon Communications Dynamics, Inc.
  • Kofax from Lexmark
  • Konica Minolta Business Solutions
  • Lake Image Systems
  • Level One
  • Mail-Gard
  • MCS, Inc.
  • Napersoft
  • NearStar, Inc.
  • Neopost USA
  • NEPS, LLC
  • RenderX, Inc.
  • Riso, Inc.
  • Satori Software
  • Sefas Innovation
  • Solimar Systems
  • Transformations, Inc.
  • Xeikon
  • Xerox Corporation
  • XLPrint USA LLC

Vendors interested in exhibiting at Xploration 2017 should contact Deborah Green, Xplor’s Director of Sales, at +1-770-444-3845 or via email at deborahgreen@xplor.org

About Xploration® 16
The two-and-a-half day event is the perfect blend of educational sessions, panel discussions, general sessions, and networking events in a relaxed Florida environment. The event features 55+ Educational Sessions/Panels, THREE Keynote Sessions, 35+ Industry Partners in the Vendor Forum, Two Evening Networking Events and Two Networking Luncheons. For more information, visit the conference website: www.cvent.com/d/drqy2z #xplor16

About Xplor International
Xplor International is a worldwide, not-for-profit professional association that consists of thousands of users and suppliers of the products and services that create, modify, and deliver customized information using a wide variety of document technologies. The association provides educational products and programs for its members and the industry at large through conferences, meetings and annual events. Xplor International has its worldwide headquarters in Lutz, Florida with affiliated offices around the world. Further information is available at www.xplor.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/XplorInternational
Twitter: twitter.com/Xplor_Int

Xplor International Media Contact:
Chad Henk
Marketing Manager
+1-813-949-6171
Chad@xplor.org