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

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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

Xplor Q&A: Annual Communication Design Competition

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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

Cal Poly Team Wins Xplor’s Annual Design Competition

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Lutz, FL – November 20, 2023 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the winners of their 2023 Communication Design Competition. The annual contest is open to university students and challenges them to promote real-life application development, while having a bit of fun.

Participating teams each consisted of up to five student members from the same university. A team can only submit one entry, but the university can have multiple teams. Each student can only participate on one team.

The top two teams presented their solutions on Wednesday, November 15th at the 2023 Xplor CCM Summit and the winners were recognized on stage.

Sponsored by Quadient, the winning team was from the California Polytechnic State University’s Graphic Communication Department and included students Keilana Calder, Miriam Gabai, Umika Kuroda and Charlotte Smith.

“The Design Competition is a highlight of our event. The efforts put forth by the students is a testament to their commitment as the next generation of CCM professionals,” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International. “I want to thank Cal Poly for participating and 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. Additionally, each participant received a complimentary full-summit pass to the annual event where they attended educational sessions and panels 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.

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.

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

Sponsors Announced for Xplor Breakfast Panel at PRINTING United

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Lutz, FL – October 5, 2023 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the sponsors for their complimentary breakfast panel during the PRINTING United event in Atlanta, GA.

Sponsors include Crawford Technologies, Quadient, and Solimar Systems.

The breakfast panel will be co-moderated by industry experts Pat McGrew, M-EDP and Ryan McAbee and is titled ”Efficient Workflows Make Your Press Run Faster.” This panel will explore the ways printers waste money with outdated workflows and it begins with how you create the print files and continues through every task. Panelists will be answering the hard questions about how they help printers save money.

The event will take place October 19th from 7:30-9:30am and will include a complimentary full breakfast, a brief industry overview and a panel discussion.

“I’d like to thank Crawford Technologies, Quadient, and Solimar Systems for their support of this event,” says Skip Henk, Xplor’s President and CEO. ”Their participation allows us to put on a high-quality panel while providing a relaxing networking opportunity over breakfast.”

For more information or to register for the event visit: go.xplor.org/printingunited

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.

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

Xplor Announces Annual Communication Design Competition

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Multiple Cal Poly University Chapter Teams to Participate

Lutz, FL – July 13, 2023 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced their annual Communication Design Competition. The contest is open to Xplor University Chapter students and is created to challenge students and promote real life application development, while having a bit of fun.

Sponsored by Quadient, the winning team will be recognized at the 2023 Xplor CCM Summit in Orlando at the Rosen Centre Hotel November 14-16, 2023.

Teams will be challenged to redesign an ordinary, bland utility statement making it more functional, aesthetically pleasing and expanding its purpose to include making the communication a marketing opportunity. It is the responsibility of the team to research and determine how to integrate various options and enhancements while redesigning the statement into a final submission. The statement needs to be accessible via print, web and mobile.

“We always look forward to the participating teams presenting their solutions at the annual conference. Their unique perspective and approach to design and use of technology is pretty amazing,” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International.  “Special thanks to Quadient, who has sponsored the competition since its inception four years ago. Their support and generosity allow Xplor to support our next generation of industry professionals.”

Winners are selected based on their team’s presentation and explanation of the redesign to a panel of judges. Along with a cash prize, the winning team will be presented with a plaque at the 2023 CCM Summit during the awards ceremony.  Participating teams will receive a complimentary full-summit pass and the opportunity to present their design to summit attendees.

For more information regarding the 2023 Xplor CCM Summit, or to access the registration site or the Call for Presentations, please visit xplor.org/2023ccmsummit. 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 an exhibitor should visit the Vendor Forum Website: go.xplor.org/23vfp. For questions, please contact 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.

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 Lutz, Florida, chapters in the US and Canada, and 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

Quadient Upgrades Association Partnership to Gold

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Lutz, FL – April 25, 2023 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that Quadient has renewed their support of Xplor and upgraded to a Gold Association Partnership for 2023.

The Xplor Association Partnership program, launched in 2006 as our Elite Sponsorship program, supports year-round educational programming to Xplor members and the industry as a whole. In addition, the program provides funding for the Xplor Member Scholarship program launched in 2010, providing university scholarships for Xplor members and their immediate family members.

As part of the year-long partnership, Quadient will play a prominent role at the annual conference, the 2023 Xplor CCM Summit, as an exhibitor and will again sponsor of the annual Design Competition which supports the Xplor University chapters. In addition, Quadient is sponsoring the Summit mobile app and name badge lanyards.

“We thank Quadient for their ongoing support as an association partner,” says Skip Henk, Xplor President and CEO. “They have been here since the inception of the scholarship program in 2010 and their involvement continues to provide programming and scholarships to the Xplor community and the industry as a whole.”

Those interested in learning more about the Xplor Association Partnership program should contact Skip Henk via email at skip@xplor.org or you can also contact us at +1-813-949-6170.

For the most up-to-date information on Xplor events, including the 2023 CCM Summit, please visit www.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.

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 Lutz, Florida, chapters in the US and Canada, and active membership across the globe.

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
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

State of CX in 2022

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From culture to employee enablement to technologies, long-time Xplor member and sponsor Quadient is sharing the six trends that enterprises should examine for success in their new eBook, ‘State of CX in 2022’. 

Download this valuable guide to learn: 

  • Expert insights into the biggest trends in Customer Experience Management (CXM) and Customer Communications Management (CCM).  
  • Technologies driving differentiating CX. 
  • Necessary business investments to make to exceed in today’s CX standards. 
  • The cultural changes that you must adopt for success in a new CX age.  

 

Quadient Renews Support for Xplor as a Silver Elite Association Sponsor

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Lutz, FL – March 15, 2022 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced that Quadient will once again support the Xplor Elite Association Sponsorship program as a Silver Elite Association sponsor.

The Xplor Elite Association Sponsor program, launched in 2006, supports year-round educational programming to Xplor members and the industry as a whole. The program also provides funding for the Xplor Member Scholarship program launched in 2010, providing university scholarships for Xplor members and their immediate families.

As part of the year-long sponsorship, Quadient will play a prominent role at the annual conference, XPLOR22, as an exhibitor and will again sponsor of the annual Design Competition which supports the Xplor University chapters.

“We thank Quadient for their ongoing support of the Elite Association Sponsor program,” says Skip Henk, Xplor’s President and CEO. “Their ongoing support is critical in helping provide ongoing programming and scholarships to the Xplor community and the industry as a whole.”

Those interested in learning more about the Xplor Elite Association Sponsorship Program should contact Skip Henk, at Xplor HQ, directly at +1-813-949-6170 or email him at skip@xplor.org.

For the most up-to-date information on Xplor events, including XPLOR22, please visit www.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 Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor Announces 2021 Technology and Application of the Year Award Winners

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Recipients to be recognized at XPLOR21 in St. Pete Beach on November 16th

Lutz, FL — October 21, 2021 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced the recipients of its 2021 Technology and Application of the Year Awards. The awards will be presented at a ceremony Tuesday, November 16, 2021, during the XPLOR21 event at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Tweet this: @opentext has won the #XPLOR21 Technology of the Year Award and Pink Elephant Productions @colorkarma / Massachusetts Commission for the Blind has won the Application of the Year! Honorable Mentions include: @CrawfordTechInc @Racami1 @Quadient and CSG http://bit.ly/3m20ZAX

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 document and communication systems. This award is open to members and non-members alike.

Xplor will award two honorable mentions in addition to the 2021 winner.

  • The winner of the 2021 Xplor Application of the Year is Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and Pink Elephant Productions for their implementation of “The Quest for Independence.” This “Pre-Employment Transition Guidebook” utilizes multichannel and multi-media application technology using a graphic novel format, for visually impaired individuals between the ages of 14-21 years of age.
  • An Honorable Mention is being awarded to Quadient for their InspireXpress, an application of technology that shifted over 25,000 legacy CCM templates to their customers’ Inspire platform by applying Artificial Intelligence (AI,) Machine Learning (ML,) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to the cumbersome process of migrating legacy CCM applications to a new platform.
  • A second Honorable Mention is being awarded to CSG for the “CSG Experiences Practice” a dynamic approach that leverages holistic data analysis to create tangible insights allowing companies to better know their customer and deliver exceptional experiences. Through CSG’s customer engagement platform, companies can identify and tap into individual customer voices to discover the values, pains, and needs of the customer

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 document and communication systems. This award is open to members and non-members alike.

Like the Application of the Year award, Xplor will present two honorable mentions, in addition to the winner of the award.

  • The winner of the 2021 Xplor Technology of the Year is OpenText for their “OpenText Exstream for Salesforce,” a document generation tool with which Salesforce users can combine business data that is maintained in Salesforce with the capabilities of the OpenText Exstream platform, which allows the mapping of Salesforce standard and custom objects to available templates using information from the Salesforce system in business documents processed by Exstream.
  • An Honorable Mention is being awarded to Crawford Technologies for “PRO DocNow,” an engine for document manipulation enhancing already composed documents with color, logos, graphics, and more, to enabling production optimization by adding barcodes, generating postal sorting logic, and mining documents for index creation.
  • A second Honorable Mention is being awarded to Racami for “Pay+,” which recognizes each person’s document within a print job and stores those documents securely and executes workflows that send communications based on their preferences, payment history, demographics, and lifestyle. Initial notifications are via email to let people know that their bills are ready to pay. Additional communications workflows are prebuilt and triggered at different points in the payment lifecycle.

“We once again had a wide array of submissions this year making the decision by the Awards Committee difficult,” said Skip Henk, EDP, President and CEO of Xplor International.  “I would like to congratulate all of our 2021 award recipients and also thank all of those who took the time to apply for an award.”

Xplor International will also be announcing the recipients of additional awards at XPLOR21 on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, during the awards ceremony.

For more information regarding XPLOR21, or to access the registration site, please visit http://cvent.me/gRg97O. 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 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 Director
+1-813-949-6170
Chad@xplor.org

Xplor Announces Fourth Annual Communication Design Competition

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Xplor Ryerson and Cal Poly University Chapters to Participate

Lutz, FL – January 29, 2020 – Xplor International, the worldwide electronic document systems association, today announced their fourth annual Communication Design Competition. The contest is open to Xplor University Chapter students and is created to challenge students and promote real life application development, while having a bit of fun.

Sponsored by Quadient, the winning team will be recognized at XPLOR20 in St. Pete Beach at the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort and Conference Center, April 14-16, 2020.   

Tweet this: #XPLOR20 Communication Design Competition has been Announced! Participants include @XplorRyerson and @CalPoly. Sponsored by @Quadient http://bit.ly/2GDpfUo

Teams will be challenged to redesign an ordinary, bland utility statement making it more functional, aesthetically pleasing and expanding its purpose to include making the communication a marketing opportunity. It is the responsibility of the team to research and determine how to integrate various options and enhancements while redesigning the statement into a final submission.  The statement needs to be accessible via print, web and mobile. 

“Each year the students continue to amaze. Their extensive research, creativity and innovative approach have impressed our panel of judges over the years. We look forward to seeing this year’s entries,” says Skip Henk, President and CEO of Xplor International.  “Special thanks to Quadient, who has sponsored the competition since its inception four years ago. Their support and generosity allow Xplor to recognize the next generation of professionals and enable members of the winning team to attend the conference and present their winning design.”

Winners are selected based on their team’s presentation and explanation of the redesign to a panel of judges. Along with a cash prize, the winning team will be presented a plaque at XPLOR20 during the awards ceremony on April 14th.  Each member on the team will receive a complimentary full-conference pass and the opportunity to present their design to XPLOR20 attendees in a 25-minute educational session.

For more information regarding XPLOR20, or to access the registration site, please visit www.xplor.org/xplor20. Questions should be directed to Register@xplor.org or +1-813-949-6170. 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 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