Jul. 4, 2005—The 20th Annual Prism Award Luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria on June 20 honored individuals who have shown leadership and strength in the graphic arts industry. Sponsored by New York University’s Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology, the event drew approximately 300 people.

In addition to acknowledging the hard work of both graphic arts students and professionals, the festivity serves to raise money for scholarships, research, software and hardware upgrades, and support and internship initiatives. During the past 20 years, this endeavor has raised more than $2.5 million.

Student awards are given to those who have demonstrated leadership, and posess an outstanding academic record. This year, Ellen Chang was honored from the master’s degree program, and Michael Cunningham was honored in the Ph.D. program. Both are members of the class of 2005.

The Distinguished Service Award went to Jeff Jacobson, president, Graphic Solutions and Services, Eastman Kodak Graphic Communications Group, for his work in the industry.

The highlight of the luncheon, however, was the Prism Award, given this year to Antonio Perez, president and chief executive officer, Eastman Kodak.

Digital Is the Future
Upon hearing of Mr. Perez’s honor, Printing News had a chance to ask him a few questions about his vision for Kodak, and where he sees the company and industry heading in the next few years.

Q. What are Kodak’s short- (one to two years) and long-term (three to five years) goals?

A. Our number one goal is to serve our customers so that they—and we—enjoy profitable growth. As you know, Kodak is in the midst of a transformation, as the company expands its digital businesses. While this transformation is changing Kodak, it is also creating tremendous opportunities for the company in its consumer, health, and commercial businesses. In the graphic communications market, for instance, we have the opportunity to enable our customers to transform the industry using Kodak technologies, products, and services.

We have invested more than $2 billion to build our Graphic Communications Group. We have assembled the broadest portfolio of technologies, products, and services in the industry. We are ideally positioned to serve this market, where customers are increasingly working on hybrid production environments. We will continue to move aggressively to integrate the businesses we have acquired and execute on our strategy.

During the long term, our goal is to deliver breakthrough solutions to our customers, and to help our customers transform the graphic communications industry. The Graphic Communications Group is a key part of Kodak’s growth strategy. We have the products, services, technologies, patent portfolio, and people to provide leadership in this industry for years to come.

Q. The company recently made several acquisitions. How will these companies be blended into Kodak?

A. We are blending Creo, Encad, Kodak Versamark, KPG, and NexPress with an eye toward delivering one Kodak—the best of Kodak—to our customers. We have made tremendous progress along these lines already, and our efforts will continue.

Jim Langley and his team have built the Graphic Communications Group around customer needs. We are rapidly integrating our sales and service operations under a regional account management structure, so that the customer can turn to one sales representative for access to Kodak’s full range of solutions and expertise. We have put in place one of the strongest leadership teams in the industry.

Our goal is to present one face to our customers, so that Kodak can be the primary company they turn to for the products, services, technology, and expertise to help them expand their businesses.

Q. What technology do you see playing a major role in the print industry in the coming years? How and why?

A. Kodak has a rich portfolio, including leading positions in electrophotography, continuous inkjet, scanning color management, and offset technologies. You will start to see us incorporating breakthrough technology from our labs across our businesses that will drive new applications.

On the continuous inkjet side, increases in speed and quality have the potential to drive real change in what the market can expect from, and accomplish with, inkjet.

We also see great opportunity in our electrophotographic portfolio in how that platform is serving customers in building digital businesses. We also are excited about developments in the proofing area, especially monitor proofing, that really take advantage of digital technology to speed the workflow among partners.

Q. How will Kodak help small and large commercial printers grow and expand their businesses?

A. Kodak is one of the only companies that can deliver solutions that operate in a hybrid production environment. We can offer digital and traditional solutions to customers, tailored to meet their unique business needs. Unlike some of our competitors, Kodak has more than one technology to help customers expand their business.

The key is to never just drop a piece of technology on the customer’s lap. Our customers are working with digital and traditional technologies. We always will focus on delivering the right products, services, and consultation needed to help customers identify opportunities and take advantage of them.

Q. How will Kodak handle the diverse brands it has acquired? What strategies are in place to market and grow these brands?

A. Kodak is a branded house, not a house of brands. Our goal is to present Kodak as the primary brand to the market, backed by strong product brands that we will nurture and grow.

We will make Kodak the brand of choice for customers in the graphic communications industry by demonstrating the value we provide our customers. We also plan to leverage the equity of our strong product brands in our marketing efforts.