WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
registration desk & exhibits open at 8:00am
join us for coffee & pastries with exhibitors from 8:30am-9:00am

#PubWest2024

9:00am-10:30am

Welcome, Scholarship Presentation, and Keynote Address

Keynote: Strategic AI in Publishing: Risks, Rewards, and Realities (Ballroom 1 & 2)

Sponsored by The Fisher Company

In this keynote, we'll cut through the AI hype to present a clear overview, covering its history, types, and how it's evolving. We'll showcase how Decision Tree AI is applying AI in sectors outside publishing, providing fresh, real-world insights. The talk will address key AI concerns and look ahead to what's next, including developments towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Expect a no-nonsense, informative session aimed at grounding AI in practical reality for the publishing industry. Featuring Ana Tomboulian and Vincent Serpico of Decision Tree AI.

10:30am-10:45am

Take a Brief Break 

AI: Both Friend & Foe? (Ballroom 1 & 2)

Following on our keynote session, Following on our keynote session, we'll continue to explore the profound implications of AI, delve into its transformative potential, ethical considerations, and its role in shaping the future of book publishing. Can AI be both friend and foe? Join our panelists and decide for yourself. A spirited Point/Counterpoint discussion with Thad McIlroy (The Future of Publishing) and Pamela Malpas (Association of American Literary Agents), moderated by Rachel Noorda (Portland State University/Ooligan Press).

12:00pm-1:30pm

Lunch and the Innovator Award presentation
(Ballroom 1 & 2)

1:30pm-2:30pm

North American Printers 2.0 (Ballroom 1 & 2)
Our panel of industry leaders explores the evolving landscape of printing, technology and what's next for North American Printers. Panelists include Pete Larson (Bethany Press International), Scott Sinnett (Friesens), and Andrew Van Sprang (Maple Press/Maple Logistics Solutions); moderated by Matt Baehr (Book Manufacturers’ Institute).

2:30pm-3:00pm

Take a break and connect with our exhibitors! (Ballroom 1 & 2)

Concurrent Workshops

Opening the Books - Sharing Financials in your Organization 
(Ballroom 5)

Join our expert panel as they delve into the benefits, challenges, and strategies of transparent financial reporting within organizations, offering valuable insights for fostering trust and accountability. Panel includes Tom Helleberg (Mountaineers Books) and Amy Barrett-Daffin (C&T Publishing), and Pete Schiffer (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

On Leadership (Ballroom 1 & 2)

The demands of modern leadership aren't for the faint of heart. From attracting and retaining talent, serving the diversifying needs and tastes of a global marketplace, championing innovation and driving growth, publishers today face a myriad of opportunities, challenges, and complexities set against ever-shifting shifting cultural and geopolitical realities. So how are are publishers meeting these demands? What solutions have their experience, mistakes and other learnings yielded? What keeps them going on the hardest of days? Join this moderated conversation with publishers from independent, hybrid, academic, and traditional houses to hear the different ways they are answering the call to leadership. Panel includes Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio), Jane Ferreyra (University of Nebraska Press), Keith Riegert (Perfect Bound/Ulysses Press), Kenechi Uzor (Iskanchi Press), and Moderator Andrea Fleck-Nisbet (Independent Book Publishers Association).

Speed Dating/Meet the Experts (Ballroom 6)

4:45pm-6:00pm

Judges: (what they look for), Book Design Awards, Cocktails, and Networking Exhibitors (Ballroom 1 & 2)