Agenda

Play a round of golf with your peers on Monday, February 23 at the Aviara Golf Club and have some laughs, swing the club, and strengthen relationships on the course! Rub shoulders with some of the best in the biz over some friendly competition. You can sign-up during the registration process.

Kicking off the 2026 Leadership Summit, Dave Pesko, Mark Subers, and Brian Adam will welcome executive attendees and valued sponsors to two days of insight, innovation, and connection. This opening session will set the stage by outlining the themes driving this year’s program, highlighting the opportunities for collaboration, and previewing the sessions designed to help you navigate today’s rapidly evolving print and graphics landscape. Attendees will gain a clear sense of what to expect, how to make the most of the Summit experience, and the key trends that will shape the discussions ahead.

In today’s rapidly changing and often uncertain world, authentic leadership is more essential than ever. People crave realness—leaders who are self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and courageous enough to be vulnerable.

Drawing on over two decades of experience coaching and speaking with leaders at top organizations, bestselling author and keynote speaker, Mike Robbins, shares practical tools and insights to help leaders deepen trust, enhance engagement, and create an environment where people can truly thrive.

This keynote invites leaders to embrace authenticity as a strategic advantage—one that builds credibility, connection, and lasting impact.

The Audience Will Leave With:

• A clear understanding of why authenticity drives engagement, trust, and long-term success.
• Practical tools to enhance emotional intelligence and build deeper relationships.
• Strategies for enhancing vulnerability and strength in leadership communication.
• Renewed confidence to lead with courage, purpose, and genuine connection in times of change.

In today’s hyperconnected world, the printing industry faces growing risks that reach far beyond the pressroom. From ransomware and data breaches, to supply chain disruption and compliance requirements, leaders must be prepared to protect both their operations and their customers. This fireside chat will examine the evolving threat landscape as well as emergent opportunities to safeguard the print and packaging sectors. The discussion will explore the impact of generative AI, best practices for assessing vulnerabilities across people, processes, and technology, and gain insight into building a cyber-aware culture that strengthens trust internally and with clients. Whether you oversee commercial print, packaging, or marketing operations, this session will provide practical strategies to minimize exposure and ensure long-term business continuity. 

We will hear  from 3 of your peers as they provide some insight into our group of sponsors.

Several concurrent focus groups will take place, each group will focus on topical sessions covering areas that keep executives up at night. The goal is to discuss top challenges, how to approach them, solve them, and in some case turn them into opportunities. These will be facilitated in “cross segment” groups. Each group will discussing 2-3 major topics and/or functional areas of concern with the goal of walking away with actionable takeaways.

The Meeting Zone is a casual setting designed to provide attendees, advisory board members, experts, and sponsors with the chance to sit down for a series of 1:1 meetings. Prior to the summit a scheduling system will be utilized to assist everyone with scheduling their desired meetings. Attendees can meet with their peers, experts, and sponsors in 20 minute timeslots or in group tables. Food and drinks will be served.

End the day with a snifter in your hand while a whiskey expert discusses its intricacies and leads you through a detailed tasting of each unique whiskey.

In this session, we’ll cut through the hype and confusion around AI and focus on what sales leaders and company owners really need to know. Key topics will include:

• The big question: What should you invest in, and what can you ignore?
• Real-world use cases – See how AI is being applied to:
  • Prospecting
  • Improving customer and prospect communication
  • Analyzing recorded sales calls for coaching and insights
  • Role-playing and skills development
• Investment decisions – How to evaluate use cases, choose where to invest, and assess expected ROI
• Leading through change – How to navigate AI adoption without overwhelming your people while ensuring they are trained

You’ll leave with a grounded understanding of how AI can enhance—not replace—your sales organization, and how to make smart, confident decisions about its role in your sales strategy.

Why are some printers pulling ahead with AI while others are still testing the waters? This session distills findings from the new Alliance Insights study, AI Adoption in the Printing Industry: From Curiosity to Competitive Advantage, to reveal the traits and tactics of organizations leading the way. Based on survey results and in-depth interviews, Nathan Safran will outline how successful companies are scaling AI adoption, connecting projects to measurable business outcomes, and building a culture that embraces change. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to start small, secure early wins, and accelerate their AI journey with confidence.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming every aspect of business—and the print industry is no exception. The PRINTING AI Workshop, part of the PRINTING United Leadership Summit, is your chance to gain hands-on experience with practical AI tools that can drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and accelerate growth in your business.

This highly interactive session is designed for print leaders who want to move beyond theory and start applying AI in real-world ways. Must select the PRINTING AI Workshop pass during registration process to participate.