(PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 2003) — Peter Meirs, director of alternative media technologies for Time Inc., will provide an exclusive insider's look at a company scrambling to endure the on-slaught of challenges on many fronts at the BookTech 2003 Conference & Expo Keynote Address in New York City, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 3, 2003, the Sutton Parlor North and Center, Hilton New York.

Meirs will provide real-world examples of how Time Inc.'s culture –– that obliged its employees to embrace change –– has ensured the publishing company's long-time competitive advantage and enabled it to quickly and smartly adopt new technologies and vendor/publisher collaboration best practices, such as its early adoption of leading edge technology, a complete revamp of its entire publishing-manufacturing chain and its recent implementation of PDF (Portable Document Format) workflow.

As Time Inc.'s director of alternative media technologies, Meirs is responsible for identifying, tracking and selecting emerging technologies, solutions and best practices for meeting the company's cross-media objectives. Time Inc.'s heritage dates back to 1923 when Time magazine was founded. It remains the world's leading magazine company, publishing approximately 140 regular-frequency titles—among them, Sports Illustrated, People, Entertainment Weekly, In Style This Old House and Marie Claire—with 298 million readers.

The BookTech Conference & Expo is produced by North American Publishing Company (NAPCO), publisher of BookTech Magazine, PrintMedia, In-Plant Graphics, Printing Impressions, and more than 10 other leading trade periodicals. The BookTech Conference & Expo 2003 features an estimated 150 exhibits and more than 50 educational sessions across five tracks: book manufacturing, PDF and beyond, workflow and management solutions, and color and quality control.

The BookTech Conference and Expo 2003 is held concurrently with NAPCO's MagazineTech conference and the brand new In-Plant Graphics and PrintMedia conference and expo. The complete event is North America's largest exhibition of publishing and production technology and services. In addition to the robust conference program, NAPCO will be hosting a two-floor expo replete with leading technology and service providers, including such confirmed exhibitors as: Agfa, Creo, WamNet, DALiM, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Hewlett-Packard, Xeikon Nipson, Zenplex, Markzware, Enfocus, Xinet, Managing Editor Inc., Flashlight Digital, CGS Publishing Technology, Bestcolor USA, Woodwing Software, KyTek, magSend, Thomas Technology Solutions, Progressive Information Technologies, Domtar Paper, International Paper, Tembec, R.R. Donnelley, Banta and 130 more companies from among the industry's leading players.

Book publishing and production professionals should register now for an exhibit hall pass, free through February 21 ($25 after 2/21/03). The pass enables unlimited access to the exhibit hall as well as admission to the keynote address. Early birds who register for the full conference before February 21 can save $100 off the $650 registration fee. For more information or to register on-line, visit www.BookTechExpo.com.