Apparel Decorator Programs at GRAPHICS PRO EXPO Portland

For shops involved with apparel decorating, GRAPHICS PRO EXPO in Portland, Oregon, July 19-20, features a variety of programs designed to educate, inform, and entertain. All of these programs are free when you register for GPX Portland.

Renowned apparel decorator Lon Winters of Graphic Elephants will host the star-studded Apparel Decorator Panel, and teach a class, Tips and Techniques for High-Impact, Profitable Screen Printing.

Other classes focused on apparel decorating include:

• Let Technology do the Work: Using Software to Grow Your Business, sponsored by Inktavo
• Easiest Way to Print Apparel, sponsored by Transfer Express
• Perfect Print Placement, sponsored by Transfer Express

GPX Silver Sponsor ROQ will be at Booth 101 with Ryonet (screenprinting.com) and will showcase the ROQ NEXT Screen Printing Press, EXILE Technologies’ ScreenMaker CTS, Riley Cure Conveyor Dryers, Flash Dryers, and the STAMPINATOR. Pick up an Allmade printed t-shirt at the booth. ROQ will also have a Happy Hour at Ex Novo Brewing on Wednesday, July 19, from 6-8 p.m.

Apparel Decorator Panel

The Apparel Decorator Panel takes place on Thursday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Oregon Convention Center, Room 145. The panel will explore screen printing, DTG, DTF, embroidery, and heat transfer processes, as well as general business and marketing for shops looking to up their game in 2023. Emceed by Lon Winters, panelists include:

Dallas Lowry, Opake Screen Printing

Dallas Lowry is the president of Opake Screen Printing, Vancouver, Washington. Dallas started screen printing his drawings on T-shirts in high school and eventually started printing for friends’ family businesses. At 22 Dallas went full time in screen printing and evolved into offering embroidery, vehicle wraps, websites, and graphic design. Dallas is passionate about creating quality retail gear and making their customers stand out.

Mark Gervais, Screen Printing Master

Mark Gervais is a passionate and dedicated screen-print veteran with over 45 years of experience. During that time, Mark diversified his background and experience by working for printed circuit board manufacturers, high-volume textile screen-print production operations on the west coast, and studied inks and applications with three different plastisol/water-base ink manufacturers for seven years.

For the past 15+ years, Mark designed three large, state-of-the-art, vertically-integrated screen print operations for Asian-based apparel manufacturers, who produced apparel for several famous global sportswear brands. Having gained a solid understanding and experience with the process controls/variables, standardized systems and procedures, featuring facility layout, digital printing, robotics, and automation, Mark brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience to share for all levels, along with some great stories.

Elisa Serrano, Don’t Lose Hope (DLH) Screen Print

With a background in apparel design, marketing, & the beauty industry, Elisa Serrano serves as the head of marketing and sales as well as business strategy at Don’t Lose Hope (DLH) Screen Print, Salem, Oregon.

Rodney Cuda, DLH Screen Print

Rodney Cuda has been pulling squeegees for 18 years now and has taken DLH Screen Print to a new level with automation in 2022. With a passion for the craft of screen printing, he enjoys teaching others how to deliver the best prints possible.

Amy Baker, Threadbare Print House

Amy Baker is the owner of Threadbare Print House, a Eugene-based screen printing company. Threadbare prints exclusively with water-based inks. The focused team of passionate printmakers is working to accelerate the craft while focusing on sustainable options in both garment choice and print technique. Outside of Threadbare, Amy enjoys spending time with her two boys and all the outdoor activities Oregon has to offer.

Jamie McParland, Ink Brigade

Jamie is the co-owner of Ink Brigade in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2009 by Jamie and his wife, Jennifer Martin, Ink Brigade is a full-service apparel decorator that offers screen printing, embroidery, patches, enamel pins and other merch items to customers nationwide. Jamie started screen printing in the early ‘90s as a punk rock/BMX kid in the Midwest, printing t-shirts for his own clothing line, getting to meet touring bands like Nirvana by handing out t-shirts he’d printed.

The panel and all Training in the Classroom at GPX Portland are free when you register. For more information about the event – who’s exhibiting, networking opportunities, free training, the schedule, and more — go to g-p-x.com/or.