Ricoh's Successful Utilities Conference “Go Beyond the Meter” Returns for an Encore Engagement with Industry Leaders

BOULDER, Colo. - May 23, 2012 – Ricoh Production Print Solutions LLC (Ricoh), a leading provider of digital output solutions, today announced its second annual Go Beyond the Meter conference, a utilities-specific event, which will take place in Boulder from June 18-20. The event will again bring together utility executives, industry analysts, and thought leaders to share best practices, learn about emerging trends, and discuss today’s opportunities and challenges. At this year’s conference keynote speaker Christine Richards, a Senior Research Analyst at Energy Central, will unveil new research on using analytics to improve customer engagement. Richards’ talk, titled “Research on Utilities: Improving Customer Communications” will focus on how utility companies can analyze their customer data to improve their communications, help lower their services costs, and establish better customer experiences.

Other experts and sessions at the event include:

• Joe Pulizzi, award-winning strategist, author and Founder of Content Marketing Institute. His session: “Good to Great Content Marketing” will speak to developing content marketing strategies that generate passionate fans and subscribers to grow businesses
• Wes Friesen, Manager, Revenue Collection & Community Offices, PGE. Friesen returns to Go Beyond the Meter to speak about their success in bill redesign using marketing analytics and the overall impact on customer satisfaction in his talk “Customer Experience: Portland General Electric”
• Jason Cormier, Co-Founder, Room 214. A social media expert, Cormier’s talk, “Social Media & Utilities: Techniques, Experience for Improved Communications” will offer insight as to how utility companies can use new channels to reach their audiences effectively
• Mike Bryant, Worldwide Customer Strategy & Marketing Analytics, Ricoh. A thought leader in marketing analytics and customer strategy, Bryant will discuss practices using data-driven insights to create highly targeted and relevant marketing in a talk called “Marketing Analytics for the Utilities Industry”
• Multiple customer experience sessions, featuring executives from national and international power companies

“Well-executed, relevant communications have become essential for utilities, as they seek to engage existing and potential customers, while keeping overhead costs low,” said Joe Pulizzi, Founder, Content Marketing Institute. “I’m looking forward to sharing strategies about communicating effectively with customers which can provide incredible gains in customer knowledge, customer satisfaction, and a company’s bottom line.”

“Last year’s award-winning event was a success on every level, and the feedback we received confirmed that attendees found the panels valuable and educational,” said Sandra Zoratti, Vice President of Marketing, Executive Briefings and Education, Ricoh. “As utilities move into an increasingly de-regulated arena, we at Ricoh want to provide support for the new challenges they will face, by helping them capitalize on new opportunities we have uncovered by using data-driven marketing strategies, which produce real results.”