SUPDMC HISTORY

Back in the early 70’s, Larry Jones then of Auburn University, Jim Crosby then of Mississippi State, and Curt Simmons then of LSU began discussions about the desirability of having a group of Southeastern Conference printers. In 1975, Mr. Simmons took the initiative to get something going. He called every university printing office in the Southeast to see if there was enough interest to support such an organization. Luckily, there was interest!

At the time, there was a printers group functioning in the Big 10 Conference. Mr. Simmons made contact with the folks in charge of the conference and attended the conference along with Bill LePier then of the University of North Carolina. While there, the two men decided to attempt to hold a Southeastern conference the following year, in 1976. Mr. Simmons planned a program with the Big 10 Conference as a model and he made hotel and meal arrangements for attendees. The first Southeastern Conference was held in Baton Rouge, LA in October, 1976. The meeting was from Thursday through Saturday. It was at this meeting that guidelines for future conferences were discussed and a name was chosen for the group, Southeastern University Printing and Duplicating Managers Conference. Initially, there were no vendors in attendance and the conference was funded by attendees and the host school. The entire idea for the annual conference was for the attendees to have the opportunity to seek information from their peers about various operational issues and network so that the sharing of information could be continuous throughout the year. 

The name of the conference was changed two different times, in 2006 to Southeastern University Printing & Digital Managers Conference and again in 2021 after the pandemic to Southeastern University Print, Digital and Mail Conference

It was decided at the business meeting held at the 2008 conference that a logo and web site would be created for the group. 

Conferences Through the Years

1976 – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

1977 – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Univ. of North Carolina jointly hosted the conference in Raleigh 

1978 – University of Georgia, Athens

1979 – University of Kentucky, Lexington

1980 – Mississippi State University, Starkville

1981 – University of Alabama in Birmingham 

1982 – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 

1983 – University of Mississippi, Oxford 

1984 – University of Florida, Gainesville 

1985 – James Madison University, Harrisonburg 

1986 – University of Southern Mississippi University, Harrisburg 

1987 – North Carolina State University, Raleigh 

1988 – Troy State University & Auburn University jointly hosted 

1989 – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge

1990 – University of Georgia, Athens 

1991 – University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

1992 – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 

1993 – James Madison University, Harrisonburg

1994 – University of South Alabama, Mobile 

1995 – University of Memphis, Memphis 

1996 – University of Florida, Gainesville

1997 – West Virginia University, Morgantown 

1998 – Auburn University, Auburn 

1999 – North Carolina State University, Raleigh

2000 – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 

2001 – University of Southern Mississippi, Harrisburg

2002 – Broward Community College, Ft. Lauderdale 

2003 – Florida State University, Tallahassee 

2004 – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 

2005 – University of North Carolina, Wilmington & Duke University, Durham jointly hosted in Wilmington, NC 

2006 – University of Memphis, TN & University of Mississippi, Oxford jointly hosted the conference in Memphis, TN 

2007 – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 

2008 – Univ. of Texas, Arlington, Ft. Worth jointly hosted SUPDMC & TACUP 

2009 – Broward Community College, Ft. Lauderdale

2010 – Auburn University, Auburn 

2011 – University of Tennessee-Knoxville and UT-Martin jointly hosted in Nashville, TN

2012 – Valdosta State University - Valdosta, GA

2013 – University of Texas - Austin

2014 – Perdido Beach, Alabama - Tour The University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL

2015 – St. Augustine, FL - Tour Mac Papers Envelope Converter Plant & Flagler College

2016 – Asheville, NC

2017 – Middle Tenn State Univ. - Murfreesboro, TN

2018 – Daytona Beach, FL

2019 -  UNC Wilmington - Wilmington, NC

2022 - Clearwater, FL

2023 - Atlanta, GA - Booth at Printing United

2024 - Savannah, GA - Toured Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)

2025 - UNC Wilmington - Wilmington, NC