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Interested in volunteering with a committee? Learn more below, and fill out this form today!


board of directors

About the Board: The PubWest Board varies from 9-16 people, roughly 75% publisher members and 25% associate members (printers, distributors, publicists, etc.). Terms are three years. Two-hour board meetings are held quarterly. This is a working board, so members also serve on a committee, often in a leadership position, lead periodic meetings, and communicate committee work to their fellow board members. Additionally, the board recruits new members to PubWest and helps identify and make introductions to potential sponsors.

OFFICERS

President: Amy Barrett-Daffin
Publisher
C&T Publishing
Concord, CA

Vice President: Joe Biel
CEO
Microcosm Publishing
Portland, OR


Secretary: Leigh McDonald

Art Director

University of Arizona Press
Tucson, AZ

Treasurer: Angela Engel
Publisher & Founder

The Collective Book Studio

Oakland, CA



BOARD MEMBERS

Jane Ferreyra

Director

University of Nebraska Press

Lincoln, NE

Jessica Powers
Publisher
Catalyst Press
El Paso, TX


Michelle Halket
Publisher
Central Avenue Publishing

Delta, BC, Canada


Todd Stocke

SVP, Editorial Director

Sourcebooks

Naperville, IL


Tom Helleberg
Publisher
Mountaineers Books
Seattle, WA


Sidney Thompson
Business Development Manager
Independent Publishers Group (IPG)

Chicago, IL


Leah Hernandez
Publisher
Young Authors Publishing
Atlanta, GA

Kenechi Uzor

Founder and Publisher

Iskanchi Press

Lehi, UT


David Hetherington

VP - Global Business Development

Books International

Dulles, VA


Lauren Wise

Associate Publisher

She Writes Press and SparkPress

Berkeley, CA


Curtis Key

VP, Business Development

Books International

Havertown, PA

Ryan T. Shaffer (General Counsel)

Attorney
Sherman & Howard L.L.C.
Denver, CO


Marci Monson
Senior Manager, Publicity & Communications
Gibbs Smith Books

Layton, UT


 

Testimonials

From Amy Barrett-Daffin, C&T Publishing, amyd@ctpub.com

"PubWest has helped move C&T forward in myriad ways. From learning more about the book industry to connecting with vendors and other publishers. Here is a list of what I have gotten: 1. Printers and other vendors that we continue to use. 2. Learned more about the intricacies of working with Amazon, including Amazon StoreFront and all the reports you can get from Amazon that my distributor was not sharing. 3. Edelweiss. 4. Pandemic roundtables: the support from membership during the beginning of the pandemic helped us all figure out how to navigate loans and the payroll protection act. 5. Learning from other publishers about how they are managing their work and applying it to my organization, for example, launching an online learning platform and talking with the person at Sounds True managing their effort, saved me countless hours in research and application. And after meeting Todd from Sourcebooks at a conference, we had a virtual meeting and learned more about using SEO effectively. The list goes on and on. PubWest is a vibrant organization that I rely on every day."

From Marci Monson, Gibbs Smith, marci.monson@gibbs-smith.com

"PubWest is where my publishing journey began. I drove 13 hours through massive blizzards two days after being let go from my first publishing job to find a conference center full of like-minded people who love books, authors, and telling stories to the world."

From Kenechi Uzor, Iskanchi Press, kenechi.uzor@iskanchi.com

"PubWest is a great place for publishers to network, compare notes, and stay updated on the best practices in publishing."

From Rachel Bell, Overcup Press, rachel@overcupbooks.com

"PubWest is the essential professional community for book publishers. The members are always eager to support fellow publishers - and supporting the success of the entire book publishing ecosystem."

From Jane Ferreyra, University of Nebraska Press, jferreyra@unl.edu

"The collegiality of the members is number one! And that the organization has such a wide range of offerings benefits, from things like boot camp to vendor discounts."

From Leigh McDonald, University of Arizona Press, lmcdonald@uapress.arizona.edu

"PubWest has been an amazing way to build connections with peers and vendor partners. Attending conferences and virtual roundtables has been a deeply valuable way to share insights, resources, and ideas on all aspects of our dynamic and ever-changing business. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work together to help shape the future of our industry through volunteering on the board and committees. From awards and program planning to building out internship programs and DEI resources, our work brings more voices and experiences to the table and supports both the current and next generation of publishing professionals."

From Michelle Halket, Central Avenue Publishing, michelle@centralavenuepublishing.com

"I have been a member of PubWest for the past five years, and it has played a vital role in running and expanding my press. As a small business with only a few employees, the ability to connect with like-minded individuals in the industry has provided us with a range of opportunities and avenues. Through both the in-person conferences and online round-tables, we exchange ideas, learn new concepts, and gain insights into how fellow publishers are tackling similar challenges. I have acquired new tools at reduced costs and connected with suppliers who have helped make my press more scalable and profitable. I plan to remain a member for as long as I'm in this industry!"

From Leah Hernandez, Young Authors Publishing, leah@youngauthorspublishing.org

"I love the PubWest community and willingness from other members to share best practices, tips and information on how to be a better publisher."


pubwest committeeS

Interested in volunteering with a committee?  Fill out this form today! 

Awards Committee
In addition to organizing and improving the Book Design Awards program each year, this committee compiles and vets nominations for the Jack D. Rittenhouse Award, the PubWest Hall of Fame, and PubWest's Scholarship program and puts forward a recommendation to the Board of Directors for each one. 

Conference Committee
Did you enjoy the PubWest Conference? Have any new ideas for sessions or speakers? Join PubWest's Conference Committee and help plan a future conference! Planning begins each March and we need active committee members who will help determine the session topics and keynote speakers.

Membership/DEI Committee

Develops membership goals and a plan to achieve these goals. The committee promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion best practices within the PubWest organization and among peers in the publishing industry and in related industries, and works to ensure a representative membership and board.

Professional Development Committee

Plans and hosts regional & online events to bring PubWest members together for collegiality. Committee members help plan gatherings, educational sessions, and happy hours to promote networking. This committee allows members to connect with one another in both casual and professional capacities. The events foster connection and provide opportunities for continuing education in the industry.


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