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IPG Publisher Summit 2017

 


9:00 a.m. - Outside Prairie Room A & B
Registration Desk opens



10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Exhibit Hall opens



12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Outside Prairie Room A & B
Lunch is served


Joe Matthews

Keynote Address
CLARK
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
IPG’s CEO discusses with BISG’s Executive Director what’s new and exciting at IPG & in the larger world of publishing—plus four points publishers should pay attention to in 2017.
 

Joe Matthews started at IPG in 2006 as the Educational Sales Rep, then moved to IT where he spent five years modernizing all of IPG’s internal systems. From there, he served as COO for two years to leverage the technology push. In January 2016, Joe moved into the CEO role where he spends equal time building traditional relationships, streamlining operations, and continuing to propel IPG’s strategic initiatives.
 
Brian O'Leary is Executive Director of the Book Industry Study Group, which works to improve the book industry supply chain. He oversees the work BISG does to disseminate information, implement standards and conduct research on issues affecting companies working throughout the supply chain.

 



Lauren Klouda

Marketing Matters: Cutting Through the Noise
CLARK
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Learn the importance of marketing and how IPG can help.

Lauren Klouda is the Marketing Manager at IPG. She heads the dynamic and creative team behind IPG’s marketing and publicity services, responsible for overseeing the development of corporate and product campaigns, vendor, account, customer outreach, social media, and IPG’s online content. Lauren works with client publishers, IPG partners, and libraries across the book industry to help readers discover books at their local bookstore, library, or online.

Niki Stuckmann
is the Marketing Coordinator at IPG, responsible for the development and execution of print marketing campaigns. She also maintains IPG’s relationship with the Regional Bookseller Associations and the ABA. She is the voice behind IPG’s Twitter and her background in social media has been integral to optimizing and growing IPG’s presence on the platform.

Mimi Le is the Project Manager, Member Benefits Specialist at the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), a not-for-profit membership organization serving and leading the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. She manages IBPA’s book marketing programs, educational platforms (Publishing University Online and IBPA’s Members-Only Discussion Forum), and all-things-related-to social media.



Michele Cobb

Are You Listening? Audiobooks Are Talking
BURNHAM
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Learn what’s happening and how you can be a part of the audiobook explosion!


Michele Cobb 
has served on the Audio Publishers Association (APA) board since 2001, as a director and officer, and is currently Executive Director. She is a partner at Forte Business Consultants, which provides PR, Sales, Marketing and Business Development services for the audio publishing industry.



3:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Exhibits & Coffee Break
Enjoy coffee and snacks while networking with exhibitors and fellow attendees



Panel

Panel: The Future of the Book Show
CLARK
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
A panel on trade shows, book fairs, festivals, cons, and more.


Brien McDonald is the Director, Publisher & Studio Relations for BookExpo & BookCon
Robert Martin is the Trade Show Coordinator for Heartland Fall Forum
Cevin Bryerman is the Publisher and Executive Vice President at Publishers Weekly

 



Jeff Palicki

Deep Dive: National Sales
BURNHAM
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
An in-depth look at how IPG sells into the National Chains.

Jeff Palicki was recently promoted to VP of Marketing at IPG and is also the new in-house sales rep to Barnes & Noble. Prior to his ten years at IPG, Jeff worked for several years at Sourcebooks as Trade Sales Manager after managing B&N stores in Indiana for eight years. Fluent in the language and culture of B&N, Jeff will continue to provide effective sell-in strategies and monitor current sell-through trends at the account. As VP of Marketing, he will continue to oversee the Marketing department in addition to his sales role.



Matthew Baldacci

How to Build Awareness with Consumers and Independent Booksellers
CLARK
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Panelists will discuss various marketing tactics that publishers use to impact awareness and discovery with booksellers and consumers.

Matthew Baldacci is the Director of Business Development at Shelf Awareness, the publisher of free e-newsletters for the book industry and for consumers who want to discover their next great read. Baldacci has worked at many publishers in his 25+ years in publishing: Simon & Schuster, S&S Children’s, DK, and Scholastic. As marketing director and eventually VP, Associate Publisher, Matt worked for sixteen years at St. Martin’s Press, where he was very fortunate to work with hundreds of talented and wonderful publishing folk, authors, agents, booksellers, and librarians.



Cevin Bryerman

Know Your Rights: Subsidiary Rights with PubMatch and IPG
BURNHAM
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
How to make the most of PubMatch and subsidiary rights opportunities.

Cevin Bryerman is the Publisher and Executive Vice President of Publishers Weekly, the international news platform of the book publishing industry. He has been in the publishing business for more than 25 years, and has worked on many publications, including Boating Industry and Waterway Guides, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Variety, Modern Bride, American Baby, and others.

Mindi Rowland recently transitioned to being the National Accounts Manager at IPG. She’s has worked in sales at IPG since 2011, including two years as the sales rep for book clubs. Mindi has been in the book industry for more than two decades—first as a store manager for Crown Books, then working for publishers Bonus Books, First Books, NTC/Contemporary, and Dearborn Publishing. Prior to her work with IPG she was the special sales manager at Triumph Books.



7:00 - 10:00 p.m. 
Bottom Lounge, 1375 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Join Us for the Publisher Summit After Party!


8:30 a.m. - Outside Prairie Room A & B
Registration Desk opens


9:00 a.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Exhibit Hall opens



Lara Alexander

Understanding Amazon
CLARK
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Pulling back the curtain on this bookselling giant.

Lara Alexander is the National Accounts Manager at IPG and oversees the Amazon accounts, along with Indigo and Books-A-Million. She has worked in the book industry since 2008 and is a graduate of both the University of Michigan and the Denver Publishing Institute. Before joining IPG in 2012, she worked for Sourcebooks, an independent publisher, and Children’s Plus Inc, a library wholesaler. 

Lauren Klouda is the Marketing Manager at IPG. She heads the dynamic and creative team behind IPG’s marketing and publicity services, responsible for overseeing the development of corporate and product campaigns, vendor, account, customer outreach, social media, and IPG’s online content. Lauren works with client publishers, IPG partners, and libraries across the book industry to help readers discover books, whether in digital or print, at their local bookstore, library, or online.



10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Exhibits & Coffee Break
Enjoy coffee and snacks while networking with exhibitors and fellow attendees



Panel

Panel: The Method to the Madness: Collection Development, Public Libraries & You
CLARK
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join us for a conversation with library leaders to discuss the who, what, when, why, and most importantly HOW collection development gets done in public libraries.


Veronda Pitchford is the Director of Membership Development and Resource Sharing for Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
Andrew Medlar is the Assistant Chief of Technology, Content & Innovation at Chicago Public Library
Paul MacKinnon is the Assistant Director at Califa Group
Karen Keefe is the Director at Hinsdale Public Library

 



Alex Houston

A Bookseller’s Perspective on Successful Author Events
BURNHAM
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
A bookseller provides the do’s and don’ts of organizing author events.

Alex Houston is Marketing Director for the Seminary Co-op Bookstores in Chicago. She has overseen events, external communications and partnerships, and general marketing for the stores since 2014, and previously worked as a bookseller. She did graduate work in philosophy and graduated from Vassar College in 2009. 

Colin McDonald is Marketing Manager at Seminary Co-op Bookstores in Hyde Park. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University and has served as a panelist on poetry events and marketing with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. His favorite event is weekly storytime at 57th Street Books. 

Aaron Howe is the Trade Sales Manager at IPG and has been with the company since 2013. He has worked in the book industry for over ten years, and after starting his career as a bookseller he went on to successfully manage stores for Hudson Booksellers and Barbara’s Bookstores. He received a Bachelor of Science in English from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 

Janet Potter is a Marketing Associate at TSP, focusing on author events and ebook marketing. Before working in publishing, she spent ten years working in independent bookstores in Boston, Dublin, Greece, and Chicago.

 

 



12:00 - 1:30 p.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Lunch is served



Panel

Bionic Bookselling
CLARK
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Addressing the perception that human curation and discovery algorithims are at odds.


Nathan Maharaj
is a lifelong bookseller. In his teens he worked at his local Chapters store, later taking on category management roles at Indigo’s head office. He is the Senior Director of Merchandising for Rakuten Kobo, where he manages a globe-spanning team of ebooksellers.



Panel

Deep Dive: Trade Sales
BURNHAM
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
The importance of market research in a trade sales context.


Aaron Howe
is the Trade Sales Manager at IPG and has been with the company since 2013. He has worked in the book industry for over ten years, and after starting his career as a bookseller he went on to successfully manage stores for Hudson Booksellers and Barbara’s Bookstores. He received a Bachelor of Science in English from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

 



Panel

Transform Publishing with Crowdfunding
CLARK
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to use crowdfunding to offset costs, do market research, and help your business grow.


Kelly Peterson
is Director of Client Services at INscribe Digital, a division of IPG, and brings twenty years of marketing and merchandising experience to her current role. At INscribe Digital, she helps major trade publishers, university presses, independent publishers, agents and authors maximize their eBook sales and marketing efforts at the major retailers. Prior to INscribe, Kelly worked at Borders Group, Inc. for fourteen years, initially at Waldenbooks and later running the eBook program. She is a Board Member and Professional Development Coodinator for the Bay Area Women in Publishing in her leisure time.



Panel

Backlist CPR
BURNHAM
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Learn how to resuscitate sales for waning backlist and what IPG can do to help.


Richard T. Williams
is the Director, Publisher Development with IPG. He has been with IPG since 2005 and has been the director of the Small Press United program since 2009, where he has worked with hundreds of clients to help with the scheduling, marketing, and sales optimization of their titles. Prior to IPG, Richard was the operations manager for an independent publisher for eight years, where he became familiar with the unique day-to-day challenges of running an indie publishing business.



3:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Prairie Room A & B
Exhibits & Coffee Break
Enjoy coffee and snacks while networking with exhibitors and fellow attendees




Panel

Panel: Print on Demand: Exploring Your Options
CLARK
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The growing importance of POD options—make your books available now.


Anna Toman is the Digital Print Coordinator at IPG
Bob Durgy is the Sales Director at Edwards Brothers Malloy
Rob Clements is the Senior Key Account Sales Manager at Ingram Content Group
Clark Matthews is the Chief Technology Officer at IPG



Panel

Deep Dive: Special Sales
BURNHAM
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
An in-depth look at how IPG sells into the specialty accounts, education, and gift markets.


Michael Riley
is the Vice President of Sales. He oversees all sales to all channels, including the in-house teams that manage sales to national retailers, independent bookstores, national trade wholesalers, and mass market accounts. Additionally he directly manages the in-house special sales team and the gift market field sales force, and he is the account manager to Books-A-Million.



betsy

The Indie Necessity: Why Smaller Presses Are Essential
CLARK
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Join librarian/blogger Betsy Bird (A Fuse #8 Production) as she discusses how smaller publishers are filling the gaps left by the Big Five, and take the risks necessary to a healthy literary economy.


Betsy Bird
is a reviewer, author, and Collection Development Managing Librarian at the Evanston Public Library. She has reviewed for The New York Times, and currently reviews regularly for Kirkus Magazine. Her blog, “A Fuse #8 Production,” is hosted by School Library Journal, and her latest book Funny Girl (Viking) will be on shelves this May




IPG Publisher Summit 2017