ACP Membership Meeting

Description

The design process in a publishing house is a team sport. Learn the role each department plays in the process, how to direct the right kind of participation from the right people at the right time and how to establish credibility, build trust and deliver solutions that are both meaningful and beautiful. Building the right framework is essential for effective and efficient workflow. We will also discuss the value of creating a department specific pitch deck that informs authors, internal departments, agents and others about your process, staff, work and desired outcome.

Speaker

Torrey Sharp is the owner and principal at Faceout Studio, a market leading firm specializing in book design. The studio designs hundreds of books each year working w/ the world's top media companies, mid–size publishers, university presses and individual authors.  Over the years, Faceout Studio’s work has been recognized by Communication Arts, the AIGA, the AAUP, ECPA, the IBPA, Print magazine, Eye magazine, the New York Book Show, Graphis and the American Advertising Federation. Faceout’s work has also been published in various books, most recently from Rockport, Harper Collins, Springer and Barcelona-based Mao Mao publications. Torrey earned his economics degree from Wheaton College, IL after spending most of his growing up years in Brazil. He has been in the publishing industry since 1996.

A.2          Technology Track: Royalty Systems

Handout/PowerPoint

Speakers

George Logan’s career in publishing spans over 35 years. He is currently Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Klopotek North America. Prior to joining Klopotek, he was VP of Enterprise Services at Pearson. He was also VP of Applications Development at Simon & Schuster. While at Simon & Schuster George led a team of IT professionals that developed the industry’s first Voice Response Unit (VRU) called Prompt Plus. George’s team also developed the industry’s first internet order tracking system known as Oasis. George has worked as an IT professional for various media companies including American Broadcasting Corp., Sirius Satellite Radio, and Radio Computing Services, the world’s largest provider of technology solutions to broadcasters. George is Klopotek’s representative to BMI, BISG and is a member of BISG’s Rights Committee and Supply Chain Committee.

David Hetherington is the Vice President – Global Business Development, Books International,  a leading provider of US  digital book manufacturing and print and digital fulfillment services for the book publishing industry. He is a graduate of Thomas Edison University and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA in Corporate Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Hetherington’s publishing portfolio reflects a broad range of responsibilities including both VP of Manufacturing as well as VP of Financial Planning for Simon & Schuster’s Higher Education Group. In addition, Mr. Hetherington held other senior leadership roles in Finance, Operations, and Sales at Reader’s Digest, Wolters Kluwer Health, Columbia University Press and Baker & Taylor. Prior to joining Books International, Mr. Hetherington served in senior roles in the book publishing software industry including Chief Operating Officer of Klopotek North America and as Chief Marketing Officer for knk Software LP. In addition to his current role at Books International, Mr. Hetherington serves as an adjunct professor, member of the Advisory Board for Pace University’s Graduate School of Publishing and sits on the board of directors for the Book Industry Study Group, Book Manufacturers Institute, and PubWest. David is a frequent speaker at publishing industry events and has written articles for Book Business Magazine as well as Springer’s Publishing Research Quarterly.

A.3          Delivering Your Digital Content (Without Divesting Your Data)

Description

Just as important as delivering your digital content in a user-friendly way is fostering a connection to your customers. As publishers, you face the challenge of distributing content in an economical manner while also collecting helpful data. And it's getting harder every day. Third-party platforms are keeping too much of your revenue and sharing none of the valuable customer information, which is the bedrock of effective engagement strategies. Learn how you can take back the power to build meaningful relationships with your customers without compromising the experience of their eBook and audio consumption. Be equipped with the right tools to conquer new problems and get back to your mission of inspiring readers with the life-changing message of the Gospel.

Speaker

Mike Pacer is the President of 5 Stones - a team of passionate Catholics who possess the necessary expertise in technology, marketing, design, fulfillment, and customer service to allow publishers to focus on their unique mission.   The 5 Stones team supports Catholic publishers by building effective D2C marketing strategies and scalable technology solutions that grow as their mission expands.  It also provides affordable, state of the art warehouse/fulfillment and customer service solutions. Mike is also an author and international speaker. He holds a Juris Doctor and a Masters in Theology.

A.4          Working with the Conformity Review and Catechetical Institute

Description

Fr. Daniel Mahan, the incoming Director of the Institute on the Catechism will discuss the recent changes in the Office of the Catechism, and what those changes mean for publishers of catechetical texts. Specifically, Fr. Mahan will provide an update on the Handbook for K through 8 texts, the tool that will replace existing protocols of completeness for those grades. Also to be discussed is the pilot process by which catechetical consultants are accompanying publishers through the process of review.  Fr. Mahan hopes that this session will provide him an opportunity to get to know better those who are involved in the publication of catechetical texts.

Speaker

Father Daniel J. Mahan will soon begin serving the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as the Director of the newly-formed Institute on the Catechism. Father Mahan was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 1988. He has served in parishes throughout the archdiocese, and currently serves as pastor in solidum of four parishes in southeastern Indiana. He has served as a reviewer of catechetical texts since the late 1990s and has been working as a core team member for the Institute since its launch in November 2022. A graduate of Saint Meinrad College, Father Mahan holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome.

A.E          Executive Session: Technology and Systems Design and Decision-Making

Speaker

James D. Feldman is an accomplished speaker, author, and consultant. He is known for his dynamic and engaging speaking style, as well as his expertise in leadership development, sales training, and customer service.

Feldman has spoken to audiences around the world, including in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. He has worked with a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, helping them to develop their leadership skills and improve their bottom line.

In addition to his work as a speaker and consultant, Feldman is also the author of several books on leadership, sales, and customer service. His most recent book, "Shift Happens! Think Inside The Box Using 3D Thinking. His book explores the role of technology and innovation in driving change in the business world.

Large-Group Session: Building Community Effectively in a Hybrid Work Environment

Description

Hybrid work is here to stay. For workers in the knowledge economy, eighty percent of say they want location flexibility and 94% say they want schedule flexibility. Organizations and leaders are working to adapt to these desires in order to compete in the talent market. But effective hybrid/remote work requires new skills and approaches to foster culture, connection and collective work.

Leaders face the challenge of creating community and retaining and engaging people within the context of a distributed workforce.  This session will give leaders the tools and strategies for constructing an optimal hybrid work environment, including:

• Leading in a hybrid world
  • Leaders must understand the “levers” to drive performance and engagement: the strengths, purpose, needs and passions of their people. They must personalize the experience for each team member, understanding their emotional, social and career needs.
• Getting work done differently
  • Leaders who have relied on in-person interactions with their people in order to achieve objectives must evolve to managing to expectations and outcomes. This can be a difficult transition to make: how work gets done must be designed differently in a hybrid world.
  • Understanding what work should be done asynchronously when employees are remote versus synchronous in-person work
• Encouraging and enhancing in-person time
  • Rethinking the office: spaces that inspire and attract your people
  • Creating connection opportunities: scheduling and planning time to connect intentionally to encourage cohesion and collaboration

Leaders will gain the skills to identify and develop practices that accentuate the organization’s values and perpetuate its culture. They’ll be able to employ strategies that evolve the workplace in ways that are effective, engaging and meaningful.

Speakers

Patricia Carl is a leadership consultant, speaker, and the CEO of Highland Performance Solutions, a woman-owned organizational consulting firm that works with leaders, teams and organizations to unlock potential and drive organizational performance.

Lisa Tintner is Managing Partner of Highland Performance Solutions, a woman-owned consulting firm that partners with clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 firms to design effective strategies and structures, hire the right people, develop key talent and engage and mobilize their workforce to deliver on business strategy.

C.1          Designers Track: Best Practices for How to Hire a Freelance Designer

Speaker

Torrey Sharp (see A.1 for complete biography)

Description

This session will cover topics such as where to find and how to commission the best talent, establishing realistic budgets, delivering a comprehensive design brief, evaluating work and creating the right kind of feedback loop and how to motivate freelance designers to get their best work. We will also dive into situations where the project or the relationship runs into distress and discuss best practices for how to resolve or exit the engagement. 

Speaker

Ken Brooks

Speakers

Darius Villalobos serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). He served in the Archdiocese of Chicago in a variety of ministry roles, including youth ministry, young adult ministry, and catechesis. He is a graduate of DePaul University and Catholic Theological Union. He has served as a parish RCIA director, liturgical music minister, retreat director, catechist, and youth minister.

Fr. Sergio Rivas

C.4          Issues in Managing Human Resources

Description

The management of human resources is a critical aspect of every organization’s success, and it is accompanied by a wide variety of complexities and challenges.  In this session, we delve into the key issues faced by HR professionals and organizations today, and we will explore effective strategies to navigate them.

Over the decades, HR has transformed to a strategic partner in driving organizational growth and maximizing employee potential.  HR professionals continue to adapt to dynamic environments, embrace technological advancements, and adopt innovative practices.  One of the many critical and ever-changing areas is that of legal and ethical concerns.  We will discuss key themes of employment law such as anti-harassment and discrimination and compliance with labor laws in order to mitigate legal risks and ensure a fair and inclusive work environment.

A further challenge for HR is today’s labor market and how it affects employee engagement and retention.  We will address the necessity of fostering a positive culture and addressing employees’ needs in the workplace which include opportunities for growth and development and addressing burnout.  This exploration of the issues in managing human resources will address the strategies necessary to effectively navigate the evolving landscape of HR in organizations.

Speaker

Candace Fisher works with members to help develop the talent in their organizations. This includes facilitating training sessions, coaching individual managers and teams, and designing organization-specific performance management systems. She also facilitates training sessions at HR Source and, as part of our HR Hotline team, advises members on a variety of organizational issues such as employee relations, supervisory and management concerns and change management. In her spare time, Candace volunteers at a local humane society and is proud to claim the moniker, “Crazy Cat Lady” at the Association.

D.1         Designers Track: Ebook Production through InDesign: Tools and Techniques 

Erie

Description

In this workshop-formatted session, we will walk through the stages in the process of producing an ebook through InDesign, including pre-production (Word), production (InDesign), ebook composition, and auditing. At each stage we will discuss tools and techniques that you need in order to produce distribution-ready EPUB 3 ebooks to Amazon and other retailers.

Speaker 

Sean Harrison has been publishing digital books and developing workflow systems since 1999. In 2014, he founded Book Genesis, a publishing workflow consultancy, and has helped many publishers create better products and systems. He is a recognized expert in the realm of digital publishing, XML-based content data, and publishing workflow systems, and is also a qualified cloud software engineer. He enjoys collaborating with his customers and developing lasting friendships. Sean lives in Wheaton with his family.

D.2         Technology Track: Best practices in design/decision-making on technology and systems

Huron

Speaker

James Feldman (See A.E for complete biography)

D.4         Targeting Audiences in Social Media Today

Ontario

Speaker

A Chicagoland native, Allie Noble is the Social Media Manager at InterVarsity Press (IVP) working to promote all titles and helping authors navigate the digital space. She holds a degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Prior to joining IVP in 2019, she worked at global Public Relations agency Finn Partners before transitioning into faith-based work at her home church, Christ Church in Oak Brook, where she served in communications and digital marketing. Allie currently resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with her husband, one-year-old son, and an impossibly long TBR list.

D.E         Executive Session: Issues in Managing Human Resources

Michigan

Speaker

Candace Fisher (See C.4 for complete biography)

Friday

Large-Group Session: Today’s Catholic Church and Its Implications for Catholic Publishing

Description

The first part is an overview of CARA research on how and where Catholics engage their faith with and through media, with a particular emphasis on young adult faith engagement.  Most young adult Catholics actively engage their faith separate from the local parish – so how might we communicate with them?  The second part will present the findings from the recent CARA national Catholic poll on how do Catholics understand the Eucharist.  These findings challenge the unnuanced reporting presented in the media in recent years. These findings also raise issues about methods of providing content so as to reach related audiences.

Speakers

Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ, Ph.D. is a Jesuit of the USA East Province. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Louis University, a M.Div. from Loyola University-Chicago, a M.P.A. and Ph.D. in City Planning from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His M.P.A. research was on Diocesan Synods and his dissertation was on low-income citizen participation in human services planning. Prior to becoming executive director at CARA in 2011 Fr. Gaunt was the Executive Secretary/Socius of the Jesuit Conference-USA, the national office of the Jesuits of the USA for nine years. Before that he served as the Director of Formation & Studies for the Jesuits of the Maryland and New York Provinces. Early in his ministry he served as a Pastor and Director of Planning & Research in the Diocese of Charlotte for 10 years. Among his publications are: Catholic Parishes of the 21sr Century (Oxford University Press, 2017), Pathways to Religious Life (Oxford University Press, 2018), Catholic Bishops in the United States: Church Leadership in the Third Millennium (Oxford University Press, 2019), New Faces, New Possibilities: Cultural Diversity and Structural Change in Institutes of Women Religious (Liturgical Press, 2022) and Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Adult Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church (Liturgical Press, 2022).

Monica Yehle is currently President of M4 Consulting Services, LLC. She brings with her 40 years of experience in Catholic, corporate, nonprofit, business, institutional communications and development, as well as administrative and organizational leadership and planning, all at the national and international levels. Most recently (until December 31, 2022) Chief of Staff at The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States National Office, she was also Director of Communications and Outreach, and Director of Development and Programs during her 35 years at this international organization, as well as Communications Advisor for a related mission initiative. Following the reorganization / relocation of that National Office, she began her own consulting firm, offering services in four areas: Marketing/Communications, Development/Fundraising, Management/Leadership/Administration, and Planning (event-meeting).  Earlier in her career she worked in Corporate Communications, as writer-editor in the Publications department, and assistant direct in the Public Affairs department at W.R. Grace & Co. She also worked as writer and special sections editor at Catholic New York newspaper immediately after college.

Peer Group: Finance 
Peer Group: Heads of House
Peer Group: Marketing/Sales
Peer Group: Editorial
Peer Group: Design/Production

Superior
Michigan
Erie
Huron
Ontario

Peer Group: Women in Catholic Publishing

Superior