ABA Announces Staff Changes

Over the last few months, the American Booksellers Association has reorganized the responsibilities of some of its key staff to better meet the needs of its members. Among the changes, ABA has designated BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos to spearhead an effort to evaluate and reinvigorate the association's educational offerings, in addition to his other responsibilities. Working with Vlahos on the project is Kristen Gilligan, who was recently named associate director of programming and constituent groups liaison.

Meg Zelickson Smith, who continues in her role as associate director of Book Sense marketing, has also been appointed to the new position of director of membership marketing. In her new role, Smith is responsible for developing marketing strategies and materials to both attract new members and improve membership retention. In addition, Smith is now handling all media relations for the association.

Effective January 1, Martha Schultze, a 15-year veteran of the association, whose most recent position was systems administrator for BookSense.com, will oversee all technical and customer service aspects of membership marketing.

Schultze's replacement on the BookSense.com team will be David C. Brown, who, for the past six years, has been the systems administrator for a multi-location, retail wine and spirits company in Texas. Brown will officially join the BookSense.com staff on January 10.

In other BookSense.com news, Patti Neske has been promoted from associate project manager to project manager, and Suzanne McDonald is now a full-time customer service coordinator.