David Walker Joins ABA as Director of Special Projects

This week, ABA announced that David Walker had joined the association as Director of Special Projects. Walker will be focusing on three key areas: developing educational programs, building upon and maintaining relationships with publishers and wholesalers, and working with ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz on further enhancing the ABACUS study.

"We're delighted to have someone with David's experience and expertise join ABA," said Domnitz. "David has a comprehensive understanding of the independent bookselling market, and we believe that this knowledge will be a great benefit to the association and our membership."

"Having worked for ABA on many projects over the past several years," said Walker. "I am delighted to now be working full time with the association and its members."

Prior to joining the ABA staff, Walker was a consultant to ABA on industry relations. Starting in 1997, he worked on a number of issues for the association -- ranging from overseeing the distribution of the Penguin settlement to ABA member bookstores to looking into claims of unfair trade practices.

Before becoming an industry consultant, Walker was the general manager of Olsson's Books & Records in Washington, D.C.

"I came to [Washington] to work for a computer consulting company ... and took a job at Olsson's part-time," Walker told BTW. "Somehow it turned into a full-time job." Walker worked at Olsson's for 11 years.

As for his main objective as Director of Special Projects, Walker said, "The theme is helping independent bookstores become profitable."--David Grogan