Neil Strandberg to Leave ABA in July

Neil Strandberg will be leaving his position as director of technology for the American Booksellers Association in July to become director of technology and operations for Shelf Awareness in Seattle.

Strandberg will continue to oversee ABA’s technology team and the transition of IndieCommerce sites to the Drupal 7 platform throughout the coming weeks and will be available to assist the association’s staff as needed in the future.

The IndieCommerce team will remain at full strength, guided by lead developer Geetha Nathan and helped by the recent addition of Ryan Quinn to the customer service team that includes Scott Nafz and Chanthee Keokhaw. Additional support comes from ABA tech team members Josh Harding and Anna Kumanan, with help from former ABA staffer Matt Supko, who is now a consultant. The upgrade of IndieCommerce sites will continue uninterrupted, said Strandberg, and following the migration of the last Drupal 6 sites later this month, the focus will shift to platform improvements.

“ABA is extremely grateful to Neil for all his hard work and his unstinting dedication to indie booksellers and their stores’ success,” said ABA CEO Oren Teicher. “His leadership on challenging projects has helped ensure that ABA bookstore members have the tech resources necessary to compete in today’s market. Neil has been a valued colleague, and ABA wishes him all the best in his new role in the book industry.” 

In an e-mail to IndieCommerce stores on Wednesday, Strandberg, who came to ABA from his position as manager of operations at Denver’s Tattered Cover Book Store, described his move as bittersweet. “I thought I knew a thing or two about independent booksellers and bookselling before joining ABA, but the work I have done with all of you through IndieCommerce — and the Kobo program — has afforded me a much deeper appreciation of the reasons for your successes as entrepreneurs,” he wrote. “You’re an amazingly diverse community, having in common zeal for your customers and clarity about how to serve them. I am deeply grateful for having had this chance to serve you.”