IBPA Publishing University 2025: Full Schedule

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10:00am CDT

Welcome First Timers! Learn How to Get the Most out of IBPA Publishing University

Friday May 16, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am CDT

Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Full description to come.

Friday May 16, 2025 10:00am - 10:45am CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone

1:15pm CDT

Breakout 1 - (Established Independent Publishers) - Non-English Content for the US Market

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

With faculty Arthur A. Levine, Icy Smith, and Wiley Barnes, and moderator and host Ashley MIreles-Gurerro.

Details to be announced.

The Established Publisher breakout sessions are intended for independent publishers who have an established business and experience in the industry, and are looking to successfully grow and scale their publishing company. (Generally you will have been in the publishing industry for at least four years, and have published more than ten titles.) Please note that if you are just starting out and you attend an Established Independent Publisher session you are auditing the class, and we ask that you not take up session time with beginner-level questions.

Speakers

Arthur A. Levine

President and Editor-in-Chief, Levine Querido

Arthur A. Levine is a gay, Jewish, parent, who lives with chronic illness, and is neuro-atypical. Does that explain his career-long passion for diversity in children’s literature? Not fully. He believes with all his heart that what we (all of us) look for, as readers, is truth... Read More →

Ashley Mireles-Guerrero

Director of Sales & Marketing/Founder CEO, Familius/Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore

Ashley Marie Mireles-Guerrero is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Familius Publishing and the author of over 13 books, including 100 First Words for Little Californians and Proud to Be Latino: Food/Comida. A 2022 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Finalist and 2024 BookCamp Forty... Read More →

Icy Smith

Publisher, East West Discovery Press LLC

Icy Smith is the founder of East West Discovery Press, a publisher and distributor of multicultural and bilingual books in many different languages, with the mission of promoting understanding among people of different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Smith has written award-winning... Read More →

Wiley Barnes

Director, Chickasaw Press

Wiley Barnes, Chickasaw, has spent twenty-four years forging a career in publishing, writing, printing, photography, and graphic design, with the last seventeen years at the Chickasaw Nation. During that time, he has had the pleasure of working on a number of projects that promote... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Established Independent Publishers

3:00pm CDT

Breakout 2 - (Established Independent Publishers) - Diversify Your Manufacturing Options in the Global Printing Market

Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Diversify Your Manufacturing Options in the Global Printing Market
With faculty Chris Hobbs, David Hetherington, Keith Riegert, Kurt Brackob, Dwight Vicks, and moderator and host Matt Baehr.

The Established Publisher breakout sessions are intended for independent publishers who have an established business and experience in the industry, and are looking to successfully grow and scale their publishing company. (Generally you will have been in the publishing industry for at least four years, and have published more than ten titles.) Please note that if you are just starting out and you attend an Established Independent Publisher session you are auditing the class, and we ask that you not take up session time with beginner-level questions.

Speakers

Kurt Brackob

Director, Histria Books

**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmAreas of Expertise: General Publishing Consultancy, Distribution, Starting and Building a Publishing CompanyRegistered attendees can sign up for... Read More →

David Hetherington

Vice President – Global Business Development, Books International

** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 2C - Fri 5/16, 3:45-4:00pmAreas of Expertise: Distribution, General Publishing Consultancy... Read More →

Chris Hobbs

Business Development Director, Hobbs

** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm; 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm; 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm; 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am; 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am; 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am; 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noon; 5A - group - Sat... Read More →

Keith Riegert

President / CEO, The Stable Book Group / Perfect Bound

Keith Riegert is the CEO of the SaaS platform, Perfect Bound, as well as the president of The Stable Book Group. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and is a member of the Board of Advisors and an adjunct professor at NYU’s Masters... Read More →

Dwight Vicks

President, Vicks Print & Distribution

Dwight Vicks is President of Vicks Print & Distribution, a company founded by his grandfather in 1918. What began as a letterpress operation, Vicks has evolved into a digital print and distribution company serving niche publishers. The company employs 90 professionals and has two... Read More →

Matt Baehr

Executive Director, Book Manufacturers' Institute

Matt Baehr is the Executive Director of the Book Manufacturers' Institute (BMI). He’s been the chief executive of the association since 2017. Matt has a long career in association management, primarily working with trade associations. He holds an undergraduate degree from the Catholic... Read More →

Friday May 16, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Established Independent Publishers