IBPA Publishing University 2025: Full Schedule

Brooke Warner, Publisher of She Writes Press, in conversation with Jonathan Merkh (President and Publisher of Forefront Books), Angela Engel (Publisher and Founder of The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Founder, CEO, and Publisher of Universal Write Publications) about rethinking business models, what to do with business models that straddle more than one category, and issues like co-opting business model terms to the point of dilution. The panelists will talk about how they think about their own models, how they're changing with the times, and how they position themselves relative to traditional publishing and other models.

Speakers

Brooke Warner

Publisher, She Writes Press

Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What's Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke teaches memoir intensives online and in person, and publishes around 50 memoirs... Read More →

Angela Engel

Publisher & Founder, The Collective Book Studio

Angela Engel is the visionary founder of The Collective Book Studio, a publishing company committed to honoring the author’s voice throughout the entire creative process. With a rich background in traditional publishing, Angela has a keen eye for bringing beautifully crafted books... Read More →

Jonathan Merkh

President & Publisher, Forefront Books

Jonathan Merkh is a seasoned publishing executive with over 30 years of experience in the book industry. Throughout his career, he has worked with a diverse range of authors, including Brad Paisley, Glenn Beck, Dave Ramsey, and the Robertson family from Duck Dynasty, helping to turn... Read More →

Dr. Ayo Sekai

Founder, CEO & Publisher, Universal Write Publications

Dr. Ayo Sekai stands as a force in academia, championing equity, intellectual rigor, and the amplification of Black scholarship. With over 20 years of groundbreaking leadership in publishing, she is the visionary Founder, CEO, and Publisher of Universal Write Publications, LLC (UWP... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 9:15am - 10:30am CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Plenary

Audience For This Session Everyone, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors), Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers

10:40am CDT

Breakout 3 (Author Publishers) - Author to Thought Leader to Publicist-in-chief: You as a Speaker

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Author to Thought Leader to Publicist-in-chief: You as a Speaker
Jeniffer Thompson and Mary Catherine Jones

Details to be announced.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works.

Speakers

Jeniffer Thompson

Creative Director, Monkey C Media

Jeniffer Thompson is the founder of Monkey C Media, an award-winning book cover and author website design house since 2004. She is also a personal branding coach, book marketing strategist, and publishing consultant. She is the host of The Premise podcast, co-founder of the San Diego... Read More →

MaryCatherine Jones

Owner, Executive Producer, The Audiobook Experience

ABOUT MEHi everyone! I am Mary Catherine, Owner and Executive Producer at The Audiobook Experience at Voice Over Vermont, LLC - a boutique audiobook production company. I delight in working with authors to bring their stories into the world, either using their voices or finding the... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

10:40am CDT

Breakout 3 (Start Strong Independent Publishers) - How to Successfully Partner With Your Distributor

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

How to Successfully Partner With Your Distributor
Faculty and Details to be announced.

The Start Strong Independent Publishers breakout sessions are for independent publishers who are just starting out and are looking for help navigating the basics of successful publishing. (Generally you will have been in the publishing industry for three years or less and have published fewer than ten titles.)

Speakers

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 →

Laura Stanfill

Publisher, Forest Avenue Press

Laura Stanfill is the publisher of Forest Avenue Press and a freelance metadata consultant for distributed presses. She's the author of IMAGINE A DOOR: A Writer's Guide to Unlocking Your Story, Choosing a Publishing Path, and Honoring the Creative Journey, out April 2025 from Forest... Read More →

Jeff Tegge

Vice President, Client Services, Baker & Taylor Publisher Services (BTPS)

Jeff is a native of the Chicago area. He holds a BA and an MA in History. He began his career in publishing in 1990 as an encyclopedia editor. Jeff has been involved in virtually every aspect of publishing over the past 34 years. Since 2006, he has held executive positions in book... Read More →

Rachel Zugschwert

EVP Marketing and Associate Publisher, Lerner Publishing Group

Rachel Zugschwert is the executive vice president of marketing and associate publisher at Lerner Publishing Group. Previously, she has worked in book marketing at 1517 Media, Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, and Simon & Schuster. She has a Masters in Publishing from Pace University... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Start Strong Independent Publishers

10:40am CDT

Breakout 3 - (Established Independent Publishers) - Revitalizing Your Backlist (Newly Acquired or Not)

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Revitalizing Your Backlist (Newly Acquired or Not)
Faculty and 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

Keri-Rae Barnum

CEO, New Shelves Books

Keri-Rae Barnum is an international speaker and marketing expert who has empowered hundreds of authors to launch their writing careers with confidence and success. She specializes in platform building, dynamic book launches, and innovative marketing strategies that have propelled... Read More →

Kurt Brackob

Director, Histria Books

Dr. Kurt Brackob is editorial director for Histria Books, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kurt has worked for over 20 years in the publishing industry. He is a historian and author of several books including Scanderbeg: A History of George Castriota and the Albanian Resistance to Islamic Expansion in Fifteenth Century Europe and Mircea t... Read More →

Jared Kuritz

President and CMO, STRATEGIES PR and Zoundy

Jared Kuritz is the President & CEO of STRATEGIES Public Relations, a firm that works with domestic and international clients on literary and publishing development, business modeling, and public relations and marketing. Jared is also the CSO/CMO of Zoundy, an innovative audiobook... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Established Independent Publishers

10:40am CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 3) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 3, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

12:15pm CDT

Lunch and Meet Our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Grab some food, meet a few sponsors, and connect with your community!

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

12:30pm CDT

Diversity in Publishing Roundtable Discussion

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Grab your food and join this candid discussion with room for everyone to contribute. We'll talk and share about how we are all impacted in an industry and culture that is pulling back from diversity commitments, and generate ideas for how we move forward by building trust, authenticity, and mutual learning within the publishing community to help diverse books reach the readers who need them.

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

1:40pm CDT

Breakout 4 (Author Publishers) - Data-Driven Decisions for Author Publishers

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Data-Driven Decisions for Author Publishers

Faculty and details to be announced.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works.

Speakers

Leigh Pierce

Key Account Sales Manager, Ingram Content Group

Leigh Pierce is a Key Accounts Sales Manager at IngramSpark, part of Ingram Content Group, and has been with the company for seven years. She started her career in Customer Support, where she quickly moved through the ranks before transitioning to the Sales team. As a Key Account... Read More →

Crystal Hardison

Business Development Manager, IngramSpark

Crystal J. Hardison is the US Business Development Manager at IngramSpark, part of Ingram Content Group. With several years of experience developing and maintaining partnerships in commercial and not-for-profit industries, she specializes in developing strategic partnerships for organizations... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

1:40pm CDT

Breakout 4 (Start Strong Independent Publishers) - Book Reviews: Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Book Reviews: Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool
With Cevin Bryerman (Publishers Weekly), Patricia Moosbrugger (Blue Ink Reviews), and Michelle Schingler (Foreword Reviews), moderated by Christopher Locke (IBPA's Director of Membership and Member Services).

Book reviews are among your most powerful marketing tools. They assure readers that your book is laudable and worth their time. But the process can be a bit mysterious. This panel, moderated by IBPA's Christopher Locke will give authors a peek behind the curtain. Curious about how reviewers are chosen? What they look for? How to know when your book is ready for review? Ways to avoid common mistakes that lead to negative reviews? This panel — including representatives of some of the most esteemed book review services for indie titles — will entertain these questions…and more!

The Start Strong Independent Publishers breakout sessions are for independent publishers who are just starting out and are looking for help navigating the basics of successful publishing. (Generally you will have been in the publishing industry for three years or less and have published fewer than ten titles.)

Speakers

Cevin Bryerman

CEO/President Content Services, Publishers Weekly

Cevin Bryerman is the CEO and publisher of Publishers Weekly, the international news platform of the book publishing industry. He has been at Publishers Weekly, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2022, for more than 35 years, and prior to that in the magazine publishing industry... Read More →

Patricia Moosbrugger

Managing Partner, BlueInk Review

Patricia Moosbrugger is a managing partner of BlueInk Review, a professional book review service for authors. She started her career in publishing 35 years ago at Curtis Brown Literary Agency and worked in major publishing until founding her own literary agency in 2002. The Patricia... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Start Strong Independent Publishers

1:40pm CDT

Breakout 4 - (Established Independent Publishers) - Accessing Global Markets

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Accessing Global Markets
With Edison Garcia
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

Edison Garcia

Sr. Manager, Ingram Content Group

Edison Garcia is the Senior Manager of International Sales at Ingram Content Group, where he oversees sales across all regions outside of the UK and Europe.Edison holds a BA in Spanish Literature from the City College of New York. He began his publishing journey in the managing editorial... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Established Independent Publishers

1:40pm CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 4) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 4, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

2:40pm CDT

Saturday Afternoon Snack and Meet Our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 2:40pm - 3:20pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Grab a snack, chat with some of our conference sponsors, and connect with your community!

Saturday May 17, 2025 2:40pm - 3:20pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone

3:30pm CDT

Breakout 5 (Author Publishers) - Cover Design Live Critique Panel

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Cover Design Live Critique Panel!

Details to be announced.

The author publisher breakout sessions are intended for author publishers (a.k.a. self-published authors) who are creating and publishing their own works.

Speakers

CB Messer

Artist, CB Messer Illustration & Design

CB Messer is an Air Force veteran and award-winning illustrator and designer whose work has been featured by the American Red Cross, private enterprises throughout the tech and artisan communities, and U.S. Armed Forces units across the globe. Known for her evocative and mindful approach... Read More →

Lacey L. Bakker

Owner/Publisher, Pandamonium Publishing House

Lacey L. Bakker is a best-selling author and founder of Pandamonium Publishing House, an independent publishing company that has been helping authors bring their stories to life for nearly a decade. Lacey has a proven track record of guiding authors through every step of the process... Read More →

Paul Nylander

Book Designer, Illustrada Design

Melding a passion for design, printmaking, and photography with a background in science and engineering, Paul Nylander loves creating unique, well-crafted, and intriguing books. Collaborating with authors, artists, businesses, and small publishers, he attentively adapts their visions... Read More →

Claudine Mansour

Creative Director/Owner, Claudine Mansour Design

Claudine Mansour is a graphic designer specializing in publishing, marketing, logo, website, and music design. She’s been a publishing Art Director for the last 30 years working for all of the Big Five US publishing companies designing both fiction and nonfiction book covers and... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

3:30pm CDT

Breakout 5 (Start Strong Independent Publishers) - Environmentally Responsible Production and Publishing

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Environmentally Responsible Production and Publishing
With Karla Olson, Clare Davis, Liz Hunter, and Elise Gochberg.

Details to be announced.

The Start Strong Independent Publishers breakout sessions are for independent publishers who are just starting out and are looking for help navigating the basics of successful publishing. (Generally you will have been in the publishing industry for three years or less and have published fewer than ten titles.)

Speakers

Liz Hunter

Business Development Manager, Ingram Content Group

Liz Hunter is Business Development Manager at Ingram Content Group, focusing on large-scale projects in the Lightning Source print-on-demand business. Prior to joining Ingram, Liz worked in Field Sales management at Workman Publishing and Hachette Book Group.

Karla Olson

Director of Books, Patagonia

Karla Olson is the Books Publisher at Patagonia, which publishes books as a mission outreach for Patagonia, the clothing company. She is the past chair of IBPA, president of IBPA affiliates Publishers and Writers of San Diego and Publishers and Writers of Orange County, and founder... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Start Strong Independent Publishers

3:30pm CDT

Breakout 5 - (Established Independent Publishers) - Succession Planning

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Succession Planning

Faculty and 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

Alexa Bigwarfe

CEO & Founder, Write.Publish.Sell

Alexa Bigwarfe is the founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit and owns two hybrid publishing houses. A recent near-brush with... Read More →

Miriam Warren

Director, The Fisher Company

Miriam Warren, a Director of the Fisher Company, brings experience in academic, association, and trade publishing with extensive knowledge of print production, editing, design, operations and distribution at for-profit and mission-based houses. Miriam has a comprehensive knowledge... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Established Independent Publishers

3:30pm CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 5) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 5, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

4:40pm CDT

Closing Session and Raffle

Saturday May 17, 2025 4:40pm - 5:30pm CDT

Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront

Don't miss our closing session of raffle prizes and rapid-fire takeaways!

Saturday May 17, 2025 4:40pm - 5:30pm CDT
Intercontinental St. Paul Riverfront 11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)