08516
July 17, 2008
PPC names new management team
Journalist and author Jana Riess hired as editor
LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC), the official publisher for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has unveiled a new management team following the confirmation of Marc Lewis as president and publisher by the recent 218th General Assembly of the 2.3 million-member denomination.
PPC also announced the hiring of Jana Riess, author and religion journalist for Publishers Weekly, as an acquisitions editor.
David Dobson has been promoted to the position of executive director of publishing and editorial director. Jennifer Cox has been promoted to executive director of marketing and production. Monty Anderson has been named chief operations officer and treasurer. And Vince Patton has been named executive director of church relations and communications.
Dobson, Cox, Anderson, and Patton will all report directly to Lewis.
“All of us are very, very excited about the future here at PPC,” said Lewis, “and we look forward to continuing to provide academics and the church with important scholarly works, stimulating and helpful books for clergy and church leaders, and thought-provoking books for general readers that address issues of the day from biblical, theological, ethical, and religious perspectives.”
Lewis, previously senior vice president and general manager, was named president and publisher in February 2008 by the PPC board of directors. He was confirmed unanimously by the General Assembly in June.
Riess has been the religion book review editor for Publishers Weekly since 1999. She is well-known in the religious publishing world, a respected voice on religion in America, and the author or coauthor of several books. She has degrees in religion from Wellesley College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Columbia University.
“We’re thrilled that Jana Riess will be joining PPC,” said Dobson. “With her knowledge of the religious publishing world, her network of contacts, and her educational background and interests, she will be a tremendous asset to our acquisitions efforts.”
In other moves, Nicole Smith Murphy was promoted to director of product management, Gavin Stephens to director of sales and events, Sarah Foreman to director of customer service and distribution, Michele Blum to director of advertising and publicity, and Julie Tonini to director of production.
“We have a wonderfully talented staff with limitless potential and a leadership team that is second to none in religious publishing,” said Lewis. “These promotions are meant to recognize the outstanding performance of several members of our staff and to position the press for continued growth as it builds upon its place among the very best religious academic publishers as well as becomes a leading source of significant works in religion for the wider public.”
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