For Immediate Release — June 20, 2023

ECPA ANNOUNCES PUBU ONLINE PROGRAM DATES THIS FALL

Customized training for industry professionals through daily online courses — Oct. 27 to Nov. 13 — for Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations, Rights, and Children’s Books

Industry leaders form “Brain Trust” to develop the program

TEMPE, ARIZ., JUNE 20, 2023 – ECPA’s annual fall training program – ECPA PubU – will be presented as an online event in 2023, delivering expert training and networking for the industry through daily webinars offered from October 27 to November 13.

The ECPA PubU Online program will present over 40 webinars, master classes, and networking sessions in several training tracks for Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations, Rights, and Children’s Literature.

A committee of industry leaders, forming the event’s Brain Trust, are assigned to develop each training track and invite speakers. The PubU Online Brain Trust is led by Michael Covington, VP of Publishing & Acquisitions at David C Cook. “I’m thrilled to be part of this group of exceptional Christian publishing professionals,” said Covington. “ECPA PubU helps shape the future of our industry and fosters the development of best practices and emerging leaders.”

ECPA president Jeff Crosby agrees: “The industry looks forward to ECPA PubU each year, to gather around training, networking, and encouragement for Christian publishing professionals.

“In leading our Brain Trust, Michael Covington has assembled a distinguished, seasoned group of leaders in all the major publishing disciplines to craft a program that will be of tremendous value to industry professionals and we are pleased to introduce this year’s Brain Trust.” They are:

CHILDREN’S BOOK SUMMIT:
BROCK EASTMAN, Director of Digital Product Development for The Action Bible brand and Wonder Ink, David C Cook
LAURA DERICO, Children’s Books Acquisitions and Developmental Editor, David C Cook

DESIGN TRACK:
DEAN RENNINGER, Senior Art Director, Tyndale House Publishers

EDITORIAL TRACK:
JAMIE LAPEYROLERIE, Editor, WaterBrook and Multnomah

MARKETING TRACK:
KATHERINE CHAPPELL, Marketing Manager for Trade & Children’s, Kregel Publications

PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS TRACK:
BRADLEY ISBELL, Chief Operating Officer, Iron Stream Media
JENNIFER BUTENSCHOEN, Director of Production & Digital Content, Harvest House Publishers

RIGHTS & LICENSING TRACK:
ELLEN HSU, Associate Director of Rights and Contracts, InterVarsity Press

EMERGING LEADER CONSULTANT:
EDWINA PERKINS, Managing Editor, Harambee Press, an imprint of End Game Press

BRAIN TRUST LEAD:
MICHAEL COVINGTON, VP of Publishing & Acquisitions, David C Cook

“This event holds a special place in my heart, as it was the very first training event for publishing I attended 17 years ago,” stated Covington. “I invite anyone looking for professional development and a great way to connect with like-minded peers to join us for this year’s virtual gathering.”

The program will be offered online every other year to broaden its reach and accessibility. ECPA publishers are encouraged to take advantage of the lower costs that the online training program offers, and identify a broader swath of staff to participate. Attendees will have access to all sessions and recordings.

ECPA PubU Online will continue its Emerging Leader mentorship program, offering scholarships to up-and-coming industry leaders, with an emphasis on under-represented voices in the industry. Each recipient will be matched with an industry mentor for a year-long mentorship program that will be coordinated by Edwina Perkins.

ECPA will announce the program schedule and early bird registration in the coming weeks. For more information about the program, Brain Trust, and to receive program updates when they’re made available, visit ECPAPubU.org.

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The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org ECPA.org @ECPA

ECPA PubU has delivered training, connection, networking and inspiration to the industry’s frontline practitioners since 2004. Industry leaders develop the program to invest in the expertise of their colleagues, and train up the next generation of leaders. For more information, visit ECPAPubU.org.

Media contact:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President and CEO, jcrosby@ecpa.org, 630-989-0222

PICTURED BELOW: The 2023 PubU Brain Trust
View their bios at ecpapubu.org/brain-trust.html.

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