LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC), official denominational publisher of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has announced changes in roles for several staff, most of which are effective immediately.
Marc Lewis, PPC president and publisher-elect, said, “These changes are intended to recognize achievement and to align staff in roles that both fit their skills and talents and result in improved effectiveness for PPC overall. It is PPC’s practice to employ staff, as possible, in roles that individual staff find meaningful and satisfying while contributing to the overall success of the organization.”
The April 15 announcement came at the end of the first quarter of 2008, in which PPC achieved its sales goals. In 2007, the publishing house exceeded its annual sales budget by earning a total of $8.4 million in sales.
PPC officials attribute its success during sluggish economic times to two new “signature” series: Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, a lectionary commentary series edited by David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor; and The Discipleship Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version including Apocrypha, edited by Bruce C. Birch, Brian K. Blount, Thomas G. Long, Gail R. O’Day, and W. Sibley Towner. It is the first NRSV study Bible to be published in more than five years.
Both will be available in June.
PPC has created a new Web site for its new Presbyterian hymnal — the first since 1991. Visitors to the site will be able to follow development of the new hymnal, which is scheduled for publication in late 2013 or early 2014, with a formal launch at the 2014 General Assembly.
Robin Howell will assume the role of hymnal project coordinator and rights and permissions manager, reporting to hymnal editor David Eicher. Howell joined PPC in 1991 as senior editorial and rights assistant. She has served in numerous roles at PPC, most recently in human resources, benefits administration, payroll, rights and permissions, staff relations, board relations, and general PPC administrative functions.
Vince Patton, who came to PPC in 2000 as Geneva Press editor and has most recently served as manager of church relations and marketing, will assume the role of director of church relations, communications, and staff services. In this new role, Patton will be PPC’s primary contact with the PPC board and the public. He will continue to serve as editor of These Days.
David Maxwell has been promoted to the position of executive editor for Geneva Press and The Thoughtful Christian (TTC). In this new role Maxwell will help conceive and develop a variety of new resources intended to serve the PC(USA) as well as continue to lead the content development for the successful TTC venture.
Nicole Smith Murphy has been promoted to senior product manager, coordinating staff and schedules and participating in the development of advertising, promotion and launch of PPC products. Murphy came to PPC in 2001 serving as one of PPC’s first product managers.
Monty Anderson, PPC director of operations, will assume the executive responsibility for benefits administration and payroll management, which was previously managed by Howell. Anderson has been with PPC since 1994 and served in the accounting area of the GAC prior to coming to PPC.
Kendra Bright and Laura Elder have been promoted to expanded roles as operations and accounting associates, assisting Anderson. Bright joined PPC in 2003 as a customer service representative. Elder joined PPC in 2004 as a product management intern and transferred to the operations department in 2007.
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