Early Career Committee

The videos of our events & programs below are available exclusively to CBC members. If you are a member and have forgotten the login, please email cbc.info@cbcbooks.org.

Not a member? Watch children’s book read-alouds, awesome book trailers, authors & illustrators at work, and more on our YouTube channel.

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Exploring Departments Panel

This panel features publishing professionals from various smaller departments discussing the ins and outs of what makes their department tick and what other publishing professionals may be unaware of. Find the password-protected transcript here.

Moderator:

• Arik HardiK, ECC Chairperson and Assistant Managing Editor at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group 

Panelists:

• Amelia Brown, Rights & Contracts Manager at Charlesbridge
• Tiffani Dickinson, Contract Administrator at Andrews McMeel
• Avia Perez, Production Editor at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

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Virtual Editorial Panel

Are you pursuing a career in children’s editorial, but are unsure of what that could look like? Do you want to switch into editorial from another department? Or maybe you’re already in editorial, and want to pursue a different format/genre? This ECC panel features editors of varying formats, genres, and experience levels across multiple houses who talk about the many forms that editorial work can take.

Panelists:

• Justin Krasner, activity books editor of Odd Dot (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
• Rebecca Webster, Senior Editor of BuzzPop (Little Bee Books, Licensing)
• Meredith Mundy, Editorial Director for Preschool of Appleseed Books (ABRAMS)
• Whitney Leopard, Senior Editor of Random House Graphics

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The YA Web

This ECC Continuing Education panel focuses on the rise of online YA communities, the evolution of this trend, challenges in running and navigating these communities, and how these communities are increasingly influencing the publishing industry’s approaches to book sales, publicity methods, and more. Our panelists, all of whom work at the intersection of the industry and online fandom, discuss their experiences and field your questions.

Panelists:

• Madison Killen, Manager, Digital and Social Creative Content (Penguin Young Readers)
• Brittany Pearlman, Associate Publicist (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group)
• Janine Perez, Associate Digital Marketing Manager (Simon & Schuster Children’s Division)
• Elizabeth Ward, Associate Director of Digital Strategy (Random House Children’s Books)

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The Early Career Committee’s Licensing and Branding 101 Panel

When and how does a book or character become a brand? How does branding differ from licensing? And what takes place behind-the-scenes on a daily basis to create and market such beloved, enduring characters? Listen to our panel of experts as they answer these questions and more!

Moderator: Morgan Dubin, Publicist/Marketing Associate at ABRAMS and ECC Board Chair

Panelists:

• Samantha Schutz, Associate Publisher, Scholastic
• Erin Stein, Editorial Director, Little, Brown
• Veronica Wasserman, Brand Director, ABRAMS

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Early Career Committee’s Book Buying Luminary

The ECC interviews Cristin Stickles, Children’s and YA Books Buyer at McNally Jackson to learn about the importance of the book buyer in the publishing process.

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The Early Career Committee’s Design 101 Panel

A picture’s worth a thousand words… so go ahead and judge a book by its cover!
Join the ECC for an introduction to children’s book design with three industry luminaries!

Panelists:

• Erin Fitzsimmons, Associate Art Director at Harper Collins
• Jennifer Kelly, Assistant Art Director at Penguin Young Readers
• Marijka Kostiw, Art Director at Scholastic

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The Early Career Committee’s Sales 101 Panel

The function and importance of Sales can often be a mystery to those of us who don’t directly interact with the department. Luckily, we had a group of panelists directly from Sales to share their experiences and answer questions!

Moderator: Matt Dinda, Sales Coordinator, Abrams Books for Young Readers

Panelists:

• Dave Epstein, Vice President, Children’s Sales, Hachette Book Group
• Jessica Abel, Digital Account Manager, Children’s Books, HarperCollins
• Jess Cullen, Sales Coordinator, Special Markets, Abrams Books for Young Readers

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The Early Career Committee’s Supply Chain 101 Panel

Find out how your books find their way from the printer into the hands of readers with the help of three supply chain professionals.

Panelists:

• Christine Dong, Senior Demand Planner, Children’s Supply Chain at Simon & Schuster
• Lianna Izzo, Demand & Supply Planner at Hachette Book Group
• Alison Tromp, Associate Director, Inventory Management at Macmillan