As Mountaineers Books—the nonprofit publisher of outdoor recreation, sustainable lifestyle, and conservation books—turns 60, its longtime publisher will step down and transition to a new role.
Helen Cherullo, who has served as publisher of Mountaineers Books for the past 20 years, will step down and shift her focus to the company’s conservation imprint, Braided River, where she has also been acting as executive director of conservation and advancement. The imprint, which published its first title in 2003, is built around a nonprofit model merging "philanthropy and mission impact with a book as the centerpiece of a conservation campaign," which includes, the press said, partnering with grassroots organizations and foundations focused on advocacy efforts in western North America.
As a result of Cherullo's shift, Tom Helleberg, who has been director of finance and operations for Mountaineers Books since 2018, will take on the role of publisher, overseeing Mountaineers and its two imprints, Braided River and Skipstone. Prior to joining the company, Helleberg served as CFO of the University of Washington Press and finance manager of NYU Press. Longtime sales director Darryl Booker, who has been with the company for 15 years, will step into the role of director of sales and marketing. Kate Rogers, who has been with the company for 14 years, remains editor in chief. All changes are effective March 1.
Mountaineers Books was founded in March 1960, when the first edition of Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, written by volunteer members of the press, were printed to the tune of 5,000 copies. Since then, more than 750,000 copies, in nine editions and eight translations, of the book have been sold, and Mountaineers has more than 700 titles currently in print, including National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Heather Anderson’s memoir Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home; photographer Gerrit Vyn's The Living Bird; David Guterson’s Turn Around Time; and James Edward Mills in The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors.
