The Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association has appointed Andy Jackson as its new executive director.
Jackson is the third person to fulfill the role, after Barbara Duld, who served from 1998 to 1999, and Joe Holmes, who served during 2000-2001. The 58-year-old lives in Houston, where he worked as the COO for a variety of local banks and then later ran a small chain of religious bookstores. The appointment was effective in January.
Tamra Dore, president of MSIBA and owner of Katy Budget Books, told PW , "We've been snakebit for someone who can keep the position, so we really hope Andy will stay there for a while."
For the record, an offer of help from the Great Lakes Booksellers Association in finding a new executive director led to a rumor that MSIBA was seeking a merger. "We're doing nothing of the sort," said Dore. "They offered to help us out and that was all."
Jackson told PW, "I will be attempting to meet as many of our members as possible in the coming months to gain input and advice from them. I realize I have a steep learning curve ahead of me, but I look forward to the challenge."
Among the initial priorities he has identified for the organization are making more MSIBA programs available to more bookstores and adding seasonal catalogues. "We want to be more proactive and offer more educational seminars, promotional programs and children's authors events, and improve our regional trade show," he said.
