Binc Welcomes New Board Members and Staff Ann Arbor—The Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation is thrilled to welcome new Board members, announce updates to the Board’s Executive Committee, and introduce new staff members.
“I am thankful for all of the talented individuals, both Board members and staff, who lend their expertise to make certain the Foundation is prepared and ready to help those in need,” said Binc executive director Pamela French.
Welcoming Our New Board Members Erin Coffey and Jonathan Putnam have joined Binc’s Board of Directors.
Erin Coffey is the Senior Vice President, Communication and Events, for Macmillan Publishers US, and a member of Macmillan’s Trade Management Committee. She received her M.B.A. in Strategy and Change Management from the NYU Stern School of Business; and in addition to Binc, she is a Board Member for the AIDs Resource Foundation for Children and a member of the Board of Directors for the New York University Alumni Association. She lives in New York.
Jonathan Putnam is the author of historical fiction, including the Lincoln & Speed Mystery series, and a lawyer of counsel to Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Jonathan currently serves on the Board of the Historical Novels Society of North America and is a founding member of Binc’s Author Leadership Circle. Jonathan has served on Binc’s Finance and Governance Committee and is now joining the Board’s Executive Committee as Treasurer. He lives in London, UK and Brewster, MA.
Binc’s Newly Elected Executive Committee Annie Philbrick has been elected President of the Board, and Julia Cowlishaw as Vice President. Board member Ken White has been elected Secretary, and incoming Board member Jonathan Putnam has been elected Treasurer. Matthew Gildea will remain on Binc’s Board as immediate Past President.
Annie Philbrick is the owner of the Savoy Bookshop & Cafe in Westerly, RI and Bank Square Books in Mystic. CT. Savoy opened in 2014 and she bought Bank Square Books in 2006. The store has been the cornerstone in Mystic for over 30 years. Annie served 6 years as a Director on the Board of the American Booksellers Association, 5 years on the Board of the New England Independent Booksellers Association, 2 of which she was President, and most recently served as Vice President of Binc, where she has been a director since 2013. Annie has served as a judge for the Kirkus Book Awards in 2015 and the National Book Awards in 2016 as well as numerous committees and task forces with the American Booksellers Association. She lives in Stonington CT.
Julia Cowlishaw is the CEO of Vroman’s of Pasadena, CA, and Book Soup of West Hollywood, CA. She brings a wealth of bookstore experience to her new position as the Vice President of Binc’s Board of Directors.
Starting as a bookseller, Julia moved through operations and bookstore management before joining Ingram in Field Sales in Northern California, then as Director of National Accounts for Ingram.
She has also served on the Board of Directors for Great Lakes Independent Booksellers and been a member of the ABA’s Bookseller Advisory Council. Julia has most recently served as Secretary of Binc’s Board of Directors and has chaired the Development and Communications Committee.
Ken White is the founder of Query Books LLC in San Francisco, CA. Ken brings his thirty-one years of publishing and bookselling experience to his new position as Secretary of Binc’s Board, where he has been a director since 2014. Ken has also served on the Boards of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association and the American Booksellers Association. He is the also current Chair of Binc’s Program Committee.
New Binc Staff Members
Binc welcomes Jennifer Rojas as development coordinator. Jennifer joined Binc in December. Jennifer began her career in the book industry as a part-time bookseller before becoming sales manager at Borders. Jennifer has been editor for various collegiate literary magazines and explored everything from copyediting to cover design. She comes to the Foundation with first-hand experience in how vital the Foundation’s mission is for those in the bookstore and comic shop communities. Jennifer can be reached via email at jennifer@bincfoundation.org or her direct phone number is 734-274-4240. Jennifer works remotely from her Wyoming home office.
Judey Kalchik also joined Binc in 2021 as Communication and Project Manager. Her bookselling career started as a part-time bookseller in Waldenbooks in 1987 and included serving on the Borders Group Foundation Board of Directors. Judey can be reached at judey@bincfoundation.org or by phone at 734-441-6046. Judey lives in Ann Arbor, MI.