Three book and comic industry leaders have joined the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation board of directors. They bring a variety of experiences, from book buying and store ownership to manga expertise. In addition, Chris Morrow, former owner of Northshire Bookstore, will continue to serve as president and historical fiction author Jonathan Putnam as treasurer.
“I am delighted to be a small part in the evolution of this incredible organization,” said Morrow. “Frontline book and comic sellers are the lifeblood of the industry. Any way we can ease the burden of difficult times for book and comic people is a blessing for all of us. I look forward to learning from this incredible board and to offering my energy to ensure Binc will prosper in the coming years. I am excited to welcome three fantastic human beings to the board: Kim Brock, James Killen, and PK Sindwani. They will add significant talent, experience, and humanity to the board, and we are very grateful for their time and energy.”
Kimberly (Kim) Brock is a book buyer for Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, OH, where she has worked for 11 years. Kim currently serves on the American Booksellers Association’s Education Task Force and Binc’s BincTank committee. She is working on a masters in publishing from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
James Killen joined the Barnes and Noble buying group in 1987 after nearly a decade in the stores. He was a buyer for their categories of SF/fantasy, graphic novels, and manga for 21 years. James is now acting as director of retail operations for the Manga Spot stores for Kadokawa World Entertainment.
PK Sindwani is an accountant with an MBA in finance. After 11 years in the corporate world, he decided to pursue his passion and opened a bookstore in 1990. With nearly 35 years of experience in the book industry, PK has spent 29 years as a bookstore owner and six years with the American Booksellers Association.
Three board members completed their service to Binc. Annie Philbrook, longtime bookstore owner, was on the board for 10 years and served as vice president and president. Calvin Crosby, co-owner of The King’s English Bookstore in Utah, served as secretary, and Rockelle Henderson, owner of Rock Inked, Inc., was on the board for 10 years in several roles.
“I am grateful for the depth and breadth of experience these industry leaders bring to the Binc board, sharing their expertise to ensure the Foundation is prepared and ready to help those in need,” said Binc Executive Director Pamela French. “They give generously of their time, and their insights and experience are invaluable. Annie, Calvin and Rockelle’s leadership have helped ensure the foundation will be here to help book people well into the future. I can’t thank them enough for their commitment and dedication.”