Our Staff
Ellen Myrick, President
and Chief Marketer
Ellen Myrick has been working with children’s books, publishers, librarians, teachers, and professional conference exhibit promotions for more than 30 years. As a marketer, she knows the children’s book audience and how to match its interests in quality fiction, nonfiction, inclusive, and international choices from a stable of publishing clients, the mission of Publisher Spotlight. She has been a frequent moderator and presenter at book industry conferences including the Audio Publishers Association Conference, the American Library Association, and regional and state library and bookseller associations. Ellen has served on the boards of the Educational Paperback Association (now EBMA), the Audio Publishers Association, and the Women’s National Book Association, and has served as the Judging Chair for the Audie Awards.
Stacey Ashby, Vice President
Stacey joined Publisher Spotlight shortly after the company in its earliest days and focuses on the operational aspects of the business. She brings a retail management background, sunny smile, and deep knowledge of the books to our conference exhibits as well as managing business details of the company. At home, Stacey is the devoted dog mom of three: Mia (the brains), Coco (the beauty and the brawn), and Lucky (the bark). At Publisher Spotlight, Ellen jokes that Stacey is both her left brain and right hand.
Heather Ahmie, Director of Marketing
Heather guides our overall marketing work. In addition, she is a Publisher Liaison and also coordinates award submissions for our entries with over 175 children’s book award bodies. She can be found at many of the conferences where we exhibit client titles, and co-presents with Ellen to various professional audiences. Heather has been an avid reader since childhood. Being our in-house arts and crafts expert, she enjoys the fun and creativity that come with working in children’s books.
Emma Schneider, Marketing Manager
A graduate of Belmont University’s Publishing program, Emma serves as Marketing Manager and coordinator of the Publisher Spotlight Instagram. She also works with individual retainer clients to broaden their own publicity efforts. With deep appreciation for her childhood teachers and librarians who fostered her passion for reading, she is devoted to amplifying the voices of independent publishers, and putting quality books into the hands of young readers.
Christina Moorehead, Publisher Liaison
Christina is the Publisher Liaison with a number of our clients and also brings video skills to our social media work. She fell in love with books at the age of 3 ½ and has only fallen deeper ever since. Christina has been an early childhood, kindergarten, Montessori, and ESL/EFL teacher for nearly 30 years in California and Japan and now also works as the General Secretary for USBBY and Program Director for the Center for Teaching Through Children’s Books.
Rebecca Gibson, Publisher Liaison
Rebecca has always known she was a “book person” and delights in serving as a Publisher Liaison at Publisher Spotlight after working in public libraries, publisher account management, and library services. As a mom of four, Rebecca has a deep love for children’s books and supporting learning through reading. She’s an acro yoga teacher and an irisarian in her spare time and is passionate about health, wellness, and movement.
Francisca Goldsmith, Consulting Librarian
Francisca, a “forever reader forever reading,” has an extensive career in providing library services and managing library services and collections. She writes professionally in a broad range of categories. At Publisher Spotlight, Francisca manages our social media policies and efforts, co-edits this website, and contributes knowledge and awareness of the changing landscape of children’s literacy and access to reading options. Francisca has been both a member and chair of many youth book and media award juries and also leads professional development courses for several national and regional associations.
Tracy Gallagher, Special Projects Librarian
Tracy has been working with children’s books since she learned the alphabet, thanks to a librarian mother. Without considering any other careers seriously, she became a librarian herself and worked as a children’s librarian in both public and corporate settings. Now she helps independent publishers gain exposure to the library market through her work with Publisher Spotlight, where she provides independent reviewer coordination, co-edits this site, and maintains publicity records for our clients.
Rhena Curran, Logistics Coordinator
Rhena has been an avid reader since childhood. Beginning her Publisher Spotlight career as an intern, she now works as Logistics Coordinator, managing the shipping and receiving of books in the office. She has always had a love for reading and is passionate about fostering a love of books in young readers everywhere.
Jessica Robertson, Operations Assistant
Jessica has had her nose stuck in a book since she learned how to read, and a pencil in her hand for illustrating the stories in her head. After working in a library and a bookstore in her youth, she is excited to return to working with books after many years away. When not reading, she loves to create—from crochet to costumes, from embroidery to felt flowers, and everything in between.
Sasha, Human Resources Manager
Publisher Spotlight’s Human Resources Manager, Sasha has her own library to maintain at the office. She manages the humans in the office with considerable energy and perseverance. She can be a bit loud in her efforts to get staff to let her go as she pleases, and sits on keyboards even while they are in use.
Evie, Remote Work Manager
Our online staff meetings require special monitoring and appraisal. Evie is always keen to be on watch when we appear on the screen together.