California Independent Booksellers Alliance co-executive director Kristin Rasmussen will leave the organization in mid-December to become Scholastic Inc.’s district sales manager. She plans to remain involved with the organization’s annual Golden Poppy Book Awards programming through January 2024.
Scholastic hired Rasmussen to fill the position of district sales manager Roz Hilden, who is retiring after 30 years with the company. “I’ve always thought Roz had my dream job, and now I get to live that dream,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen was named co-director of CALIBA with Ann Seaton in August 2021 after Calvin Crosby left to become co-owner of The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City. Seaton, who intended to step down from leading the California regional at the end of this year, will continue in an advisory capacity while a new executive director is sought. CALIBA staffer Valentina Moberg has been promoted to operations manager.
Melinda Powers, CALIBA board president and head buyer at Bookshop Santa Cruz, said in a press statement that “while this is a moment of big change for CALIBA, it is also one of opportunity. The efforts that Ann and Kristin have made to bring together and solidify our statewide bookselling community provide an excellent platform from which to continue to shape and grow the organization.”
CALIBA has posted a job announcement, and its board will work with a search committee to find a new executive director in the weeks ahead.
