MIBA is governed by a seven-member board of directors that includes five booksellers and two representatives from the publishing community. Board members serve three-year terms, while our four officers (president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary) serve two-year terms.
President. Lanora Haradon has been obsessed with books since “helping” at her grandmother’s bookstore as a child. She started her bookselling journey at Borders Books in Columbus, Ohio during college, then had the fortuitous opportunity to work for Politics & Prose in Washington DC. After moving back to her hometown of Milwaukee, she worked for Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops. In 2009, when Schwartz closed, she purchased the location she was managing and opened Next Chapter Bookshop, keeping the independent bookselling tradition thriving in Mequon, WI. lanora@nextchapterbookshop.com.
Vice President. Kathy Borkowski has been the director of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press since 2004, which publishes titles on Wisconsin history and culture. The Press is Wisconsin’s oldest publisher (established in 1855) and often partners with local organizations promoting books such as the Wisconsin Book Festival and the Wisconsin Center for the Book. Prior to her current position, Kathy worked for American Girl, publisher of historical fiction books for young readers. Kathy.Borkowski@
Treasurer. Jim Nichols, vice president of sales for Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, has worked in publishing since 1992 in Tokyo and New York. At Consortium he directs US sales operations for publishing clients in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He has been a member of the MIBA board since 2007. jnichols@cbsd.com
Secretary. Jennifer Wills Geraedts has been in and out of the book business since her twenties, working for a number of bookstores, including Sister Wolf Books in Dorset, MN. Following her parents’ purchase of Sister Wolf Books, Jennifer attended her first MIBA trade show and realized the flirtation was over. After finishing her law degree, she accepted a position as the young adult librarian at the Park Rapids Area Library. In 2007, the owner of Beagle Books in Park Rapids, MN retired, Jennifer’s parents bought the store, and Jen has been managing the store ever since. beagle-books@arvig.net
Greg Danz, a graduate of Moorhead State University, went straight into the book world after college working at Bookmen in Minneapolis. Since 1989, he has owned and operated Zandbroz Variety in Sioux Falls, SD and Fargo, ND along with his wife Renee and brother Jeff. Zandbroz has hosted hundreds of authors and promoted books and literacy with passion. Greg is active in the Fargo community, serving on the Fargo/Moorhead Chamber of Commerce, Riverkeepers, Downtown Community Partnership, New Rivers Press, and the Fargo Theatre. He and his wife and two grown children, Castle and Josepha. greg@zandbroz.com
Nancy Simpson-Brice serves as consultant at Book Vault in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Book Vault was opened in 2006 in a beautifully renovated historic bank building in downtown Oskaloosa, IA. Having graduated from both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, Nancy holds a masters degree in library and information science. She worked as an elementary teacher, on staff at the Marion Public Library, as director of the Oskaloosa Public Library, and as founder and manager of Book Vault bookstore. She serves on the All Iowa Reads committee that each year selects the one book that all Iowans read. She and her husband Michael live on their own piece of paradise near Oskaloosa, IA. nsimpsonia@gmail.com
Tripp Ryder has been a bookseller for 34 years, beginning her career at Fine Print Books in Northfield, MN, serving as manager for her last two years there. She has been at the Carleton College Bookstore in Northfield for the last 24 years. As general books manager, she oversees the trade department, arranges author events, and works with Carleton faculty and departments on campus events and special projects. Tripp has served on the National Association of College Stores General Books Committee, chairing the committee her last year. She has been on the board of the Northfield League of Women Voters, volunteers regularly with the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, and actively participates in local and regional political campaigns. tryder@carleton.edu
