wfn.org | Beth Lewis Elected to Lead Augsburg Fortress Publishers

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 2002

BETH LEWIS ELECTED TO LEAD AUGSBURG FORTRESS PUBLISHERS
02-197-JB

     ROSEMONT, Ill. (ELCA) -- The board of trustees of Augsburg
Fortress, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), elected Beth A. Lewis to a four-year term as president
and chief executive officer of the Minneapolis-based publisher.  Lewis,
48, was elected here Aug. 17 at a special meeting of the trustees.
     Lewis, who has management experience in the publishing industry,
will assume her new role at Augsburg Fortress Sept. 3, succeeding the
Rev. Marvin L. Roloff.  He announced last October he would not seek a
third term as Augsburg Fortress president and chief executive officer.
     She told the board following her election that she was honored to
be elected and felt a "strong call" to her new role.  She invited the
board to join her in a "campaign of prayer" for Augsburg Fortress. Her
first order of business is to get to know the people of Augsburg
Fortress, she said, including meeting individually with every employee.
Meetings with church leaders, focusing on the publisher's financial
health and assessing strengths and weaknesses of publishing competitors
are other early priorities, she said.
     "I want to make Augusburg Fortress a place of great joy," Lewis
said.
     "Beth Lewis brings to Augsburg Fortress a unique combination of
gifts, experiences and commitments," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, who nominated Lewis for consideration by the trustees.
"She knows the church as an active ELCA lay person.  She understands
publishing as an executive, entrepreneur and marketing strategist.  Beth
has a deep commitment to building relationships with the Augsburg
Fortress staff and deepening partnerships with congregations, synods and
the churchwide organization."
     "Above all, she wants to build upon Augsburg Fortress' strong
foundation of serving the church for the sake of the gospel and God's
mission in the world," Hanson added.
     "Beth's qualities, her publishing experience and her passionate
Christian faith collectively matched what the search committee sensed
were the skills needed to lead the publishing house," said Timothy I.
Maudlin, board of trustees chair, Eden Prairie, Minn.
      Since 1998 Lewis has been president and owner of Computer Coach,
Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., a computer and technical school offering
software applications and technical training for individuals and
organizations.  She also hosts a local weekly radio program, "The
Computer Coach Show."
     From 1996 to 1998, Lewis was president of MarketSource
International, Inc., Boca Raton, a company that provided consulting and
training services in sales, marketing and customer service.  During that
time she was adjunct instructor in marketing, public relations and
business communications, Plantation Christian University, Lauderhill,
Fla. MarketSource acquired the assets of Computer Coach Inc., in 1998.
     From 1983 to 1997, Lewis held several positions with the Times
Mirror Book Group based in Los Angeles.  Her roles included senior vice
president, sales and marketing, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, a $50
million company whose products focused on science, mathematics and
engineering.  In that role, she led sales, marketing, advertising,
conventions, inventory control and customer service departments for
books, journals and electronic reference products for domestic and
international markets.
     Her other roles with the Times Mirror Co. were director, new
business development, Chicago; senior vice president and general
manager, Irwin Professional Publishing, Burr Ridge, Ill.; vice
president, college marketing, Richard D. Irwin, Inc., Burr Ridge; and
director of marketing, college, nursing and allied health senior editor,
and senior marketing manager, Mosby, St. Louis.
     From 1978 to 1983, she was an editor, sales representative and
district sales manager, for McGraw Hill, Inc., based in New York.
Before that, she held a sales position with Little Brown and Co.,
Minneapolis, and was retail bookstore manager Gateway Books, Lexington,
Ky.
     Lewis was born in Cincinnati, and grew up in Lexington, Ky.  From
1972 to 1976, she studied English literature at the University of
Kentucky, Lexington. In 1981 she earned a bachelor of science degree in
marketing, Maryville University, St. Louis.  In 1994 Lewis completed the
Advanced Management Program, Harvard University Business School,
Cambridge, Mass.
     Lewis is a member of Advent Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, and is
active in the local community.  She is a member of the board of
directors for the InternetCoast; a trustee for the Boca Raton Chamber of
Commerce and co-chair of the technology business interest group; a
member of the board of directors, Boca Raton Round Table; member of the
Palm Beach County Business Development Board; and advisor and speaker
for the U.S. Small Business Association's Small Business Development
Center.
     Lewis is a volunteer for Junior Achievement; chair, American
Cancer Society Relay for Life Team; and member of board of directors and
volunteer, The Family Literacy Program.
     Lewis' professional and community work has been widely recognized.
In 2002, she was Small Business Leader of the Year by the Greater Boca
Raton Chamber of Commerce; Small Business Association Entrepreneur of
the Year South Florida Award, 2001; and Crystal Slipper Award winner,
Palm Beach County Woman Entrepreneur of the Year for Community Advocacy,
2000.

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