AJC Decatur Book Festival Welcomes Interim Executive
Director
Program Director Julie Wilson Steps Into New Role
The AJC Decatur Book Festival (DBF) Board has named Julie
Wilson as the AJC Decatur Book Festival Interim Executive Director for 2018.
Wilson has served as Program Director since 2015, where she managed the
selection of more than 300 authors annually and worked hand-in-hand with
outgoing Executive Director Daren Wang. Wilson will begin her official duties
January 1, 2018
, but she is already working with Wang, the DBF staff and the
DBF board to assure a smooth transition.
“We are thrilled that someone of Julie’s
caliber and expertise is stepping into this role,” said DBF Board Chair James
Diedrick. “She has been an exceptional Program Director, and we believe she has
the capacity to build a professional organization and cohesive team primed to
identify new partnerships and programs, while maintaining the commitment to
providing a diverse, engaging lineup of authors.”
Wilson said
she is eager to step into her new role and is prepared for responsibility and
opportunities.
“I’ve spent the past three years
working closely with the staff, volunteers and the board, helping produce a
successful festival each year. I’m excited to pair that knowledge with my
background in non-profit and agency marketing to lead the festival in 2018. I
have experience in the overall management of the festival, including managing
million-dollar budgets, compiling and presiding over critical committees,
coordinating logistics, and managing ‘on-the-fly’ problem solving.
“Most
importantly,” Wilson continued, “I’m passionate about the festival, Decatur,
and learning new things. I’m curious by nature, so I hope to channel that innate
desire to discover new things as a guiding notion to develop new ideas for the
festival.”
Wilson has
a B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and
has been a consultant to non-profit organizations, a manager of Customer Experience
and Integration at the American Cancer Society, and a Manager of Research and
Knowledge Services at Ketchum Public Relations. She is a Decatur resident and
has served in a number of volunteer roles within the community for
organizations such as Westchester Elementary School, Decatur Education
Foundation, Eastside Church, and Meals on Wheels.
Launched
in 2006, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival (DBF) brings
more than 300 nationally and internationally known authors, children’s and
young adult writers and illustrators, and tens of thousands of readers together
for a weekend of fun and discovery. Held every Labor Day weekend in Downtown
Decatur, the DBF is the largest independent book festival in the country. The
DBF hosts author events throughout the year and sponsors The Decatur Writers
Studio. For more
information, visit www.decaturbookfestival.com, “like” Decatur Book
Festival on Facebook or follow @DBookFestival on Twitter.
October 31, 2017
For Immediate Release
Gumbomarketing.com