Kristin Keith Award for Sales Rep of the Year
Michael Gourley is the 2023 Sales Rep of the Year
Michael Gourley has been with Chesapeake & Hudson, Inc. since its inception as the New York City and Metropolitan Area rep calling on key accounts, museum stores, and independently owned bookstores. Previously he was head buyer at Book Dynamics, a wholesaler in New York City, and managed and bought for an independent bookstore. He started in the book business in 1981.
“Michael has the largest bag of any rep I see (by far!) yet he always brings incredible enthusiasm and energy to every sales call for the decade-plus that I have worked with him. He is always responsive, interested, and is simply a lovely human being. I especially appreciate the care he gives the art books on his list, which can often go overlooked. I can always trust his recommendations and so value his opinions,” said Suzanna Hermans, co-owner of Oblong Books, Rhinebeck, NY.
Gourley will be honored at the NAIBA Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 10 at 9am in Virginia.
NAIBA Rechristens Sales Rep of the Year Award to Honor Kristin Keith in 2017
The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association renamed the William Helmuth Sales Rep of the Year award to the Kristin Keith Sales Rep of the Year award in 2017.
The award was first given to Bev Chaney in 1987, and named after the beloved William Helmuth of Book Travelers. At the inception, NAIBA wanted to recognize the sales rep “who is the sort of person who does their homework all the time, is patient and tolerant of customers and colleagues, who makes mistakes from enthusiasm, then owns up to them.”
In 2013, Kristin Keith won this award for her dedication and enthusiasm for the book industry and book people. Sadly, we lost Keith to cancer in 2017. In kind, this same industry wants to immortalize her dedication, enthusiasm and heart to a new generation of book people through the renaming of the Sales Rep of the Year award.
Previous winners of the NAIBA Rep of the Year Award are:
2022 - Abby Fennewald 2021 - Nissa Bagelman 2020 - Award on hiaitus 2019 - Melissa Grecco 2018 - Judy DeBerry 2017 - Linda Cannon 2016 - Ian Doherty 2015 - Eric Stragar 2014 - Joe Ginis 2013 - Kristin Keith 2012 - Nicole DuFort 2011 - Bill Getz 2010 - Bob Werner 2009 - Tim Hepp 2008 - Trudy Kallman 2007 - Kim Gombar 2006 - Sam & Adele Herman 2005 - Sue Flynn
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2004 - Jim and Lisa Sirak 2003 - Jerry Goodman 2002 - Chris Kerr 2001 - Charlie Young 2000 - Lou Cohen 1999 - Chesapeake & Hudson 1998 - Cinda VanDeursen 1997 - Annette Hughes 1996 - Edward H. Ponger 1995 - Jeanie Guman 1994 - John Broderius 1993 - John L. Crowell 1992 - Michael Rockliff 1991 - Franlee Frank 1990 - Ned Melman 1989 - Stuart Hirsch 1988 - George Csemovics 1987 - Bev Chaney |