Kristin Keith Sales Rep of the Year Award

Julie Isgrigg is our 2026 Sales Rep of the Year

Technically, Isgrigg started in books in 1976, but wasn't getting paid for it until 1999. She began at the Borders corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, spent nearly 12 years with them and while there, among other lessons, learned the most important one that has lasted throughout her career: Book people are the best people. Isgrigg moved to Charlotte in 2011 to join the team at Baker & Taylor, where she ultimately managed the indie bookstore telephone sales crew and learned so much about indies and how they do business. In 2019, Hachette hired Isgrigg to serve the territory previously held by 2018 NAIBA Rep of the Year winner Judy DeBerry. Speaking of her time with Hachette, Isgrigg told us, "In a career that has always been satisfying, I discovered that even more richness awaited."

"It's difficult to be brief about why Julie is my Rep of the Year," stated Anton Bogomazov of Politics & Prose. "She is incredibly thoughtful when presenting frontlist during our sales meetings, keeping in mind my store needs; she goes the extra miles to help us if something goes awry or if there is a time-sensitive issue. She is extremely good at communicating if something changes with our orders. I don't know how she manages to do all this and make us feel as if we are her only account. :) In addition, she is one of the kindest people I know, it is a joy every time she comes over to sell." 

Politics & Prose co-worker Maria Salvadore agrees, adding "While Julie is moving territory and will no longer be our rep, over the years she has been consistently responsive to our needs. Additionally and equally important, Julie has shared our concerns as well as positive comments et al with others in Hachette and worked with us to assure that information and material was shared with us in a timely way. Plus, she was simply a delight with whom to work; she will be missed."

Also a fan of Isgrigg, Hachette colleague Mary Beth Thomas, Director, Field Sales told us, "In the seven months I've worked with Julie, it's been a pleasure to see her intelligence, dedication, and passion in action. She has an exceptional eye for a good read, and her Notes from the Indies updates are always thoughtful, engaging, and infused with warmth and wit. Julie combines strong technical skills with a solutions-oriented mindset and a genuine commitment to her accounts. She is a trusted partner to our bookstore customers, who know they can rely on her expertise, responsiveness, and support. Julie's work on behalf of HBG's bookstore partners throughout the NAIBA region has made a meaningful impact. This recognition is well deserved and reflects both the excellence of her work and the strong relationships she has built. Congratulations, Julie!"

Upon hearing the news of this award, Isgrigg shared, "I feel most useful when I’m operating as a modern switchboard operator, connecting my stores to my authors, to each other, to my publishers, to the knowledge I’ve accumulated over my career, and naturally, to books. I also can’t overlook my own connections with the colleagues inside and outside of Hachette who bolster me. With each connection, my little heart grows. The work feels sacred. I get to help good people – the best people! – spread more connections all built on books. We know what that can mean in a life. It touches me deeply to be honored in this way by the booksellers – the people I revere – at the stores I’ve served. Just… thank you."

Julie Isgrigg will be honored at the NVNR Awards Dinner on Tuesday, August 4 during New Voices New Rooms in Baltimore, MD.

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: