A Look Behind the Books
Have you picked up your copy of The Austin Kid’s Directory this month? We are proud to offer a resource directory dedicated to helping parents in our area identify businesses that can be of benefit to their families. In our publication you will find information about schools, camps, childcares, products & services for children, retail stores, lessons, afterschool activities, family friendly events & restaurants, birthday party planning, and so much more! One look at our directory will remind you of how blessed we are to live in the Austin area. Here’s a little peek at the people behind the books!
Our Publisher, Debbie Tye, is a “hands-on” owner and publisher as most of you are probably aware. From sales to invoicing to distribution to coordination with press to social media and everything in-between, she is actively involved. We know the small business owners we work with can relate! Debbie went to work for the Austin Kid’s Directory in 2005 and purchased the business from the original owner (and a wonderful business mentor) Bart Stephens in 2009. She had previously worked in the mental health field, worked for a small local business, and helped to launch a parenting publication called Our Kids. She loves the Austin area and the sense of community she and her family have as a result of her job. She feels fortunate to get to be the Publisher and work with such a great team and so many amazing small businesses!
Our Graphic Designer, Liz Banner, joined the Austin Kid’s Directory team soon after its first edition and has been with the publication for over 15 years. What a blessing for us all! Her expertise is evident in almost all of the visual elements related to our directory… beautiful covers, logos, facebook and website art, newsletters, and the many ads she has created for clients over the years. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate having her on our team and know our advertisers who have benefited from her expertise feel the same.
Shelly Spaulding joined us 6 years ago and her organizational skills and enthusiasm for the Kid’s Directory play an integral role in making our publication strong in the Austin market. She helps manage sales, customer service, distribution, and works on many other special projects. She also does distribution each month as well as distribution of special issues. All of this while also being an exceptional mom of three adorable, elementary-age kids!
Lorrie Townsend joined us 4 years ago. As a former small business owner, Lorrie brings a great deal of experience to what we do. She understands first-hand many of the challenges as well as the joys of small business ownership in our area. She manages administrative details such as invoicing, mailing lists, email lists, website entries, and more. She is also our social media coordinator (no small job!) managing our facebook page, our Pinterest page, writing blog posts, making on-line calendar entries, coordinating giveaways & events, plus helping with the distribution of our monthly issues and annual publications.
Our Distribution Team, Bill & Geri, Melissa, & Jana all work diligently every month to help get our directory in over 600 locations in a timely manner. Our distribution could not be in better hands.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller