All About The Folks Who Bring You Tyndale Kids Products

THE EXECS:

There are three publishing groups within Tyndale House Publishers, and each group contributes product and staff to the Tyndale Kids product line. Ron Beers, Cliff Johnson and Doug Knox manage these three divisions.

Ron Beers

Ron is a Senior Vice President and Publisher at Tyndale House Publishers. He oversees lots of important Tyndale projects (heard of Left Behind?) including Tyndale Kids’ juvenile fiction series, Little Blessings, One Year Devotionals, Kids Life Application Bible, Karyn Henley’s Playsongs and much more. Children’s products are a family affair for the Beers: Ron has tested dozens of potential Tyndale Kids books on his own three children, and he has co-authored eleven children’s books with his father, V. Gilbert Beers.

Cliff Johnson

Cliff Johnson is a Senior Vice President and Publisher for Special Sales at Tyndale House Publishers. His efforts have produced numerous Tyndale Kids products including books created in partnership with Dorling Kindersley and the “Kidz Tunz” music line in conjunction with Word Entertainment. A new partnership with DC Comics will result in a Left Behind graphic novel series in 2001. Cliff has probably logged more travel miles in the creation of new Tyndale products than anyone else in the company.

Doug Knox

Doug Knox is a Senior Vice President and Publisher at Tyndale House Publishers. He publishes Dr. James Dobson and brings key children's videos such as “McGee and Me!,” “Last Chance Detectives” and “Adventures in Odyssey” to the Tyndale Kids lineup. Doug also publishes children's games such as Sticky Situations, The Bible Game for Kids, and the McGee and Me! CD-Rom. As a child, Doug once spent hours digging a seven-foot hole on an East Coast beach before giving up--he had hoped to reach China before dinner.

THE PRODUCT DEVELOPERS:

Jim Bolton

Jim Bolton is Creative Director for Special Sales at Tyndale House Publishers where he has been instrumental in developing all the exciting Dorling Kindersley products for the Tyndale Kids line, including The Bible: The Really Interesting Bits, Come Aboard Noah’s Ark and Creation Story. Jim also developed two 365-Day devotionals for very young children, Day by Day and Blessings Every Day (part of the Little Blessings line). Jim’s own childlike sense of wonder – and lots of Starbucks coffee – keep new ideas flowing.

Becky Brandvik

Becky is Product Development Director for the Knox Group where she acquires and develops kids videos, books, audio products, and games. Becky works with several lines you might recognize: “Adventures in Odyssey,” “McGee and Me!,” “Last Chance Detectives,” and Wee Sing. Becky recently bought a copy of "Lady and the Tramp II"—just to watch by herself, although she might share it with her nieces and nephews!

Tammy Faxel

Tammy Faxel is Product Development Director for Special Sales at Tyndale House Publishers. Her heartfelt desire to create products that inspire kids has led to some unique partnerships with other product suppliers. Tammy has developed products that appeal to both children and their parents by joining Christian content with Mrs. Grossman’s popular collection of stickers. She’s also the force behind Tyndale’s relationship with Word Entertainment, which has resulted in the popular “Kidz Tunz” music line. Tammy gets her best ideas while building sandcastles with her two young daughters on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Carla Mayer

Carla is now Associate Publisher for the Beers Group, but she previously handled children’s product acquisition for a decade—during which time she helped develop The One Year Book of Devotions for Kids line and the Little Blessings line. Carla regularly leads team planning days, which focus on publishing initiatives and team building for children’s and adult products. Carla’s best reward at work is to see a group of creative people come together to develop exceptional ideas.

Karen Watson

Karen is Children's Acquisitions Director for the Beers Group, where she manages and develops the children's products line. Her responsibilities include preschool Bible storybooks, picture books, some audio and video projects, children’s and family devotional products, juvenile fiction, and youth and teen Bibles. Karen says the second-best job she ever had was traveling to elementary schools as Miss Frizzle—the teacher from Scholastic's Magic School Bus series—dressed in a flaming red wig and squid-covered dress!

THE MARKETING GURUS:

Andrea Brooks Martin

Andrea is the Children’s Marketing Manager for the Beers Group, where she manages advertising, publicity, website development and in-store promotions for most Tyndale Kids products. She works with CBA chains and buying groups to create seasonal promotions, and she oversees the creation of the Tyndale Kids catalog and all Tyndale Kids marketing plans. Andrea’s work with the youth in her church helps her to stay on top of the latest trends with kids, tweens and teens.

Nancy Clausen

Nancy is a Marketing Manager for the Knox Group. She markets all the Focus on the Family products including kids videos like "Adventures in Odyssey," "Last Chance Detectives" and "McGee and Me". Nancy's favorite thing to do, other than marketing great Tyndale Kids products, is singing songs over the phone with her 7-year-old nephew Brian—who lives on the island of Maui.

May 4, 2001