World Book Night Staff Grows

World Book Night U.S. has hired two new staff members: Laura Peraza, to manage social media platforms; and Erin Cox, to handle fundraising. Both will also work with Executive Director Carl Lennertz on customer service, web content, and marketing materials. 

“This is a very constructive and forward-looking step for WBN in the U.S.,” said Lennertz. “We need to maintain a high level of interaction with the volunteer book givers, build a robust new website, produce more resource materials for the givers, booksellers, and librarians, and get more sponsors. Two very smart people involved in WBN for a year on a volunteer basis now join me in absolutely essential roles. They are altruistic individuals and enthusiastic booklovers, and their hard work and great ideas will help bring WBN to new levels of success in year two and beyond.”

Peraza worked in online marketing at Vintage Español and has experience in advertising, design, and public relations. Cox worked for Simon & Schuster Children’s marketing and spent six years working in nonprofit development in Chicago. Both are graduates of New York University’s M.S. in Publishing: Digital and Print Media degree program, where they were members of the team that created WBN U.S.’s successful social media campaign for year one.

“Booksellers at the regional shows this past weekend may have met Laura or Erin,” said Lennertz. Cox was at the Heartland Fall Forum, and Peraza attended the New England Independent Booksellers Association trade show and then visited several indie stores in Boston. “They’re back now and grounded ‘til we finish the website redesign!” he added.