Nelson Newsroom

Christian Retail and Nelson Ministry Direct Sales Teams Integrated
Under the Leadership of Gary Davidson

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today that they are joining their two Christian sales divisions under the leadership of Gary Davidson, Senior Vice President of Christian Retail Sales/Ministry Development Group. This move will join the Christian Retail Sales team and the Nelson Ministry and Direct Sales team, the group responsible for selling direct to churches and ministries.

“Over the past few years, we have struggled with how to maximize our impact with churches, ministries, and our Christian retail partners. Although these groups have a common mission and vision they were competing instead of collaborating,” said Michael S. Hyatt, President and CEO. “By aligning their efforts under Gary’s leadership, we hope to increase their productivity and profitability.”

With this move, the name of the ministry arm of the sales division will be change from Nelson Ministry and Nelson Direct to the Ministry Development Group. The new name of the group emphasizes their shift in focus from direct sales to aiding in the development of these ministries as they seek to impact the world with the word of God.
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(Dallas, TX) Thomas Nelson Live Events will host 29 Women of Faith conferences throughout the United States in 2008. Thousands of women will gather for the events filled with inspiration, laughter and time to relate to other women.“It’s such a great time for women to get away for a weekend and be with our girlfriends,” says Nancy Persinger, from Medinah, IL.”We all need to do that at least once a year – if not more.”2008 marks the 13th year for Women of Faith conferences. As the nation’s largest women’s event, nearly 4 million women have attended the conferences since the organization began, and more than 350,000 women are expected to attend this year’s events. READ MORE »

The Boomer Burden: Dealing with Your Parents’ Lifetime Accumulation of Stuff
Releases June 2008

(Nashville, Tenn.) Every day approximately forty-eight hundred baby boomers become middle-aged orphans when their elderly parents pass away, leaving behind a lot more than just memories. Now what?

You’ve heard the horror stories: arguments over stuff . . . an inheritance lost forever when an easily deceived parent is scammed . . . siblings estranged . . . an adult heir taken from daily responsibilities for months because of the enormous task of emptying a childhood home.
It doesn’t have to be that way for you.
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New Children’s Story Book Penned by Author of Goodnight Moon

(Nashville, Tenn.) Millions of children have been lulled to sleep by one of Margaret Wise Brown’s bedtime classics such as Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny. Wise Brown published more than 100 children’s titles during her career, with more than 20 million titles sold. But the prolific author died unexpectedly in 1952 (at age 42), and many of her unpublished manuscripts, handwritten on onionskin paper, were placed in a cedar trunk where they remained undisturbed in an attic for decades. Though the original manuscripts yellowed through the years, Thomas Nelson is reviving one of Wise Brown’s forgotten stories and combining it with illustrations from Linda Bleck. Margaret Wise Brown’s Moon Shines Down will publish for the first time in November 2008 ($16.99, hard cover, 48 pages, ISBN #: 978-1-4003-1299-3).

Wise Brown based the Moon Shines Down text on the classic New England Sampler prayer, “God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me.” The author’s unique poetic style and original wording yield a rhyming tale that will remind readers of Goodnight Moon’s lullaby rhythm and moon motif. Indeed, Wise Brown often wove themes from one book into the text or illustration of another, and this new classic continues that tradition. The rhyming text calls for God’s blessing on all the world’s children as a brilliantly glowing moon shines over each one. READ MORE »

Rick Shear Promoted To Vice President of Christian Retail Key Account Sales

(Nashville, Tenn.) Thomas Nelson, Inc. announced today the promotion of Rick Shear to the position of Vice President, Christian Retail Key Account Sales. In his new role, Shear will lead the Christian Retail Key Account team and will be responsible for the cultivation and continued growth of this integral sales channel.

Shear began his career at Thomas Nelson over 20 years ago, working as a Field Sales Representative in Kansas. For the last eight years, he has worked in Key Accounts of the Christian Retail Sales division, most recently working as a Key Account Director.

“Over the last several years our Christian retail key accounts have grown significantly. In order to keep the momentum building in these accounts, we need a strong leader who knows their business and can focus solely on their needs,” said Gary Davidson, Senior Vice President of Christian Retail Sales and Nelson Ministries. “Rick’s extensive experience in publishing and retail has given him a wonderful background for this role. His servant leadership style has made him a favorite with customers and colleagues alike.” READ MORE »