Every Child a Reader Board

Ruth Chamblee (Chair) – Chief Marketing Officer, OctopusPrimeInc
Ruth is an original strategy team member and chief marketing officer of OctopusPrimeInc, creator of RiSi (Read It. See It.), an innovative children’s reading app currently in development. Her early career included brand management marketing at Richardson-Vicks, a division of Procter and Gamble, and membership marketing for the Smithsonian Institution Books and Recordings divisions. Ruth most recently completed more than three decades in marketing management for National Geographic adult and children’s books. She is coauthor of I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self Discovery for Black Girls.

Chandler Arnold (Vice-Chair) – Co-Founder + CEO, Untraditional Philanthropy / Co-Founder, Go There Wines
Chandler founded Untraditional Philanthropy—which helps donors increase the impact and meaning of their philanthropic gifts—after spending 25 years leading successful social change organizations at the local, national, and global levels. He’s also developed award-winning social impact initiatives with some of the country’s most generous families and leading brands, including Disney, Pizza Hut, Ralph Lauren, Target, and others. Additionally, Chandler is the Co-Founder of Go There Wines, a social enterprise supporting women, people of color, and queer winemakers in lesser-known wine regions around the world.

Margy Stratton (Treasurer) – Founder, Milwaukee Reads
Margy is the founder and executive producer of Milwaukee Reads, an ongoing women’s speaker series featuring authors of particular interest to women. Beyond Milwaukee Reads and her involvement with the United Way’s Emerging Readers and Emerging Leaders programs, Stratton serves on the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation board and is an active volunteer at the University School of Milwaukee. Recalling her own youth, Stratton initiated a visiting authors program that has brought dozens of authors to the school over the years. She also devotes time each week to read to young students. 

Rachel Bader – Director of Licensing at Penguin Random House
Rachel is a licensing and marketing professional with over ten years of experience managing profitable businesses at top-tier entertainment and publishing companies—Scholastic, Chorion, and Condé Nast—with a keen focus on developing & implementing effective licensing and promotional programs for character and lifestyle brands that connect audiences, drive brand commitment, and support overall business strategy. 

Suzanne Harper – Editor/Author/K-12 Program Development/Freelance Writer
Suzanne is a customer-focused publishing executive with demonstrated success in setting creative direction and developing innovative and revenue-generating products. Her focus on the youth market includes roles as Editor-in-Chief of Disney Adventures magazine and Senior Director of National Programs and Partnerships at Girl Scouts of the USA. She has also published fiction and non-fiction books for middle-grade and young-adult audiences.

Tracey Hecht – Creative Director, Fabled Films Press / Author
Tracey is the author of the critically acclaimed The Nocturnals middle-grade and early reader book series as well as creative director at Fabled Films Press. In partnership with the New York Public Library, Tracey created a Read Aloud Writing Program that has since been conducted in hundreds of schools, libraries, and bookstores nationwide. In May 2025, Tracey was awarded the GO Project’s Community Impact Award for her work supporting under-resourced public school students and their families in New York City and education organizations across the country. Tracey attends Bank Street College, where she is studying to receive a dual master’s degree in childhood general education and special education.

Gail Hochman – President, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents
Gail has worked at Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents since 1983. She represents literary fiction, mystery/thrillers, serious nonfiction, memoir, and some children’s book authors, including Mary Pope Osborne and Lauren Tarshis, and some classic titles including The Phantom Tollbooth. For twenty years she was the President of the AAR, the Association of Authors’ Representatives, now called AALA. She serves on the Board of a small theater company, and the New York Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, and is active in the New York Women’s Foundation.

Josh Marwell – Literacy Advocate and Former Publishing Executive
Josh Marwell worked at St.Martins’ Press, Little Brown and HarperCollins where he retired in 2023 after serving in sales management there for 25 years. He lives in New York City and serves on the Board of Directors of Goddard Riverside Community Center.

Raakhee Mirchandani –  Editorial Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Barron’s Group/Dow Jones
Raakhee is a driven, talented, and hardworking professional with over twelve years of experience in entertainment, lifestyle, celebrity, and pop culture editing and reporting. She is a former New York Post fashion and beauty columnist who now manages the Daily News’ extensive print and digital entertainment and lifestyle coverage. She speaks internationally on DEI best practices.

Erica Rand Silverman – VP of Children’s Publishing and Senior Literary Agent, Stimola Literary Studio
Erica Rand Silverman represents a select list of acclaimed authors and illustrators whose books balance kid appeal with a deep respect for the book as object and art form. Her clients have received top distinctions, including the Caldecott medal, Schneider award, Geisel honor, and New York Times Best Illustrated Award. She began her career as a teacher and dean in New York City public schools and now helps guide Stimola’s top-level vision, strategic partnerships, and leadership in an evolving children’s publishing landscape.

Lizette Serrano – Vice President of Educational Marketing, Scholastic
For over 20 years, Lizette has championed beloved authors such as Pam Muñoz Ryan and Dav Pilkey, connecting them with readers of all ages through marketing campaigns, events, materials, resources, and special initiatives, all focused on increasing awareness to support our book creators. She is also the co-founder of the Power of Story initiative, which aims to create a hub of resources to guide educators, booksellers, and caregivers on how to build an equitable bookshelf. Currently, she serves as a board member for the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY).

Caroline Sun – Founder, Sun Literary ArtsCaroline Sun – Founder, Sun Literary Arts
Caroline has over fifteen years of publicity experience in publishing and most recently held the position of Director of Publicity at HarperCollins Children’s Books, where she worked with literary luminaries, award-winning creators, legendary estates, debut voices, and beloved brands. She served on the Children’s Book Council’s Diversity Committee for four years, and was named a Publishers Weekly Rising Star in 2017. Since launching Sun Literary Arts in 2020, Caroline has curated a diverse list of clients, including Levine Querido, Macmillan, Norton, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, as well as the inaugural poet, activist, and bestselling author, Amanda Gorman.