LORRAINE SHANLEY is a noted authority and expert in all aspects of traditional and digital book publishing in the US and internationally. A principal of Market Partners International (MPI), a consulting firm she co-founded in 1990 to cater to the rapidly changing needs of the book publishing business, she has experience and expertise in strategic planning, market research, content development, multi-channel marketing, sales and fulfillment, and executive search.  Her firm also has consulting relationships with experts in mergers & acquisitions, direct response, and digital development.  In addition to publishers, MPI works with museums, magazines, associations and technology firms on various aspects of content development and distribution. Shanley also serves as publisher of Publishing Trends, a monthly newsletter read by senior publishing professionals in 30 countries around the world. Before launching MPI, Shanley began her career at Book-of-the-Month Club, and as Executive Vice President overseeing editorial, marketing and merchandise, was instrumental in the launch of its Quality Paperback Book Club. She was also Editorial Director of HarperCollins, is a member and past president of Women's Media Group, is on the marketing committee for the National Book Foundation, and is an advisor to New York University's Publishing Program.

AMY RHODES recently joined Market Partners as an Associate. In the thirty years that she has devoted to consumer book publishing, she has worked in sales and marketing and as publisher at a broad range of companies, including NAL, Random House, Little Brown, Abrams, Rodale, and Watson-Guptill. She has experience and expertise in a variety of categories, formats, and price points, from mass market paperbacks to high-end art books. Not only has she held senior management positions that included p&l responsibility, but her operational experience includes everything from sourcing distribution to preparing a company for sale and overseeing the due diligence process. During her multi-faceted career, Rhodes has spearheaded efforts to overhaul and grow medium-sized publishing houses into profitable and valuable properties. As Trade Publisher at Rodale, she grew revenues from $14 million to over $100 million in 4 years, and in her next role as Publisher and General Manager of Watson-Guptill, she took an unprofitable, illustrated book category publisher and positioned it for a profitable sale to Random House in only two years. Rhodes is a graduate of the University of Chicago and recently taught at New York University’s School of Continuing Education. She is a member and past president of the Publishers Lunch Club, a group of senior publishing executives that was founded in 1915.

The principals speak at industry forums and are frequently quoted in major publications about emerging industry trends.

In addition to its principals and staff, MPI has consulting relationships with a number of experts in mergers & acquisitions, direct response, production, and digital technology.