Distinguished Service Award

Michael O’Brien

2006/2007

Bookbuilders West is a vital organization because of the hard work, energy, creativity, and dedication of its volunteers. These volunteers design, write, produce seminars and social events, create and maintain the newsletter and web-site, produce the Book Show, and complete all of the other required jobs. These volunteers all work with Bookbuilders West through love of the book-building industry and the people involved with Publishing.

The Distinguished Service Award was conceived in 1983 as recognition of individual achievement and service of lasting value and importance to our industry. The DSA Committee created the following criteria to identify the yearly recipient.

Duration of involvement with the book-publishing industry
Services to the industry in general and to Bookbuilders West in particular
Lasting impact of the individual’s activities on the industry and on BBW
Influence for good exerted by the individual on BBW, on his or her company or companies, and on other individuals with whom the honorees interacted
Permanency of the individual’s legacy within the industry and within BBW

The 2006/2007 Distinguished Service Award is presented to Michael O’Brien. Michael began his publishing career in 1992 with Interactive Composition Corporation. With absolutely no publishing experience, Michael used his pre-press background to begin working with Publishers, and learn the art and skill of producing college textbooks. After developing business partnerships and many new relations in five years with ICC, Michael joined GTS, which eventually became Techbooks. While continuing his relations and development in the College space, Michael also began learning and developing business in the School market. In 2003, Michael became Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Educational Publishing with Techbooks. Michael has continued to develop further partnerships, and grow business throughout the Educational industry, while growing the Sales and Marketing department with Techbooks.

In the last five years, Michael has also been one of the pioneers to partner with Publishers in their initiative to become more of a global and international business. Earlier this year, Michael joined Laserwords as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, focusing and developing on new business and partnerships, while meeting these new Publisher initiatives in the School Marketplace.

“I have been truly blessed in the Education Publishing business to be surrounded with incredibly talented and dedicated souls in this industry. I enjoy learning everyday about the educational industry, and am surrounded by great mentors, colleagues, and true friends throughout the business. In the last few years, I have been very fortunate to travel internationally and around this country meeting with many different companies, and people within our trade. During these travels, I’ve truly come to appreciate our Publishing group. I’ve always felt the people in our industry are a special breed, who are dedicated, passionate and truly care about the books and products we create for the classrooms, and support education and the value it brings to all people.”

Michael became an active board member of Bookbuilders West in 1996. Along with meeting and working with new colleagues and friends on the board, Michael wanted to further support the organization and became a Book Show judge in 1997. From there Michael was elected to Treasurer of BBW in 2001, and is still the current Treasurer for the organization. In addition to Michael’s dedication to BBW, he has also chaired the Book Show, and has been Director of the Scholarship Fundraiser for the last five years.

“Bookbuilders West is such a wonderful group, and I’m proud to be a part of such a dynamic organization. I’ll always cherish the relationships and experiences I’ve gained since joining BBW, and I look forward to many more great memories. I also admire and am amazed our constant drive and goal to always try and improve and become a better organization.”

Outside of his never-ending commitment to Educational Publishing and Bookbuilders West, Michael is blessed with a wonderful family, extended family, and friends in the Bay Area. Behind all of his hard work and dedication is his ever supporting wife of 11 years, Alisa. Michael’s most treasured blessings are his two beautiful young children—Luke and Sofia.

“I have been blessed with a beautiful family, incredible friends and colleagues, and a career and industry that has been more rewarding than I could have ever hoped for.”