Meet Our Staff

Joel McIntosh, Publisher

Right out of college, I took a job as a high school English teacher in a little rural community in Texas. At some point after my first couple of years there, my principal asked me to participate in developing a program for our gifted students. A group of other teachers who were building the program and I began looking for materials and ideas that were practical and challenged our brightest students. As a group, we attended several gifted education conferences and discovered lots of teachers who were presenting about great ideas and innovative classroom practices. At the time, I remember thinking, “Someone needs to pull together these ideas and get them in the hands of others.” At some point, I realized that “someone” could be me. Prufrock Press didn’t become a realized dream for a few more years. I continued teaching and completed a master’s degree in gifted education at Baylor University. All the while, I was laying the foundations of Prufrock Press—more as a hobby at first—as a service to my fellow teachers. However, once I finished my graduate work, I made Prufrock Press my full-time profession. The positive impact I am able to make through the work we do at Prufrock Press is an ongoing source of pride for me. Although we’ve expanded our focus to include support for parents and kids with special needs, the original mission to share “great ideas and innovative classroom practices” is as vibrant today as it was more than 20 years ago.

Jennifer Robins, Senior Editor and Permissions Coordinator

A former teacher of gifted kids, Jennifer Robins was a member of the Prufrock Press crew long before she officially started working as an editor in 2004. She started her career with Prufrock working as the company’s classroom materials editor and soon after began focusing on graduate-level textbooks, professional development materials, and the company’s journals as its senior editor. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in educational psychology with specializations in gifted and talented education from Baylor University. She loves working with her many dedicated authors and notes that she looks forward to “coming to work each day, as it is a very fast-paced environment.” In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys reading—including revisiting books from her childhood like The Phantom Tollbooth and plenty of mysteries (which she suspects may shock some of her authors!).

Lacy Compton, Editor and Promotions Coordinator

Lacy Compton joined Prufrock Press in 2005 after working as a marketing assistant and university newspaper editor in Waco, TX. Combining those experiences, she currently serves Prufrock by editing the company’s trade books, managing Creative Kids magazine, and organizing promotions for all of Prufrock’s titles. She loves watching a book develop from a spark of an idea to a finished product to a best-selling title. Lacy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University and her master’s degree in English, with a specialization in children’s literature, from Texas State University. Outside of Prufrock, she instructs distance-learning courses in children’s literature to fourth and fifth graders through Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Lacy lives in Austin with her husband, puppy, mountains of Harry Potter books, and a craft room where she happily spends her weekends sewing, scrapbooking, and making messes.

Sarah Morrison, Editor

Sarah Morrison joined the Prufrock staff in 2010, and she says that she is constantly learning new things. As the company’s classroom materials editor, Sarah works with authors to develop their books as they are writing them, edits and prepares books for layout, and copyedits other books. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and psychology from Rice University and her MFA in fiction from Texas State University, where she served as the nonfiction editor for Front Porch, an online literary magazine. Sarah is originally from New Jersey—a state to which she has a fierce allegiance—but she has grown to love the laid-back atmosphere in Austin. In her new hometown, Sarah likes reading, writing, running, cooking, and watching too many movies, and she swears she will one day take up guitar.

Raquel Trevino, Print Production Coordinator

Raquel Trevino stepped into a busy position when she joined Prufrock Press as the company’s Print Production Coordinator and only in-house graphic designer in the fall of 2010. As she puts it, there’s “never a dull moment” working for Prufrock. Raquel designs all of the company’s beautiful covers, book layouts, and marketing materials, in addition to coordinating with freelance designers and illustrators and keeping the editors on schedule for production deadlines. With more than 15 years of design and print production experience and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Savannah College of Art and Design, Raquel has been vital in re-energizing the design concept of Prufrock’s product line. Outside of work, Raquel loves having the opportunity to make things beautiful, dabbling in all forms of arts and crafts from crocheting to quilting. She’s also the Austin office’s unofficial party planner!

Elizabeth Harp, Marketing Assistant

Elizabeth Harp has been Prufrock Press’ Marketing Assistant for nearly 2 years. In this capacity, Elizabeth is responsible for updating the company’s product pages on its website, keeping the Amazon descriptions and images in order, preparing press kits and review copies, and creating press releases for new books. Since she started, Elizabeth has graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with her bachelor’s degree in public relations. She began coursework for the master’s in advertising program at UT this fall. Her favorite book is Edith Wharton’s Summer.

Cynthia Mancha, Editorial Assistant

Cynthia Mancha is one of the newest members of the Prufrock team, coming on board as the staff’s editorial assistant in August of 2011. She completes a wide range of duties for the editorial department, including assisting with Creative Kids magazine, formatting manuscripts, fact-checking materials, and corresponding with authors. Cynthia, a native of Poteet, TX (a small town outside of San Antonio), returned to Texas to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to this, she received her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She is excited to be in Austin and starting both a new job and a new degree program. In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys reading, staying active by playing sports or working out, attending local concerts and festivals, and spending time with friends.

Business Office, Waco, TX

Ginny Bates, Office Manager

As the Office Manager, Ginny Bates is a key part of Prufrock Press, managing many of the company’s day-to-day business needs including royalties, accounts payable, and inventory control. Having worked at Prufrock for more than 16 years, Ginny obviously enjoys her job, but her favorite part has been the opportunity to work under “a great boss who sets the tone for a great working atmosphere where everyone works together and everyone matters.” Originally from Rhode Island, Ginny has lived in Texas for the past 30 years and currently lives in Hewitt, TX, with her husband and two dogs, where she paints, reads, and spends time with her family and friends. Having once tried her hand at substitute teaching for a first-grade class, Ginny gives teachers “applause for their hard work and dedication.”

Shannon Gross, Customer Service

Shannon Gross joined Prufrock Press more than 9 years ago, where she serves as the company’s friendly voice for customers’ needs. Shannon also processes all of Prufrock’s many book orders. What she likes most about working at Prufrock is that the staff works together so well that it feels like family. Shannon currently lives in Hewitt, TX, with her husband and two daughters. There, she likes to hang out with her family and read (she especially loves the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers).

Lindsey Bates, Customer Service

Lindsey Bates began her career at Prufrock Press almost 5 years ago as an intern for the business office. She happily enjoys handling the Creative Kids orders and fulfillment, bids for vendors, and any extra customer service projects thrown her way. She loves the team atmosphere working at Prufrock provides, noting that “everyone has to be on the same page and it works really well.” Outside of work, Lindsey studies photography at a correspondence school out of New York City and is excited to be graduating soon. Her passion for photography goes beyond schoolwork, as she also works as a photographer in Waco, where she enjoys relaxing with close friends.

Denise Burke, Shipping and Fulfillment

Denise Burke plays a vital role at Prufrock Press by shipping and receiving orders, ordering reprints of books that are out of stock, and keeping Prufrock’s warehouse of more than 300 titles in order. Denise joined Prufrock in August of 2009 after 10 years of shipping and receiving experience. She enjoys having the opportunity to apply her talent and skills at Prufrock. Outside of work, Denise likes to spend time with her family and friends.

Sandy Blades, Shipping and Receiving

Sandy Blades has been at Prufrock for 2 years, where he assists with the fulfillment of orders and the shipping and receiving of books and other materials. He notes that he enjoys the “great working environment” at Prufrock’s Waco office.