After over twenty-one years at Ingram Wholesale Services, and a few more years in the book market prior, we want to wish a very happy retirement to Ingram’s very own Gail Vinett. About her time working with publishers and overseeing her buying team, Gail said, “I’ve been very lucky to work in the business of getting books out there to readers, working with all of you smart, funny people.”
Many of Gail’s 21 years were as Lead Content Manager for Ingram Wholesale Services. We will miss her content expertise, sense of humor, and matter-of-fact approach to problem solving. Her contributions have been at the foundation of our business including the launch of iQ, our Guaranteed Availability Program (GAP), and at the bedrock of our approach of being a partner with publishers to connect content to readers worldwide.
Here are a few departing thoughts Gail provided about her alphabetic career working with publishers at Ingram:
"Forever – is composed of Nows – Good old Emily Dickinson once wrote, and that poem keeps coming to mind as I get ready for my retirement from Ingram on April 1st.
It has been a privilege to work with you. Privileged to meet and interview some of the best writers working today, privileged to have most days be a delightful challenge (I know, not all these challenges are delightful. You’ve heard me rant and shriek about them). Privileged to box up extra wonderful books to donate to worthy organizations.
And what could be better than witnessing and learning a little more each day about the nuances of human nature, and the vagaries of business? From the wedding of Mason and Melissa in the Ingram offices, with the Reverend Melissa Malone officiating to our VP of Merchandising, George, strolling in wearing a Santa hat, strumming the was it a ukulele Or commiserating with Mary Grey, when she had ordered one million copies of a Harry Potter title and Scholastic would only send us 600,000? Celebrated Days – when Kay brought in her custom-made purple bass. When people snuck their dogs into the office, hoping HR wouldn’t notice (they did). Celebrated Days of weddings and births, graduations and promotions, but also the shared sorrows of deaths, divorces, and all the calamities which are made less sharp with the comforting help of friends.
Work is not just the work, in other words.
I’ve been very lucky to work in the business of getting books out there to readers, working with all of you smart, funny people.
Thank you for all of that. Thank you.
-Gail
From this – experienced Here –
Remove the Dates – to These –
Let Months dissolve in further Months –
And Years – exhale in Years –
Forever – is composed of Nows- (690) by Emily Dickinson