AQS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Editor in Chief of AQ Magazine
Job Titles:
- National Account Manager
- National Account Manager for the American Quilter 's Society
Bill E. Schroeder is a national account manager for the American Quilter's Society. Bill is a graduate of Mid-Continent University, where he majored in business administration. He has been working with QuiltWeek events for the past eight years and is the third generation of the Schroeder family to take part in fostering the legacy of AQS. Bill is focused on helping clients achieve their goals by analyzing their marketing objectives and developing strategies that are both client-specific and effective. He prides himself on building business relationships through strong communication and service. Bill is available to assist you in your advertising and sponsorship needs.
AQS Executive Show Director, Bonnie Browning, joined the American Quilter's Society in 1994. She has traveled around the world teaching, judging, and attending quilting events-Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Switzerland, and Turkey. She is a certified master quilt judge (1986) and a Certified Zentangle® Teacher (2012). A quilter since the late 1970s, Bonnie has won numerous awards with her work and has two quilts in the National Quilt Museum, and two quilts in the Artists of Iowa Collection. Her work has been published in several international quilting publications. Bonnie has published twelve books on quilting, and has served on the boards of local guilds and the National Quilting Association. Bonnie enjoys leading the AQS team to find new venues to take the AQS QuiltWeek experience to quilters across the country.
Lecturer, teacher, editor, and author Helen Squire is best known for her Dear Helen, Can You Tell Me series of nine pattern books as well as her passion for quilting. She also shares her expertise in Helen's Hints: Creative Quilting Designs columns that have appeared in AQ for more than 15 years. Her quilting patterns, available through local quilt shops, are perfect for hand or machine quilting and are available in print, stencil, CD, or downloadable digitalized formats. Retired from the position as vice-president of sales and marketing for the American Quilter's Society, Helen has relocated from Paducah to Frostburg, Maryland, and has finally found the time to quilt.
AQS Marketing Director, Katherine Rupp, joined the American Quilter's Society after fifteen years as a marketing leader in the New York area where she worked extensively with a number of organizations, including MetLife, First Meridian Mortgage, and the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Most recently, Katherine oversaw all corporate and branch marketing for a multi-state financial organization. A recognized expert in her field, Katherine has been called on as a marketing instructor for several businesses, as well as the U.S. Small Business Administration, Suffolk County, and the Community Development Corporation of Long Island. Katherine was also selected by Business and Professional Women International to be a NGO representative at the 2011 UN Commission on the Status of Women. Katherine enjoys participating in charitable and community initiatives, and has held leadership roles in a number of professional organizations. She first began admiring quilts during extensive visits with family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Lori Kennedy is an incurable doodler and quilting fanatic who loves to help quilters add fun and personality to their quilts. Lori's book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 offers step-by-step tutorials for more than sixty whimsical designs as well as tips and exercises to help take the fear out of machine quilting. Lori is a Craftsy instructor and a BERNINA Ambassador. Find her Tuesday Tutorials each week at her blog, TheInboxJaunt.com, along with doodle lessons and daily inspiration. When she's not quilting, she can be found hiking the trails of Minnesota with her six children, grandchildren, and two Australian Shepherds.
Job Titles:
- Director of Product Development
Lynn has been a valuable part of AQS since its inception. She and her mother, Meredith Schroeder, are responsible for many of the ideas that have made the American Quilter's Society what it is today. As buyer for the gift shop of the National Quilt Museum, she brings over 10 years of experience in product management. Her ability to determine excellent quality and product potential makes her a qualified person for product development. Lynn currently serves on the National Quilt Museum Board of Directors as well as the Hope Unlimited Family Care Center Board of Directors. She and Rick have 2 adult children, Brett and Leigh.
Meredith and her husband, Bill, cofounded American Quilter's Society with the vision of promoting the accomplishments of today's quilters both nationally and internationally, encompassing their vision by building an integrated framework that includes book and magazine publishing and distributing, quilt shows and contests, newsletters and online magazines, AQS Quilt Appraisal Certification, product development, and marketing-all underscored with a dedicated membership organization. In turn, she has pioneered a unique organization within the quilting and fiber art craft industry and is the 2013 Inductee into The Quilters Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana. A strong believer in building communities, Meredith currently serves on the Paducah Bank & Trust Company Board of Directors and the Paducah Riverfront Development Authority Steering Committee. She is founder and chairman of The National Quilt Museum, a Rotary Club of Paducah Paul Harris Fellow, and a former board member of both the Kentucky Historical Museum and the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center.
Job Titles:
- Director of Show Development & Sales
Rick Loyd has 30 years experience with Schroeder Publishing Co., Inc., as vice president. Rick brings his broad range of experience both in sales and management to the American Quilter's Society as director of show development and sales. AQS has become the leader in award sponsorships due to his professional and genuine relationship with corporate leaders in our industry. He served 16 years on the board of The National Quilt Museum (MAQS). After graduating from John Brown University with a BS degree, Rick married his wife, Lynn; they have two children, Brett Austin and Leigh Meredith. In his spare time Rick enjoys golf, hunting, music, as well as family and church activities.
Tamara Hanes is a national account manager. Tamara began working within the craft and quilt industry in 1994 and truly enjoys assisting her clients in meeting their marketing goals. Tamara graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Marketing and Merchandising. She has extensive account management experience and believes in listening to customers, doing in-depth research, and then developing and executing marketing plans to best suit the client's needs. Her commitment to service fits in beautifully with the American Quilter's Society philosophy and mission. Tamara is available to assist you in your advertising and sponsorship needs.
Job Titles:
- Director of Show Operations