Mary Cummings, Editorial Director
1-800-798-1780
mcummings@frpbooks.com

As an editor, managing editor and the editorial director of FRP, Mary's discerning touch and perceptive eye have played a part in the development and success of virtually every FRP book for over twenty years.

Mary manages a talented staff of food editors and writers, nutritionists, copy editors, illustrators, designers and art directors, as well as adjunct food stylists and photographers, who together have developed and designed hundreds of award-winning cookbooks for FRP publishers.

She was a pioneer in the use of recipe-based nutritional profiles in cookbooks, cost-accounted editorial practices, and "ease-of use" recipe writing, and had a significant part in FRP's developing the use of high-end design, typography, and production values-- including color-- in every level of FRP cookbooks.

An early advocate of the potential for the digital camera in food photography, Mary has been creative director for thousands of food photographs in venues from recipe card collectibles to newsletters and cookbooks of every type.

A graduate of Duke University, Mary holds BA and MA degrees in English literature and has taught at both the secondary and college levels. She is a long-time member of the International Association of Food Professionals, the Consumer Trends Forum International, and Food on Film.
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Judy Jackson, Editorial Manager, Reference Works and Research Projects
1-800-798-1780
jjackson@southwestern.com

Joining FRP in 1990 let Judy combine her experience on national legal and political newsletters, magazines, and newspapers with her love of books and food. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Austin Peay State University with a double major in accounting and business administration. Judy is an active volunteer who has taught adult literacy and also supports the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, public radio and TV, the Library of America, and the Smithsonian.
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Tanis Westbrook, Project Editor
1-800-798-1780
twestbrook@frpbooks.com

Tanis put previous scheduling and customer service experience to work when she joined FRP in 1998. She scheduled surgical procedures for an orthopedic surgeon and provided customer service support at general aviation operators serving such clients as Donald Trump, Jack Nicklaus, and Oprah Winfrey. Tanis participates in cooking classes as often as she can in order to keep current with food trends and techniques. She enjoys the arts and supports public radio, the Nashville Symphony, and the Tennessee Repertory Theater. Tanis attended John A. Logan College and Volunteer State Community College.
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Julee Hicks, Communications Editor
1-800-358-0560
jhicks@frpbooks.com

After 8 years with our Marketing Team, Julee moved to our Editorial Team in mid-2006 to take on pre-launch responsibilities as well as other special editorial projects. Julee still has a small marketing role consulting with new clients as she helps them develop their strategies and partners them with the appropriate marketing team members as they begin to build their book projects.

Her volunteer activities include leadership roles in Leadership Donelson-Hermitage, is past president of the local chapter of American Heart Association and has leadership responsibilities within her church . She’s active in local athletics and still holds several athletic records at her alma mater, Austin Peay State University. She attended college on an athletic scholarship and holds a B.S. in mass communications/English.
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Barbara Reed, Research Editor
1-800-798-1780
breed@southwestern.com

Barbara brings a strong background in writing, editing and documentation to FRP. She launched her career as a defense contractor technical writer, editor, and word processing and documentation supervisor at the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center. She joined FRP after working briefly in sales with Southwestern/Great American. For five years, she worked in The Cookbook Marketplace division in the areas of customer service and administration. In 2002, she accepted her current position, where she edits and researches the publications of the Southwestern Company. She holds a B.A. in communications/journalism from the University of Miami.
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Alison Nash, Copy Editor
1-800-798-1780
anash@frpbooks.com

Alison achieved her Bachelor of Arts in English from Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. While there, she had several poems and a short story published in The Chimes. Before coming to FRP, she worked in the retail aspect of the book industry and is continually running out of shelf space for her newly acquired reads. She enjoys trying new recipes, and she and her husband often cook together. In her free time, Alison enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her family.
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Cathy Ropp, Project Editor
1-800-798-1780
cropp@frpbooks.com

Cathy joined FRP in May 2002 to be administrator for the new line of Community Classics books. Her job includes handling a project from the time the client sends in their materials until the book is ready to go to press. Cathy graduated with a B.S. in marketing/finance and a minor in communications from Georgetown College. She has one son and enjoys spending time with her family.
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Charlene Sproles, Nutritionist

Charlene is a veteran of food research and development as a result of time spent developing and testing frozen foods for Ralston Purina. She is a stylist who’s prepped foods for print, television, and TV cooking shows. She’s held many editorial and dietary responsibilities with FRP, including editor, nutrition specialist, and test kitchen supervisor. She has a B.S. in foods and nutrition from Fontbonne College and is active in the Home Economists in Business and the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She has also been active in the Junior Leagues in Birmingham and Lansing, Michigan, and St. Louis and Nashville.
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