Taunton Press Names Leadership Team To Succeed Retiring CEO

The Taunton Press, publishers of special-interest books, magazines, and websites, this week announced the appointment of three new officers in anticipation of the retirement of current chief executive officer, John Lively, this November.

Sue Roman will serve as president and editor-in-chief; Jon Miller, magazine group publisher, has been named executive vice president; and Tim Rahr, the chief financial officer, has also been named executive vice president. Together they will lead the company in an executive office, overseeing all company operations. The announcement was made by Andrea Roman, chairman, on behalf of the board of directors for the privately held company based in Newtown.

“We are deeply grateful for John Lively’s contributions to Taunton’s growth over the past 25 years, and are delighted that he’ll be continuing to contribute to the company through his on-going role on the board,” said Andrea Roman. “John has taken Taunton into new markets and to new heights and we on the board are confident that we now have the leadership in place to continue the growth of the company for years to come.”

“I couldn’t be happier about my new role and our new executive team,” said Sue Roman. “As Taunton turns 30, we are looking forward to strengthening our very special position in our current markets, while exploring new and innovative products to introduce in the marketplace.”

Sue Roman joined the company in 1992 as an assistant editor and has long been involved in the editorial and product development side of Taunton’s business. She helped pioneer the launch of Fine Cooking magazine, and has served as publisher of both Kitchen Gardener and Fine Gardening, and as director of New Media, overseeing the redesign and relaunch of Taunton.com. In January 2003 she was named editor-in-chief, helping to launch Inspired House magazine, and working closely with editorial groups across the company to streamline editorial processes. A 1985 graduate of Bowdoin College, she continued her studies at the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a master’s degree in Ibero-American studies.

Jon Miller has been an integral part of the company since joining Taunton in 1981 as a copywriter. He has since served in numerous marketing and publishing roles throughout the company. After leading Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking magazines to record circulation levels and the top of their categories on the newsstand, Mr Miller was named publisher of the Magazine Group in charge of all Taunton magazines in 2003. Mr Miller holds two graduate degrees in English literature from Yale University.

Tim Rahr joined Taunton in 1999 and has managed several key operations for the business, including accounting, finance, human resources, advertising sales, and manufacturing, in addition to serving as Taunton’s chief financial officer since 2002. Prior to joining Taunton, Mr Rahr worked in the finance industry for Associates First Capital and also brings previous experience working as a professional homebuilder. He holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Middlebury College.

John Lively was the first leader to succeed Taunton founders Paul and Jan Roman in 2000. During his tenure as CEO, the company significantly increased its presence in the home-design arena (with book titles such as The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka), launched Inspired House magazine, and grew Taunton’s total magazine circulation to more than 1.3 million. As editor-in-chief for many years, Mr Lively worked to develop the distinctive voice for which Taunton is known and to adapt it to new areas of interest.

He has also been active on behalf of special-interest and independent magazine publishers, serving on the board of MPA (Magazine Publishers of America) and as chairman of MPA’s IMAG (Independent Magazine Advisory Group) from 2003 to 2004. Mr Lively holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Center College in Kentucky and a master’s in English from the University of North Texas.

Taunton Press was launched in 1975 by amateur woodworker Paul Roman and his wife, Jan, who formed a private company and launched a magazine, Fine Woodworking, from a small office in their home on Taunton Lake Road. Fine Woodworking was a black and white magazine, published quarterly. Success came quickly and within a year The Taunton Press had moved into its own building on Church Hill Road, later building a new headquarters building on South Main Street.

The Taunton Press provides information on home building and design, gardening, woodworking, fiber arts, and cooking. Millions of consumers purchase the company’s books, magazines, DVDs, and use the Taunton website, www.taunton.com, to improve their skills and expand their horizons.

Taunton publishes Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, Threads, Fine Gardening, Fine Cooking, and Inspired House magazines and more than 55 books per year, adding to a growing backlist of more than 500 titles and successful series (including the Idea Books on home design, For Pros By Pros on home-building, and the Complete Illustrated Guides to woodworking).