NCIBA Names New Executive Director

This fall, Calvin Crosby will succeed Hut Landon as executive director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) and Ann Seaton, longtime manager of Hicklebee’s, will become NCIBA’s administrator.

Crosby will begin working with Landon on September 8 and a formal transfer of responsibilities will take place at the NCIBA Discovery Show, to be held in San Francisco on October 15–16.

For more than two decades, Crosby has been a notable presence in the bookselling and publishing world, most recently as the sales and marketing director for McSweeney’s. Crosby served on the NCIBA Board of Directors for 10 years, including a term as president, and has presented on numerous panels at NCIBA and ABA educational events.

Crosby has 20 years of bookselling experience, having worked at both Book Passage and Books Inc. in a variety of roles, including community relations, management, event coordinating, merchandising, buying, and receiving.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to have Calvin succeeding me,” said Landon, who announced his retirement in June. “NCIBA has been such an important part of my life, and to know that the association will continue to flourish and innovate under Calvin’s leadership is wonderfully gratifying. Calvin was a leader on our board for many years and fully understands the role NCIBA plays for our members.”

Crosby noted, “I am honored to follow Hut Landon as the Executive Director of the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association and to continue the conversation of the relevance and vitality of the book industry. I look forward to working with the innovative booksellers of Northern California.”

Seaton, who has been in the book business for 35 years and is the current manager of Hicklebee’s children’s bookstore in San Jose, California, will leave her bookselling position to become NCIBA’s administrator.

ABA CEO Oren Teicher noted, “This is a bittersweet moment for ABA. We’ve had a superb working relationship with Hut and NCIBA. From the launch of the initial Book Sense program many years ago to the creation of Independent Bookstore Day — and everything in between — Hut has always been the consummate professional. To say simply that we'll miss him is a massive understatement. But we could not be more pleased with the selection of Calvin and Ann. ABA has had the opportunity to work with both of them for many years and we look forward to continuing to build upon those relationships.”

With the appointments of Crosby and Seaton, “NCIBA boasts a staff with 55-plus years of collective bookselling, along with significant board experience,” said Landon. “Moving forward, this extraordinary team will ensure that NCIBA remains effective and proactive for years to come.”