The Independent Book Publishers Association has announced that board chair Tieshena Davis will step down after just over a year in the role. Effective August 29, IBPA vice chair Renita Bryant will lead the board until it elects Davis’s successor, according to the announcement.
THE IBPA attributed Davis’s departure to “new professional opportunities,” including finalizing the sale of her hybrid press, Publish Your Gift. Davis also heads up her own consulting firm, Ekpansa.
As chair, Davis oversaw the IBPA’s merging with PublWest and assisted in the rebranding of the IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Book Award to include new categories for underrepresented communities. She also brought her consultancy experience to bear on developing the association’s forthcoming 2026-2028 strategic plan, per the IBPA, which has 3,000 members.
Davis said in a statement to PW that she is leaving the IBPA with a deeper appreciation for the “power of associations in fostering industry cohesion” and “advocating for equity.” She mentioned the new three-year strategic plan, which she described as “impact-focused vs. output-focused,” as a “key milestone” in her tenure.
“Serving on the IBPA board has allowed me to amplify underserved voices... and influence the future of independent publishing in ways I never imagined,” she added. “I leave this role proud of the legacy we’ve built.”
In a statement, IBPA CEO Andrea Fleck-Nisbet said, “Tieshena’s leadership over the past year has been instrumental in guiding IBPA through a transformative period,” adding: “Tie’s impact will be felt for years to come.”
