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ECPA PubU
Training & Connection for Christian Publishing Professionals

November 4-5, 2026 | NASHVILLE
Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel


Register

Training Tracks and Programs in:

Editorial  |  Marketing  |  Sales  |  Production & Operations  |  Design  |  Emerging Leaders


Training, Connecting, and Inspiring the Christian Publishing Professional

Informing-U

PubU is a U-Build-It event. Our Track Leaders develop a variety of sessions you can choose from that will inform your role in Christian publishing.

Training-U

PubU is developed BY the industry, FOR the industry. Industry leaders and experts lead sessions to train up current and next-gen publishing leaders, offered in publishing tracks based on publishing roles in Marketing, Editorial, Production, and more.

Inspiring-U

PubU's signature value is learning from industry colleagues and leaders through panels, Q&A, sessions, and discussions about best practices, case studies, and challenges they've faced and overcome. Plan to leave PubU with a few more friends and mentors, inspired and encouraged in your publishing role.

Connecting-U

PubU is the place to network and meet others in the industry who do what you do—or not. In any case, the connections you make at PubU will enlarge your vision for the mission of Christian publishing while you hone and appreciate your craft as a vital component of that mission.

Keynote - Douglas Kaine McKelvey

KEYNOTE

Douglas Kaine McKelvey is an author, song lyricist, and scriptwriter. His books include four volumes of the Every Moment Holy series (now approaching 700,000 books sold), the critically acclaimed middle-grade-reader novel The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog, and others. He served as a scriptwriter and story editor for the first three seasons of the animated series The Wingfeather Saga, and has penned more than 400 lyrics recorded by a variety of artists. In 2026 Douglas launched the ongoing Every Moment Holy: Prayer Songs project (available on most streaming platforms), and an Every Moment Holy Live multi-artist, touring event. He is currently working on a nonfiction book for Waterbrook Press. Douglas and his wife Lise live in middle Tennessee.

2026 PubU Track Leaders

  • All
  • Content Lead
  • Design
  • editorial
  • Emerging Leaders
  • Marketing
  • Production & Operations
  • Sales
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Jennifer (Jenn) Butenschoen

Director of Production & Digital Content at Harvest House Publishers

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Robin Bermel

Backlist & Brand Director, Penguin Random House Christian Publishing

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David Almack

Director of Sales, Marketing and Acquisitions, P&R Publishing

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Katara Patton

Executive Editor of VOICES Collection, Our Daily Bread Ministries

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Torrey Sharp

Owner and Principal, Faceout Studios

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Linda Walz

Production Director, Tyndale House Publishers

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Brian Conley

Production, Design, and Digital Publishing Manager, Ave Maria Press

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Andrea Garcia

Senior Marketing Manager, Tyndale House Publishers

Emerging Leader Scholars & Mentor Program

Invest in the new and diverse voices in your organization by nominating them for an Emerging Leaders scholarship to PubU. After PubU, scholars will be matched with an industry veteran for a year-long mentor program.

Nominate

What people are saying about PubU

  • "PubU is the boost of energy and creativity that we all need each year."

  • "There is a special place in my heart for the ECPA PubU conference. The care, transparency, and laughter I receive from fellow laborers is refreshing and inspiring."

  • "The highlight of PubU is the opportunity to catch up with colleagues and friends from across the industry."

  • "The lobby conversations alone were well worth the cost of the conference."

  • "The value of PubU is the networking and ability to get to know those in the industry. We share so much in common with each other and love learning together."

  • "Gathering with other individuals in the Christian publishing industry at PubU was an encouraging experience."

  • "The emerging leaders track at PubU provided foundational information and a community with other individuals who are equally new to the industry and passionate about publishing."

  • "It was beneficial to meet like-minded individuals and learn from experts in the industry at PubU."

  • "The speakers provided not only statistics and overviews but concrete suggestions that were great takeaways for me."

  • "PubU gathers publishing professionals to help them hone their area of expertise."

  • "PubU was a very valuable event. I loved the opportunity to learn from industry experts and meet other professionals from the industry."

  • "The highlight of my time at PubU was meeting others in the industry and being able to connect with and learn from them."

  • "Being able to bounce new ideas off of people who fully understand your role is invaluable."

  • "The most significant experience for me was spending time chatting with fellow editors."

  • "Had a blast hanging out with amazing colleagues."

  • "I love getting to meet other people in the industry and learn more about how to effectively market our books and reach readers in the growing digital age."

  • "PubU provides a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the Christian publishing industry."

  • "In the span of two days you learn about current tools, resources, and trends that might've taken months or years to come across otherwise."

  • "My first PubU experience was energizing and educational."

  • "Having worked from home for a number of years, this was an excellent opportunity to meet new friends, catch up with old, freshen my editing skills, and be inspired."

  • "The highlight of PubU is the valuable knowledge from the sessions and the contacts I meet."

  • "PubU refreshed me and sparked a desire to exercise my God-given creativity that I haven't felt in years."

  • "Without exception, the PubU sessions are excellent."

  • "The plenary sessions are a wonderful opportunity to gather as industry professionals and think about the place of creativity, justice, and theology in the world of Christian publishing."

  • "The sessions gave us tangible tools to apply to our strategies and got us rethinking how we tackle projects entirely."

2024 Photo Gallery

We are grateful for the support of our sponsors:

PREMIUM

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GENERAL

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For more information on sponsoring this event, contact [email protected]