Monica Blache

Working primarily behind the scenes until she makes her presence known at the conference, Monica “Moni” Blache has served as the Conference Manager since the first BWRC in 2000. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Moni is the key on-site coordinator of registration management, the author expo, catered events, and social activities. She is also an instrumental member of the conference site/venue selection team.

 

Neecha Turner

Neecha Turner brings over 12 years of business management/administration experience and 9 years’ experience as a university career center professional to the BWRC staff. Neecha assists with site selection, volunteer recruitment, training, and organization. She also handles outreach and customer service support. A native of New Orleans as well, Neecha currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

 

Mathew Wilson

Mathew Wilson (better known as “Dad”), also of New Orleans, has worked with BWRC since 2006 as the awesome and immensely popular Flow Director. Mr. Wilson primarily handles exhibit floor management, audiovisual support, and exhibitor services, but is well known for being everywhere and handling everything all at once.

 

Marklyn Pierre

Marklyn Pierre of Chicago, Illinois, provides registration, exhibitor, floor management, and at-large support.

 

Tia Ross, Director

Best known for being a trailblazing source of inspiration in the literary arts as the founder of the first Internet-based nonprofit literary arts association for Black writers (1998) and for her consummate planning and organizational skill, editorial prowess, and technical versatility, Tia Ross has served as Director of the Black Writers Reunion & Conference since the first meeting in Atlanta in summer 2000. Lauded for her ability to orchestrate top-notch educational programs that comprise impeccable blending of people and resources, Tia’s undying passion for nurturing the artistic growth and development of other creative writers and editors has culminated in six markedly successful conferences that have empowered thousands with the know-how, skill, resources, and confidence to pursue their dreams of publication and production.

While orchestrating stellar events is considered by many to be her forté, it is her exceptional skill as a professional writer, editor, researcher, web programmer, content strategist, and information designer that makes presenting BWRC look easy. Tia’s background includes more than 20 years’ experience editing novels, screenplays, nonfiction books, and academia. She has also written, edited, and designed business proposals, reports, technical articles and documentation, presentations, programs, content-rich websites, and other publications for authors, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. A webmaster since 1998, Tia’s technical background encompasses web project management, site development, information architecture, usability, content strategy and development, e-commerce, website editing, search engine optimization, MySQL/PHP database programming, FAQ/online help systems development, and publication conversions for the Web. She is also especially savvy with social media marketing and tools, blogging, and CMS-powered website publishing.

The Los Angeles native currently resides in a Dallas, Texas, suburb. For more information about Tia, visit www.tiaross.com. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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2012 Chairpersons

Veronica Fields Johnson
Chairperson, Pitch Sessions

Veronica Fields Johnson is a writer, trivia buff, game show enthusiast and avid reader. She is a journalism grad of Clark Atlanta University, member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and past president of Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two daughters.

Veronica coordinates scheduling for the agent/editor pitch sessions.