Staff/Team

Debra J. Stratton, President

Debra Stratton brings to clients more than 25 years of specialized experience in association publishing, marketing, and business communications, working with organizations to expand and upgrade the quality of their communications programs. Over the years, she has built a reputation for creating award-winning publications and developing proven problem-solving strategies that have helped hundreds of publishers grow their businesses and strengthen their association communications.

As a frequent lecturer and seminar leader for FOLIO: magazine, The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and Association Media & Publishing (AM&P), Stratton is recognized as an authority on publishing issues. She is actively involved in the association community and has served on the board of directors of American Dental Association Business Enterprises (ADABEI), the for-profit subsidiary of the American Dental Association for publishing and business services, as well as many ASAE councils, and is currently a member of the Consultants Council. She is Past President of AM&P and a former board member of the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives.

Stratton was named Top Association Supplier of the Year by Association TRENDS in recognition of her exemplary work as a business partner to the association community.

Prior to starting her company, Stratton worked in publishing and communications for associations as well as in news reporting and public relations.

Angela Brady, Senior Consultant/Publishing Strategist

Angela Brady is an experienced communications professional who has worked over the past 14 years directing a variety of Stratton strategic consulting and research projects. Since joining Stratton Publishing & Marketing in 1997, Brady has managed and edited nearly a dozen different association print publications as well as several e-newsletters. In addition, she has developed Web site content, specialized supplements, direct mail and other marketing pieces, media kits, and more, while also leading a wide variety of consulting and research projects each year. Brady excels at developing scalable and practical solutions to association publishing challenges, and translating piles of data into workable strategies.

Before joining Stratton, Brady worked for American City Business Journals as special projects editor for the Washington Business Journal and small business editor/interim managing editor at the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and earlier as editor of the Business Journal of Tri-Cities, TN-VA. She is a former board member of Association Media & Publishing, and editorial advisor to Associations Now, ASAE.

Josephine Rossi, Account Executive/Publications Manager

Josephine (Josie) Rossi manages and directs the editorial content development and business aspects of several magazines for association clients, managing accounts and overseeing publication management and print/digital content development. She also contributes to Stratton’s print and digital marketing efforts and research projects.

Rossi is experienced in working with both print and electronic content for consumer, nonprofit, and university publications. Beginning her career as newspaper stringer covering state politics, Rossi has served as an electronic newsletter editor, a reporter for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine and Kiplinger.com, and a freelance writer and editor. As senior associate editor for T+D magazine, published by the American Society for Training and Development, she served as a writer, editor, Web site content manager, and production designer.  

Janelle Welch, Senior Art Director

Janelle Welch directs Stratton’s design office, managing the creative process and development of all design projects, including custom publishing magazines for association clients, publication redesigns, marketing materials and media kits, direct-mail promotions, annual reports, and other collateral work. An award-winning graphic artist specializing in the unique needs of periodicals, Welch has a keen eye for marrying content and art, and has more than 17 years of experience in graphic arts, marketing, and publication design. Her designs and redesigns of association and commercial magazines have been honored by Association Media & Publishing, the American Society of Business Publication Editors, and FOLIO: magazine.

Alison Bashian, Advertising Sales Manager

Alison Bashian, President of Bashian & Associates, Inc. partners with Stratton Publishing & Marketing to provide advertising sales management to several of Stratton's magazine clients. She and her sales team have a reputation for strong customer relations and regularly expanding ad sales revenues for clients. Bashian & Associates, Inc. is a professional sales organization specializing in advertising sales for associations, business-to-business publications, technical publications, and directories. Earlier, Bashian worked in advertising sales management for the Society of Human Resource Management and in editorial positions at Penton Publishing.

Joetta Melton, Senior Consultant

Joetta Melton is a senior marketing and research strategist with extensive experience in the commercial and nonprofit publishing and marketing worlds, especially in the health-care field. Capping a 20-year career at the American Academy of Family Physicians as Publisher and Division Director, Melton oversaw major expansion of publishing operations that more than doubled revenues to $20 million, including the launch of an advertising-supported publication, Family Practice Management, and an original research journal, Annals of Family Medicine. Also at AAFP, she was actively involved in expanding the book publishing program, directing special product launches, and directing cross-divisional teams to implement association-wide strategic planning benchmark efforts.

Earlier she worked as a marketing and research executive for major communications and advertising companies, responsible for strategic launches, creative development and media placements, and as a group product manager. Melton has been active in industry associations and is a past president of both the Association of Medical Publications and Association Media & Publishing. She is a frequent presenter at publishing conferences.

Robert Rainier, Senior Consultant

Robert Rainier is an experienced publishing professional whose background includes executive-level positions with McGraw-Hill, CBS, and the American Institute of CPAs. At AICPA, he directed the $37 million profit-driven publishing program, including the award-winning Journal of Accountancy, electronic media, books, and subscription-based newsletters. He also served at AICPA as Senior Consultant, Strategic Development working with senior management and leadership in developing new initiatives for the society.

Earlier, Rainier worked in commercial publishing with McGraw-Hill and CBS Educational and Professional Publishing, New York City, where he was Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, CBS College Publishing, managing $22 million in assets and a staff of 115 responsible for product acquisition and development for the $81 million business.

Thomas Koerner, PhD, Senior Consultant

Thomas Koerner, PhD., is a senior publishing executive with extensive experience in both commercial and association publishing as well as association executive leadership. Koerner, who has a Ph.D. in publishing management from Northwestern University, directed the award-winning publishing program at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for 20 years before becoming executive director of the organization. More recently, he has served as Vice President and Editorial Director at Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, a highly regarded specialty book publisher in Lanham, Maryland. He brings to clients an extensive background in the business of journal publishing and development, book marketing and expansion programs, and communications and publishing operations. Prior to his publishing career, Koerner served as a school district administrator, teacher, and news writer.

Mary Nowesnick, Senior Consultant

Mary Nowesnick is a senior executive with extensive experience in higher education marketing, research, and branding, as well as expertise in association and nonprofit publishing and communications.

Nowesnick served as Executive Director for marketing communication services at Loyola University Chicago where she oversaw undergraduate recruitment marketing as well as communications for Loyola’s schools and colleges, office of the provost, student affairs, and student services offices. She launched Loyola’s first marketing communications department and led the recruitment marketing strategy that contributed to annual record-breaking undergraduate enrollments.

Earlier, she served as Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning national publication, Savings Institutions Magazine, published by the U.S. League of Savings Institutions.