Rachel Lewis, Executive Director As Executive Director, Rachel oversees the day-to-day activities of IBP and plans all of the organization's large shipments. She is passionate about helping IBP find the most efficient and effective way to help our recipient partners gain access to educational resources. Rachel has lived and traveled throughout the developing world, including Ghana, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, and China. Rachel received her M.A. in International Development from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky and her B.A. in Media Communications from Asbury College.

Tom Zemsky, Warehouse Manager Only a few years from retirement, Tom has been with IBP since 1976. He helps to run the warehouse, sort and pack books for overseas shipments, and sell books to raise postage funds. He has a B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. Hired by IBP's founder, Mrs. Van Meter, he has watched the International Book Project grow from her basement to its own warehouse and the sending of 100,000 to 200,000 books annually.

Saul Kutnicki, Bookstore Manager Saul is not only an avid reader, but also closely follows international news. He is the first to know of a coup in the developing world. He holds a B.A. in English from Transylvania University.

Tracy Nearhoof, Books as Bridges Coordinator Tracy graduated from Murray State University with a B.A. in International Affairs. From Murray, Kentucky, she moved to Detroit, Michigan to complete a year of AmeriCorps as a member of City Year Detroit. There, working with Detroit-area high school youth, she found that her passion is to empower others and make a difference wherever possible. Returning back home to the Bluegrass, Tracy accepted the Books as Bridges Coordinator position as her second AmeriCorps commitment. Teaching youth in Central Kentucky about culture in developing countries is a wonderful opportunity for her to share her enthusiasm for diversity while helping the students realize their potential to make a difference.

Jessi Patton, Marketing & Fundraising Coordinator AmeriCorps VISTA Jessi’s interest in international relations and passion for grassroots education solutions for the developing world attracted her to the International Book Project. She graduated from Georgetown College with a B.A. in Commerce, Language and Culture and Political Science. Jessi’s relevant experiences include studying in an advanced program at the Institut Américain d’Avignon, France, working with local non-profits such as the American Diabetes Association, and serving as team leader for Georgetown College’s Project Compassion, a pilot project that supports the World Food Programme’s School Feeding Project in Guatemala.

Billy Colemire, Volunteer and Local Outreach Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA As a recent Eastern Kentucky University graduate with a B.A. in Communication Studies and Social Inequalities, Billy joined International Book Project to employ the passion he has for eradicating illiteracy and aiding in the delivery of equity in today’s global world.  Billy’s applicable experiences include: studying global politics abroad at the University of Sydney for one semester, partnering with “Project Read” in hopes of improving literacy among Appalachian communities, and serving his fraternity in the executive post of vice president of finance, as well as philanthropy chair.  Philanthropy and volunteerism have always been extremely important to Billy.  As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Billy is very excited to make IBP’s presence known to a great extent in the local and Appalachian communities.