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TBC's management is a prestigious group of highly skilled and diversified executives and local management team members. Their
expertise in professional bookstore management, marketing, merchandising, inventory ordering and control, state-of-the-art technology,
and training makes the TBC team a valuable asset to your college or university. Below are professional sketches of key personnel assigned to directly
manage or support the bookstore(s). Each team member, including executive members, is integral to the Texas Book Company personal
service guarantee.
TBC's management represents a vast difference to the nationally focused companies when comparing time and attention dedicated
to each customer/bookstore. While larger management companies assign 15 to 25 stores to each regional manager, TBC regional
managers, give oversight to a maximum of eight stores.
Please choose from the following to learn more about our Management Team.
Pamela Keeling
Associate Vice President
 Pamela Keeling
began her professional career in the college store industry in 1969 at the University of Houston as a textbook/buyback clerk.
She was promoted to store management in 1975 and in 1980 was named the General Manager for Cougar Bookstores, a five-store operation.
In 1984 Ms. Keeling joined Follett College Stores as a general manager for a five-store operation. She was named Follett's
first female regional manager in 1987. In 1990 Ms. Keeling joined Texas Book Company. Since 1990, TBC's Retail Division
has grown to 25 stores with annual sales over $30 million. In 1996 Ms. Keeling was named Vice President of Retail.
Her consistent record of increased sales and profit has made her a highly sought executive in the bookstore industry.
Ms. Keeling is based in Houston, Texas, with an additional office in Greenville. Ms. Keeling has a focus in Business Administration,
University of Houston, 1973.
Expertise: Financial Management And Analysis; Bookstore Management; Textbook Management Systems; Contract Negotiations And Administration; Risk Management; Inventory Control; Sales Promotions; Public Speaking And Training; Operations; Purchasing; Vendor Negotiations; Bookstore Design and Layout
Career Highlights: 30 consecutive years of sales growth and profit; long-standing member of the National Association
of College Stores; member of the National Association of Female Executives; Director of Sales for the New York Empire State
Games, Buffalo, New York, 1985 and 1986; Special Olympics volunteer; first woman Regional Manager of 100-year-old corporation,
1987; recipient of the Texas Book Company Eagle Award, 2002; and recognized as one of the Top 20 Females in the Industry Watch,
2005
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Mark Ruiz
Regional Manager
 Mark came to TBC from Target Stores in Houston, Texas where he was a top performing Store Manager overseeing a $30M sales volume. While with Target, Mark was appointed Houston area technical training sponsor and coordinated retail training programs for all new executives. Before Target, Mark was with Foley’s Department Stores and held positions in both Houston and Austin. Mark has over 20 years of experience in retail merchandising and operations, customer service, staff development, loss prevention and buying.
Expertise: Merchandising; Sales Promotion; Inventory Control; Team Building; Training And Personnel Development; Customer Service and Leadership Programs
Career Highlights: BA from the University of Texas at Austin; Target, Store Manager Award Winner- Top Customer Service-2008 & Top District Contributor Award- 2007; Foley’s Profit Improvement Award-2004, Manager of the Year-1998
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Mike Applegate
Regional Manager
 Mike joined Texas Book Company in 2012 with over 30 years retail experience in retail merchandising and operations. In his previous position as the Sr. Director of Retail Administration for Hastings Entertainment in Amarillo Texas, he was responsible for all operational and merchandise planning for 149 stores doing $500 million annually in sales. Additionally, he administered all training materials and communications to the sales field, while overseeing the $65 million dollar company labor budget for stores. Before Hastings, Mike was the Sr. Director of store operations at Anderson Merchandisers in Amarillo where he was responsible for leading a team of divisional, regional and district managers that oversaw 2,050 sales representatives and merchandising specialists that serviced 3,600 Wal-Mart Stores and 600 SAM’s clubs.
Expertise: Talent Acquisition and Development; Change and Conflict Management; Communication; Strategy and Planning; Sourcing and Implementation of Best Practices; Retail Administration; Budgetary Processes; Business Metric Analysis; Sales Generation; P&L Performance
Career Highlights: Sr. Director of Retail Administration - Hastings Entertainment; Sr. Director of Store Operations - Anderson Merchandisers; Divisional Manager - Anderson Merchandisers; District Manager - Hastings Entertainment; Store Manager - K-Mart; Wal-Mart Vendor of the Year 2005; District Manager of the Year, 1995 & 1999
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Stacy Dyer
Customer Relations
 Stacy Dyer joined Texas Book
Company in September 1996. Prior to joining Texas Book Company, she served as the Director of Business Development Program
for San Jacinto College District in Pasadena, Texas. She previously owned a workforce development and training consulting
firm, specializing in customer service and conflict management training, and is a meeting facilitator and public speaker.
Her expertise in university administration, communication, marketing, sales promotions, and business growth management offers
Texas Book Company unique opportunities to expand the Company's retail division. Stacy is based in Rockwall, Texas, with
an additional office in Greenville. Ms. Dyer attended Oral Roberts University, 1975.
Expertise: Government (Public Sector) Contract Specialist; Customer Satisfaction; Customer Relations; Customized
Training; Public Speaking; Marketing; Merchandising; Sales Promotions; Strategic Planning Facilitator; Corporate Fund-Raising; Special Project Coordination; Purchasing
Career Highlights: Association of Government Marketing Assistance Specialist, past National Regional Director;
past Executive Vice President in charge of Education and Professional Review Board
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Dan Crunk
Regional Manager
 Dan started his career after graduating from Texas Tech in 1984 as store manager for Hastings Book Music and Video. After two years as a store manager Dan was promoted to District Manager for New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona. Later, Dan was promoted to Director of Associate Development; training all new District Managers for Hastings, and writing and presenting new training programs for store and corporate personnel. He was also responsible for the development and implementation of various compensation and human resource programs and procedures for Hastings. As a Divisional Manager with Anderson Merchandisers Dan gave oversight to five regions, and 34 districts in the North East, and Mid-West United States; servicing 1300 Wal-Mart Stores. Dan joined Texas Book Company in 2012 as Regional Director.
Expertise: Talent Acquisition and Development; Customer Relations; Team Building; Problem Solving; Sales Promotion; Driving Sales.
Career Highlights: B.A. in Music, Minor in Spanish from Texas Tech University; Facilitator/Presenter of Stephan Covey seminars including Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and Principle Centered Leadership; Hired and developed over 20 District Managers
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Dana Poag
Regional Manager
 Dana has over 22 years of experience in retail merchandising, with additional expertise in customer satisfaction and campus participation programs. After facilitating a hugely successful transformation of the USAO bookstore operation, Dana was invited to join TBC’s general merchandise team as coordinator, assisting store managers with merchandise and display options. Dana now holds the position of Regional Manger, overseeing the operations of Texas Book Company's Oklahoma stores.
Expertise: Purchasing; Sales Promotions; Merchandising; Inventory Management
Career Highlights: B.S. in Marketing, University of Oklahoma; VP, Grady County United Fund; President, Chickasha Kiwanis Club; Honorary member and Past President, Junior Social Workers; Texas Book Company 2006 Store Manager of the Year
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Tracy Turpin
Director of Operations
 Tracy Turpin began his career in the college store industry in 1992 as a textbook manager at the University of Arkansas bookstore. After joining the Follett Higher Education Group in 1993, Tracy held a number of positions, and was promoted in 2002 to district manager of the Dallas County Community College District overseeing 7 stores with an annual volume of $17 million dollars. In 2005, Tracy took responsibility for the Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, a newly-opened group of 5 stores with an annual volume of $14 million dollars. In 2006, Tracy was awarded with Follett’s Values In Action award for his efforts in transitioning the Alamo stores, building teamwork among district store managers, and his leadership in implementing excellent operating standards. During Tracy’s 14 year career with Follett, he served as regional training manager for two regions and led new store transition efforts for 10 new client campuses. Tracy joined Texas Book Company as director of operations in October of 2007, where his focus will be increasing store operating efficiencies, building client relationships, and the oversight of critical performance stores.
Expertise: Textbook Management; Bookstore Operating Efficiencies; Campus Relations and Customer Service Standards; Multi-Unit Management; Human Resource Development
Career Highlights: B.A. in Communication from the University of Arkansas 1992; Highest district sales increase, 2003; Highest district profitability increase, 2004; Trained and mentored over 20 store managers
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Debi Rippe
General Merchandise Director
 Debi Rippe began her career in the college bookstore industry in 1983 in Hays, Kansas. From 1994 to 2001 Debi owned and operated the off campus bookstore at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. While raising her family, Debi managed the bookstore full time, attended the university, and earned her second degree. In 2001 Texas Book Company recruited Debi as the bookstore manager for St. Philips Community College in San Antonio, TX. Year 2006 brought Debi to The University of Texas at Tyler as manager of the University Bookstore. Debi was a consistent top-performing manager for TBC; earning Manager of the Year Awards for 2002-2003 and 2004-2005. Along with her stellar financial and used book performance record she also was a leader in merchandise selection and planning. In 2009 Debi’s ability to analyze current customer buying trends, market feedback, historical data, and drive financial results that maximize sales made her the perfect choice as TBC General Merchandise Director.
Expertise: Merchandise Planning; Trend Analysis; Merchandise Flow Strategies; Merchandise Presentation And Space Allocation; Multi-Unit Management Operations; Training and Personnel Development; Textbook Management; Campus Relations
Career Highlights: B.A. in Fashion Merchandising, Minor in Business Administration, Fort Hays State University; Consistent increased profit margins and strong, sustainable productivity gains through financial forecasting and process improvement strategies
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Anna Parks
Transition Manager
 Anna began her career in the bookstore industry in 1995 as a Training Manager for Border’s Books and Music opening new stores all across the U.S. She joined the college store industry in 2001 with Follett Higher Education Group. During her seven years with Follett, she was recognized for transitioning critical underperforming stores into top performers through staff development, building solid campus relationships, and intense focus on customer service and operational excellence. As a Regional Training Manager for Follett she coached and mentored new and underperforming mangers to success, and lead new store and new systems transitions. Anna’s store was chosen as a Training Store, where she successfully guided new store and textbook managers through an eight month training program. Anna joined Texas Book Company in 2008 as Transition Manager. Anna has a stellar financial and used book performance record. Her unique ability to assess training needs and adjust training methods and delivery, to accommodate the learning style of each employee is essential to the success of transitioning employees.
Expertise: Training and Personnel Development; Textbook Management; Campus Relations; Store Transition Implementation; New Systems Implementation
Career Highlights: Successfully opened six new Border’s Stores; Follett Values in Action Award, 2004, 2005 (2), 2006, 2007; Store Excellence Award, 2002-2007; Training Manager Award, 2006; Consistent increased profit margins and strong, sustainable productivity gains through financial forecasting and process improvement
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