Our host for the evening is Barb Roose, a popular speaker, author, and literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management. She speaks to audiences across the U.S. and internationally, including national platforms such as Aspire Women’s Events, the Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference, and the UMC Leadership Institute. A passionate Bible teacher, Barb serves on the (in)courage and Girlfriends in God writing teams and she is the author of numerous books and Bible studies. As host of the evening, Barb will help us celebrate the legacy of Christian publishing while inspiring the next generation of authors and publishers and agents to carry that mission forward.

The Kenneth N Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented posthumously to Robert Wolgemuth, who has had a remarkable impact on Christian publishing as an author, publisher, literary agent, and former ECPA board chair. He co-founded the publishing company Wolgemuth & Hyatt, and later founded the literary agency Wolgemuth & Associates. As an author of more than 20 books, selling over two million copies, Wolgemuth has received honors from the ECPA Gold Medallion program (now the Christian Book Awards) for five of his titles. Across four decades of service, Robert has shaped the industry through leadership, mentorship, and a steadfast commitment to serving the Church through publishing. His work reflects a deep calling to steward authors and the messages God has placed on their hearts.