Co-Founder, Publisher

David is an award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator. He grew up on the East Coast as one of seven kids. He started early in publishing, producing his first book at age eighteen through a contest by Landmark Editions. Since then, he has worked as a graphic designer, instructor, author, illustrator, and creative director. Most recently, he was the publishing director for Familius where he helped the company become one of Publishers Weekly's 2018 Fastest Growing Independent Publishers. David was the General Management Outstanding Graduate of his BYU Marriott School class and was named a 2018 Publishers Weekly Star Watch Nominee. His favorite thing in life is being a husband and dad, because really, that's even better than donuts.

• Favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time
• Favorite Crayola crayon: Macaroni and Cheese
• Can't live without: Butter 

Co-Founder, Bookmobile Director

First and foremost, Stephanie is a mom to a wonderful boy named Tucker. For several years, she has worked as a preschool teacher and aid for kids with special needs. But Stephanie is also a warrior. In 2011, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). As a single mom, she worked her way through school and graduated from Fresno State with a degree in child development. Stephanie is also the author of over a dozen books for kids, including a bestselling regional board book series. In her free time, she loves to cycle, garden, decorate, and count her son's freckles.

• Outfit of choice: Sweats
• Can't live without: Boston Baked Beans 
• Would most love to meet: Sasquatch

Madden Champ

Tucker loves reading, football, and playing his favorite video game: Madden. He also has keen opinions on which illustrators Bushel & Peck uses for its books. 

• Favorite sport: Football
• Favorite pastime: Football
• Can't live without: Football

Sales & Marketing Director

Michelle Bayuk brings her life-long love of books and reading to a long career of helping put books into the hands of children. She has led the marketing efforts for numerous US publishers and organizations, including for the Quarto Group (US children's), Egmont USA, Albert Whitman & Company, and the Children's Book Council.

• Favorite book: Nope, nice try!
• Favorite Newbery winner: The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• Can't live without: Stories
• Favorite non-reading pastime: Walking with friends

Editorial Director & Head of Strategic Alliances

Ryan is the kid who developed lousy eyesight thanks to reading by flashlight under the covers way too late at night. After earning a Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing at Florida State University, Ryan went on to teach writing at several colleges and universities. These days, Ryan runs the Creative Writing major at Ringling College of Art and Design in addition to working as The Picture Book Doctor, a keynote conference speaker, a ghostwriter, and—time permitting!—a writer of their own books. After watching David’s fine work with Familius and then Bushel & Peck, Ryan teamed up with him in 2022 because they share a passion for making beautiful kidlit books that matter. Ryan’s favorite thing is being a dad to two terrific kids—even if they sometimes choose video games over Ryan’s books. 

• Favorite book: The Great Gatsby
• Organizes books: Autobiographically
• Can't live without: Root beer
• Favorite sports team: Chicago Bears

Managing Editor

Dean Burrell has been making books for more than 30 years, specializing in subjects ranging from lifestyle and self-help to art and design to memoir and fiction to food and craft. He honed his editorial skills by learning from the best, first at Harper San Francisco and then at Chronicle Books. He enjoys working with all team members, liaising between authors and clients, editors, designers, and print buyers. Above all, he adheres to a publishing philosophy that says every project begins with a vision. It’s this vision, clearly and succinctly defined, that drives each project to success. Dean was born in a small town in Upstate New York—the birthplace of Jell-O—and spent quality time in New Hampshire while attending college. After the startling realization that snowstorms are best enjoyed somewhere else, Dean fled the cold winters and settled in Northern California.

Author Concierge

Amber is new to publishing, but not new to loving books!  She has been a voracious reader for as long as she can remember, devouring books of all kinds whenever possible.  As a kid growing up in Portland, OR, Powell’s Books was her happy place, where she bought and sold stacks of books every few weeks to support her reading habit.  Over the last several years, Amber has had a number of careers, including summer camp director, doula, childbirth educator, database manager and homeschool mom.  In addition to working for Bushel & Peck, Amber is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling at Fresno State while trying to keep up with her two teenage children, three dogs and her husband, Jason.  When not reading, Amber loves hiking, paddle boarding and making music.

• Favorite food: BBQ, sushi, and French fries
• Can’t live without: Friends and music
• Favorite read-aloud book: The Book with No Pictures
• Guilty pleasure: Adventure novels

Contract Assistant

Nic is scared of snakes and ghosts. He grew up in a haunted house surrounded by snakes. Nic writes contracts for Bushel & Peck because David and Stephanie promised him there would be no snakes or ghosts at staff meetings (They only delivered on the snake part). He’s fluent in French and is a licensed attorney. When he’s not screaming about sports he writes books about magic. He’s the author of the award-winning children’s book The Girl and the Cathedral, The Worst Wizard series, and My First Book of French (with co-author Tony Pesqueira). He likes ice cream. 

Editorial Assistant

Glenn came to writing and editing after a career in the theatre, including multiple tours of the U.S. with a traveling Shakespeare troupe. He still reads plays and poems for fun. He teaches Creative Writing at Ringling College of Art and Design, while ghostwriting and script coaching on the side. He shares his home with a neurotic dog, a malevolent cat, and a few very large bonsai trees.

Editorial Assistant

Angela joined the Bushel & Peck team as an Editorial Assistant to Ryan Van Cleave in August, 2024. She is a published author-illustrator who spent her childhood days writing stories and doodling on the garage walls of her New Jersey home while enjoying summers visiting family in the Dominican Republic. After earning an MA in Instruction and Curriculum at Kean University and an MFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art University, Angela has been busy working on her own children's books as well as being an educator, curriculum specialist, and freelance developmental editor, writer, and illustrator for educational publishers. She's also been a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) since 2004. You can view her portfolio and learn more about her at www.angelapadron.com.

• Favorite book: The Story of Ferdinand 
• Can't live without: Dominican food
• Favorite pastimes: Collecting sea shells and playing baseball
• Future goal: To sing and record an album 
• Fun fact: I play the saxophone

Sleepy Stories App Coordinator

Johan Twiss is an award-winning author who is passionate about writing clean science fiction and fantasy stories that are not only exciting, but suitable for tweens, teens, and adults alike. He has over nine published works, including his award-winning novel, Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace, and the I Am Sleepless series. He is the recipient of the Lonestar.Ink Rising Star Award and was a finalist in the Screencraft Cinematic Book Competition.

Shipping Manager

Arenda is Bushel & Peck's shipping ninja. She manages the warehouse and shipments for all bushelandpeckbooks.com orders. She and her family live in California.

Customer Service & School Visit Coordinator

Nicholle handles customer service for Bushel & Peck and also works as the coordinator for all its author events and visits. She and her family live in California.