Your Personal Experts
for Everything Book-Related
Karen Strauss has worked in publishing for more than thirty years and has held management and marketing positions at major publishing houses, including The Free Press, Crown, Random House, and Avon.
Karen founded Hybrid Global Publishing in 2011 to help authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs get their message out by writing and publishing a book. She offers publishing, distribution, and marketing services for organizations and individual authors. Karen is the author of Book Publishing for Entrepreneurs: Top Secrets from a New York Publisher and offers an online course called Publishing 101: Your Complete Guide from Idea to Published Author.
Karina Cooke started her career in Publishing as the Office Manager at Strauss Consultants after moving to NYC in November of 1999. In 2001 she was promoted to National Sales Director for Wholesale Accounts, covering sales for both Baker & Taylor and Ingram. In 2008, a year after the birth of her first child, her family got the opportunity to move to Austin, Texas, where they have been ever since. In 2017 she returned to books by taking the position of part-time Library Assistant and Substitute teacher at her children’s elementary school, where she enjoyed helping the Librarian create and run a variety of student enrichment programs. In June of 2022 she returned to working with Karen as Hybrid Global’s Project Coordinator, going full circle back to the industry she loves. In her spare time she enjoys reading a variety of books, camping in the beautiful outdoors with her three Scouts during the cooler months, and hanging out at secret swimming holes during the heat of summer.
Claudia Volkman is Hybrid Global’s Editorial Director. Claudia has spent her entire career in the publishing industry, from her early days on the staff of a bimonthly magazine and over eight years with a leading Christian publishing house working in special sales and product development. With forty years of experience in acquisitions, product development, editing, and typesetting, she now loves assisting all types of clients with their Editorial and Typesetting needs. A Chicago native, Claudia and her husband now reside in Southwest Florida with their two charming Corgis.
Joe Potter works as Hybrid Global’s Cover Designer. Joe has worked for years as an album designer in Newport Beach, California, and as a designer for Disney Creative in Anaheim, and now lives in Kansas. His design includes work for Dreamworks, Fender Guitars, Coca-Cola, BMW, Yamaha, Jaguar, Disney, Steinway & Sons, & Pioneer. JoePotter.com
Your Personal Expert For Everything Woof-Related
Izzy Strauss provides wisdom, wags, and winning companionship at Hybrid Global as our Honorary Mascot and Beloved Pup. Izzy is often seen around the Hybrid Global offices and greets our guests with a lot of happiness while also maintaining a professional work environment.
Izzy enjoys spending time with Karen, running through the grass at their house, cuddling, and of course stealing as many treats as possible!