Our Team

Staff

  • Michael Newton has been deeply involved in the operations of the Asbury Book Cooperative since February 2020, when he joined the steering committee that helped form ABC. Since then he helped shape ABC’s culture, policies, and programs. He is especially proud of developing and managing the used book section. He’s been the store’s general manager since May 2023. Michael writes fiction and his work has appeared in BOMB, In The Mood, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. He is formerly an associate editor at Zone Books and editor at Ugly Duckling Presse. He hosts ABC’s long-running Crime Book Club and the Lunar Flowers Poetry Club. Michael is married and has two dogs. 

  • Bio coming soon!

  • Bio coming soon!

Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of the Asbury Book Cooperative! This group of like minded people help keep this indie bookstore running in the bustling little city of Asbury Park. There are many ways to get involved at ABC, from selling books to organizing overstock, to helping at special events and outreach programs. Volunteers become part of a community of readers of all ages and backgrounds. It’s one of the things that makes our space so special.

JOIN US!

Board of Directors

  • An avid reader and book enthusiast, former Monmouth County summer resident, Allyson, and her husband moved to Allenhurst full time in 2021.  Retired from Social Work and a frequent customer at ABC, Allyson began volunteering in the bookstore and has not looked back!  In 2024, she assumed the role of Board President. Allyson continues volunteering in the store where she enjoys chatting with customers and sharing book recommendations.

  • Alan and his wife live in Interlaken, NJ.  After a long career in the retail world including stints with Macy’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Tommy Hilfiger, he has started a new job working in the Princeton University Advancement Office. In addition to a passion for all things literary, Alan has run 9 marathons and continues to enjoy running. He also loves a good concert! Alan began volunteering at ABC about a year ago and loves his interactions with the book store’s customers.

  • Ebony currently works as a Librarian and is constantly reading. She began her library work as a student worker during her undergraduate studies and decided to pursue librarianship after working as a Library Assistant in a public library. She enjoys recommending books and learning about new releases. Her favorite things to read are horror and literary fiction as well as anything in translation

  • Greg grew up in Memphis.  He has spent the last twenty-five years in Vermont as an undergrad, Dewey Beach as a doorman, Philadelphia as a tour manager, Manhattan as a stagehand, Uganda as a Peace Corps Volunteer, Queens as a law student, and Nashville as an attorney before recently moving to Asbury Park. He currently works as Vice President, Business Affairs for Wasserman Music. He is passionate about dogs, music, books, and Memphis.

  • Lorraine is a retired healthcare executive with over 30 years experience in operations, customer service, program management, and more. She resides  in Asbury Park with her husband. Since retirement, Lorraine has devoted herself to various activities and heartfelt causes. She is a book lover who also enjoys hiking, long-distance cycling and knitting. Almost as much as reading, she enjoys talking to other readers about books. Lorraine coordinates ABC’s Local Authors Program.

  • Books have always held a special place in Michael’s life.  His mother taught him to read at an early age and she always had money to spare when the Bookmobile came to town.  While others were stocking up on toilet paper at the outset of the pandemic, Michael was at ABC buying a bagful of books.   

    A graduate of Villanova University’s Honors Program, Michael favors biographies, classic novels, poetry and histories.  Along the way, Michael also managed to read a fair number of law books - he is an attorney who has represented several Asbury Park businesses.  

    While Michael believes that Asbury Park is a very special place, he cannot imagine an Asbury without a vibrant independent bookstore.   Michael is honored to serve on the initial ABC Board and is committed to giving his time, efforts and talents to this great undertaking.

  • Jackie has always loved bookstores. She began volunteering at ABC in 2022 and soon discovered that ABC is more than a place to buy books – it’s a community that reflects the energy and spirit of Asbury Park.  

    In her professional life, Jackie is a communications consultant and grant writer. Prior to going out on her own, she worked for Johnson & Johnson. She serves on the grant leadership team for Impact 100 Jersey Coast, a collective giving circle that awards grants to Monmouth county non-profits.  

    Jackie lives in Bradley Beach with her husband, daughter and Labrador. 

  • Kelly is a current Asbury Park resident and lifelong reader. She began volunteering at ABC shortly after arriving in town, and previously volunteered with organizations such as Girls Who Code and Women Who Code. In addition to her day job in engineering leadership, Kelly plays the keys in a band, participates in amateur powerlifting, and can frequently be found out for a walk with her new baby. 

  • Julie retired from a 30 year career in Investment Operations,  She worked for Prudential, Morgan Stanley, Price Waterhouse and New York Life.  She managed large groups that were responsible for transaction processing, client reporting, automation and streamlining of processes, and operational risk management.  Julie has an undergraduate degree in psychology from Drew University and an MBA in organization management from Rutgers University.

    Julie has been involved in volunteer work throughout her career and retirement.  She was a literacy instructor in NY and NJ for many years.  She was on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth Country (BGCM) from 2016 through 2018 and served as Secretary.  She was also a tutor at BGCM and ran the volunteer tutoring program for several years.  She loves to read, travel, and spend time with friends and family!

  • Bio coming soon!

  • Claire (they/them) is a social worker-turned-grant writer and lifelong reader, writer, and artist. After moving to Neptune in 2023, Claire began volunteering at ABC to meet new people and quickly fell in love with the place! Claire brings extensive experience in cooperative and nonprofit leadership to the board. In addition to their nonprofit career, they are a co-founder and former board member of the Rad Dish Cooperative Cafe and a graduate of the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance’s Cooperative Leadership Institute and Social Innovations 2023 Collective Impact Cohort. You can usually find Claire reading science fiction, thrillers, and literary fiction.

  • James Capozzi is the author of Devious Sentiments and Country Album, which won the New Measure Poetry Prize. His poems have appeared in Chicago Review, New Republic, The Iowa Review, Poetry, and elsewhere. He is an Associate Professor at Virginia State University.