KAL Publications, Inc. –
Meet the Staff

Kathy Laderman — Editor

Greetings! I'm Kathy Laderman, President of KAL Publications and Editor of O&A Marketing News and Automotive Booster Magazine.

We were incorporated in 1992 in the State of California and, with the help of our stockholders, published our first magazine in June of 1992.  However, the magazines we publish have a long history; the Booster was established in 1928 by the Automotive Booster Club of Los Angeles, a club of auto parts salesmen.  The O&A Marketing News was founded in 1966 by Don McAnally, a former newspaper journalist.  We carry on the tradition, publishing each magazine seven times a year, each with its own unique blend of photos, news and industry gossip.

I've been a professional journalist since 1987 and love the constant challenges involved: tracking industry news, educating and informing our readers, seeking out ways to help everyone improve their business, and working with our customers, readers and staff.  Okay, it's a lifestyle, not a job, but I never was a nine-to-five type.

When I'm not on the job, I enjoy singing competitive barbershop with my chorus, Harborlites, which earned the 2005 and 2008 International Chorus Championships. Check out our show schedule and hear some harmony.

Karen Laderman — Administrator

Hello. I’ve been the Administrator for KAL Publications since 2005, though I've served as a Member of the Board of Directors, outside consultant and contractor since the company formed in 1992. Small businesses being what they are, as Administrator I wear several hats:

I think you get the idea!

When I joined KAL Publications as full-time staff in June 2005, I had been Kathy's sister for over 30 years. I live in a small condo in Anaheim, CA. and I sing in the 2005 and 2008 International Champion Harborlites Chorus with the rest of the staff. I also serve as editor of Golden West Magazine, the official publication of Golden West Region 21 of Sweet Adelines International.

When I’m not worrying about press deadlines and chorus rehearsals, I like to indulge my other hobbies: golf, home arts, and taking the world’s cutest niece and nephew to Disneyland.

Doreen Philbin — Sales Manager

Hi! I’m Doreen Philbin, the Advertising Manager, and I look forward to working with you to meet your advertising needs with KAL Publications. I have a background that's peppered with a little bit of everything: marketing, teaching, homeschooling, public speaking, singing, and even a brief stint stuffing computer boards with a soldering iron!

I am a graduate of the University of Southern California -- Fight on! I have two bachelor's degrees, in English and Communications -- so I'll try not to dizzy you with my astounding command of the English language. I was General Manager and a clarinet player in the Trojan Marching Band, where I learned lots of colorful idioms as well!

I started my career at USC, first coordinating events for the the university’s alumni, and then managing the School of Pharmacy’s Postgraduate Education program. From there, I moved into the computer industry during the heyday of the software and “dot com” boom. I was a marketing manager for ten years with a computer products distributor, and at one time, I managed accounts that represented 50% of our company's software revenue. After that, I spent about a year traveling back and forth between our Toronto office and El Segundo, where I helped to train both marketing departments on a new software system to run our business. I racked up a ton of frequent flyer miles in those days...

I left the working world to be a stay-at-home mom around the time that my giant computer products distribution company went from 3,000 to about 300 employees in the space of a year or so. I took several years enjoying the world of “domestic engineering,” and then I re-entered the working world with KAL Publications in 2007, so here I am!

I’m married to my soul-mate, Brian. I have a grown stepdaughter, Becky, whom I’ve known since she was three, and Brian and I have a daughter together, Jennifer. We live in the South Bay with our cat, dog and Beta fish (but no more hermit crabs... don't even ask about the hermit crabs). Brian works for American Honda.

Both Brian and I are heavily involved in barbershop singing. Brian sings bass in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s International Medalist quartet, Metropolis, and I am the front row captain of two-time world champion Harborlites Chorus in Anaheim. I coach choruses in showmanship, and I sing on my church's praise team as well.

I hope to help you grow your business through our publication! Call me!