Heidi Macias has been appointed the new Region 6 (Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin) director for the Church Bookstore Network.

Manager of Books of Hope at Community of Hope Church in Rosemount, Minn., Macias (top) takes over from Heidi Bodette (below), founding manager of Daily Bread Books at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeview, Minn.

Books of Hope was named Small Church Bookstore of the Year for 2009 by Christian Retailing and The Church Bookstore magazines. Bodette was Church Bookstore Manager of the Year in 2007.

Church Bookstore Network President Geni Hulsey said that the transition was "bittersweet." Bodette's leadership in the region and training at The Gathering workshops would be "sorely missed," Hulsey said. Meanwhile, Macias would bring "an excellence to the table" from her involvement in the region, presentations at The Gathering and articles for The Church Bookstore.

"Heidi Bodette has been instrumental in helping church-based retail become established in the Minnesota area and beyond," said Dave Condiff, publisher of Christian Retailing and The Church Bookstore magazines.

"She has been a key factor in organizing regular regional meetings for stores to train and fellowship together," he added. "The great thing about her leadership is that she leaves a solid group of people who will work together to maintain the regular get-togethers without missing a beat.

"In Heidi Macias, stores in the area will have a great regional director to call on as needed. I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Heidi Macias for many years when I owned and operated my store in Minnesota. I look forward to working with her as we plan The Gathering 2010 in Louisville, Ky., next April."

For more information about the Church Bookstore Network and your regional director contacts, go to
http://www.thechurchbookstore.com/districts/index.html.