Meet the Staff

We're asked all the time: Who collects the information for the database? Who writes the detailed descriptions? Who verifies the information? Who handles the business side of the company?

In case you've been wondering about the same things, we'd like to introduce the staff to you.

Gail A. Schlachter started Reference Service Press (RSP) when she was working in the library at California State University at Long Beach. With the help of her mother (who wrote out all the invoices because she didn't know how to type) and her children (who packed the books and carted them off to the post office), she issued the company's first financial aid title in 1978: Directory of Financial Aid For Women. Since then, under her direction, Reference Service Press has grown into the only publishing company in the United States specializing solely in the development of print and electronic sources of information on financial aid for specific groups, including women, minorities, the disabled, individuals interested in going abroad, and veterans, military personnel, and their dependents. She is involved in all aspects of the business--research, editorial, processing, marketing, and distribution. Long active in the library field, Gail has won numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions and was recently named the University of Wisconsin SLIS "Alumna of the Year." In her "spare" time, you can find Gail teaching her favorite subject (reference) at San Jose State University, helping to remodel the company's headquarters, and anticipating the time her four grandchildren (Hayley, Leah, Jacob, and Dina) can carry on the family publishing tradition. To e-mail Gail Schlachter: GailSchlachter@rspfunding.com

R. David Weber and Gail have been friends and colleagues for more than 40 years. Since 1988, David has been part of the Reference Service Press team, using his meticulous research and editorial skills to build, refine, and "clean up" RSP's database. He has done all this while teaching economics and history at East Los Angeles and Harbor Colleges, where he has been named "Teacher of the Year" every year since 1991. To email R. David Weber: editors@rspfunding.com

Martin Sklar, programmer par excellence and vice president of Automated Computer Composition, Inc. (ACCI), is the technical brains behind the project. We have yet to find a programming problem he can't solve. But, programming isn't his only passion. Golf and ferrets rate high on his list, too. To e-mail Martin Sklar: eproducts@rspfunding.com

Sandy Perez is the newest member of our team. She not only oversees the business side of the company, but coordinates the research activities as well. If you have a question about title availability, price, billing, or claims, check with her! To e-mail Sandy Perez: info@rspfunding.com

Sandy Hirsh has been with the company from the very beginning. She remembers when we used to photocopy, cut and paste, and type. Today, she's a whiz at the computer, can assign indexing terms practically in her sleep, and has developed an amazing dexterity, which enables her to feed her young children with one hand and data enter with the other. To e-mail Sandy Hirsh: editors@rspfunding.com

Eric Goldman has literally worked his way up in the company. He began by stuffing envelopes and packing books. Today, he's our legal and strategic consultant. To e-mail Eric Goldman: info@rspfunding.com

Stuart Hauser keeps the company moving. He's in charge of distribution, fulfillment, and financial planning for RSP. He does all this (in addition to his full time job as a telecommunications expert at a nearby research institute) as a labor of love...literally; he and Gail Schlachter have been married since 1986. To e-mail Stuart Hauser: info@rspfunding.com

Jay Hirsh is our technology consultant. He brings to the company a vast knowledge of computers, a can-do attitude, and an uncanny ability to see a solution long before we even know we have a problem. To e-mail Jay Hirsh: eproducts@rspfunding.com

Lastly, there's Laddie--the office dog. He's unbeatable in scaring off solicitors, greeting customers, and making us feel great. Now, if we could only teach him to enter data. . .

Please send your inquiries, comments, and suggestions to info@rspfunding.com.
Last modified February 1, 2008.