2025 ASI Conference—Speaker Biographies
Connie Binder, Conference Chair and Moderator
Connie Binder has enjoyed the freelance indexing life for over 20 years. She is still somewhat amazed that she gets paid for sitting at home (or lying in her hammock) and reading/indexing great books. Experienced in indexing history, biography, sports, music, travel, children’s books, cookbooks, reference works, and revised editions, she cannot imagine a better life.
Connie Binder has enjoyed the freelance indexing life for over 20 years. She is still somewhat amazed that she gets paid for sitting at home (or lying in her hammock) and reading/indexing great books. Experienced in indexing history, biography, sports, music, travel, children’s books, cookbooks, reference works, and revised editions, she cannot imagine a better life.
Sam Arnold-Boyd
Sam began her indexing business in 2015 when she retired from a long and varied career as a teacher and librarian. She joined ASI and the PNW Chapter right away, getting to know other indexers and building her skills by volunteering to help with planning the chapter meetings. She continued to enjoy the role until a couple of years ago when she began the process of retiring from indexing. She’s now turning her attention to non-indexing pursuits but is excited about being part of this presentation as a swan song to support the growth of local chapters.
Sam began her indexing business in 2015 when she retired from a long and varied career as a teacher and librarian. She joined ASI and the PNW Chapter right away, getting to know other indexers and building her skills by volunteering to help with planning the chapter meetings. She continued to enjoy the role until a couple of years ago when she began the process of retiring from indexing. She’s now turning her attention to non-indexing pursuits but is excited about being part of this presentation as a swan song to support the growth of local chapters.
Michele Combs
Michele Combs is a freelance indexer and editor, with more than 25 years experience in indexing, editing, XML encoding, text massage, and data wrangling. She is Lead Archivist at Syracuse University’s Special Collections Research Center, and past president of the American Society for Indexing.
Michele Combs is a freelance indexer and editor, with more than 25 years experience in indexing, editing, XML encoding, text massage, and data wrangling. She is Lead Archivist at Syracuse University’s Special Collections Research Center, and past president of the American Society for Indexing.
Tanya Izzard
Tanya Izzard is an Advanced Professional Member of the Society of Indexers. She has been a freelance indexer since 2017, specializing in scholarly books in the humanities and in embedded indexing. She has written on indexing topics—including the use of AI—for the Society of Indexers blog and The Indexer, and has run workshops on the use of indexing software and other aspects of indexing practice. She serves on the Society of Indexers’ Executive Board as Marketing Director and is also a member of its Training Course Committee.
Tanya Izzard is an Advanced Professional Member of the Society of Indexers. She has been a freelance indexer since 2017, specializing in scholarly books in the humanities and in embedded indexing. She has written on indexing topics—including the use of AI—for the Society of Indexers blog and The Indexer, and has run workshops on the use of indexing software and other aspects of indexing practice. She serves on the Society of Indexers’ Executive Board as Marketing Director and is also a member of its Training Course Committee.
Shannon Li
Shannon Li (Li Indexing) began her indexing business in 2018 after completing the UC Berkeley course. She has a PhD in history, specializing in medieval monasticism, theology, and manuscripts. She serves in a number of volunteer positions with ASI and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Shannon Li (Li Indexing) began her indexing business in 2018 after completing the UC Berkeley course. She has a PhD in history, specializing in medieval monasticism, theology, and manuscripts. She serves in a number of volunteer positions with ASI and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cait Morgan
Cait Morgan completed the UC Berkeley indexing course in 2023 and joined ASI and PNW in 2024. She is co-treasurer for the Pacific Northwest Chapter. She has worked for the past 10 years as a counselor/advisor in higher education settings. She has found indexing to be a fun, fulfilling challenge and feels lucky to have discovered it. In her spare time you can usually find Cait outdoors or spending time with her two school-age kids.
Cait Morgan completed the UC Berkeley indexing course in 2023 and joined ASI and PNW in 2024. She is co-treasurer for the Pacific Northwest Chapter. She has worked for the past 10 years as a counselor/advisor in higher education settings. She has found indexing to be a fun, fulfilling challenge and feels lucky to have discovered it. In her spare time you can usually find Cait outdoors or spending time with her two school-age kids.
Richard Shrout
Richard Shrout served as a federal technical services librarian for both the Federal Trade Commission Library and the US Department of Justice library system for approximately 30 years. During that time (in about 1990), he began indexing books about WordPerfect software. He has years of experience indexing technical and social sciences trade and textbooks. About 10 years ago he discovered the possibility of indexing books on religious subjects. That brought name indexing and also scripture and ancient sources indexing to his attention. He is and has always been a full marker which lends itself well to name and also scripture (ancient sources) indexing. Richard has served ASI as a board member, as Treasurer, and as President. He was one of the founding partners of Potomac Indexing, LLC.
Richard Shrout served as a federal technical services librarian for both the Federal Trade Commission Library and the US Department of Justice library system for approximately 30 years. During that time (in about 1990), he began indexing books about WordPerfect software. He has years of experience indexing technical and social sciences trade and textbooks. About 10 years ago he discovered the possibility of indexing books on religious subjects. That brought name indexing and also scripture and ancient sources indexing to his attention. He is and has always been a full marker which lends itself well to name and also scripture (ancient sources) indexing. Richard has served ASI as a board member, as Treasurer, and as President. He was one of the founding partners of Potomac Indexing, LLC.
Natalie Silver
Natalie L. Silver is a book coach, editor, and writer who has worked in the publishing industry for two decades. She operates Silver Scribe Editorial Services and maintains the blog Natalie L. Silver: Reflections on Life and Work. She specializes in nonfiction, including trade and self-published books, academic journals and dissertations, and project management within publishing. Outside of her business, Natalie enjoys reading, traveling, watching sports, and attending Broadway musicals. You can find her on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky (@natalielsilver). You can also reach her on her website.
Natalie L. Silver is a book coach, editor, and writer who has worked in the publishing industry for two decades. She operates Silver Scribe Editorial Services and maintains the blog Natalie L. Silver: Reflections on Life and Work. She specializes in nonfiction, including trade and self-published books, academic journals and dissertations, and project management within publishing. Outside of her business, Natalie enjoys reading, traveling, watching sports, and attending Broadway musicals. You can find her on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky (@natalielsilver). You can also reach her on her website.
Lisa Sorenson
Lisa Sorenson is the current Program Chair and Co-Treasurer for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of ASI. She has been indexing since 2023 after completing the UC Berkeley indexing course. Lisa's specialties are technical academic texts, covering a wide range of subjects, and she has also had the opportunity to venture into religion and military texts. Before becoming an indexer, Lisa worked for many years as a chemist in both academic and research fields.
Lisa Sorenson is the current Program Chair and Co-Treasurer for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of ASI. She has been indexing since 2023 after completing the UC Berkeley indexing course. Lisa's specialties are technical academic texts, covering a wide range of subjects, and she has also had the opportunity to venture into religion and military texts. Before becoming an indexer, Lisa worked for many years as a chemist in both academic and research fields.
Lila Stromer
Lila Stromer is a mild-mannered academic and nonfiction copyeditor who found herself having to learn how to advocate for herself at her state level (New York) and at the federal level as bills/legislation and regulations that would harm her business were being written/passed. And then she learned about harmful legislation in other states. That’s how the Freelancer Dispatch newsletter was born. She’s following her mother’s advice about life: Tell people when they’re stepping on your toes. Her goal is to teach others that advocacy for freelancers not only isn’t scary—it’s essential.
Lila Stromer is a mild-mannered academic and nonfiction copyeditor who found herself having to learn how to advocate for herself at her state level (New York) and at the federal level as bills/legislation and regulations that would harm her business were being written/passed. And then she learned about harmful legislation in other states. That’s how the Freelancer Dispatch newsletter was born. She’s following her mother’s advice about life: Tell people when they’re stepping on your toes. Her goal is to teach others that advocacy for freelancers not only isn’t scary—it’s essential.
Devon Thomas
Devon Thomas has been a freelance indexer since 2006. Her work includes traditional back-of-the-book indexing and embedded indexing in InDesign, XML, and Microsoft Word. Devon indexes in a wide range of topics, with an emphasis on the humanities, but enjoys books from many subject areas.
Devon Thomas has been a freelance indexer since 2006. Her work includes traditional back-of-the-book indexing and embedded indexing in InDesign, XML, and Microsoft Word. Devon indexes in a wide range of topics, with an emphasis on the humanities, but enjoys books from many subject areas.
She is the current International Representative for ASI, as well as a past-President and board member. Devon is also an instructor for the UC Berkeley online indexing course. In her spare time she cooks, gardens, and dances ballet and tango.
Pilar Wyman
Pilar Wyman, chief indexer and consultant, Wyman Indexing, has been writing indexes and providing related services for over 32 years. Currently, she is the leader of the ASI Digital Publications Indexing Special Interest Group (DPI-SIG) and Regional Sales Manager, USA/Canada for Index-Manager. She is a past president of ASI and a founding member of the Institute of Certified Indexers (ICI). Pilar works in English, Spanish and French in clinical medicine, health, technology, and other areas of personal interest. She has published numerous articles and other works on indexing and gives presentations and training workshops as time allows. More on Pilar at wymanindexing.com.
Pilar Wyman, chief indexer and consultant, Wyman Indexing, has been writing indexes and providing related services for over 32 years. Currently, she is the leader of the ASI Digital Publications Indexing Special Interest Group (DPI-SIG) and Regional Sales Manager, USA/Canada for Index-Manager. She is a past president of ASI and a founding member of the Institute of Certified Indexers (ICI). Pilar works in English, Spanish and French in clinical medicine, health, technology, and other areas of personal interest. She has published numerous articles and other works on indexing and gives presentations and training workshops as time allows. More on Pilar at wymanindexing.com.