Becky Cook, CJE

Senior Art Director

Becky Cook, a senior art director at Pictavo, has pushed the leading edge in yearbook since winning a CSPA Gold Crown as editor at Salem High School in Virginia. 

She continued her work with yearbooks throughout her time at Emory & Henry College, where she studied mass communications and art education, as well as working with local middle and high school yearbook staffs and interning with their rep. 

Directly out of college, Becky served as a high school yearbook adviser, as well as teaching journalism and graphic design. As an adviser, Becky returned to CSPA conventions with her staffs and hosted yearbook workshops with other local schools.

Becky then joined the corporate world to spread the yearbook love, becoming a Certified Journalism Expert along the way. Now, she develops kit, swatchbook and digital curriculum resources, programmatic advancements and brand standards for the industry’s largest printing company.

Carolynn McCourtney

EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE

Carolynn McCourtney has been a guiding force in the printing industry for the 36 years she’s been with the company, rising from her first role as purchasing clerk to president and general manager. She’s grateful the company provided her unlimited opportunities for career advancement, including her current role as executive-in-residence where she coaches and guides through a pivotal transition to new leaders. 

Along her journey, she mastered technology to let systems do the work of scheduling and managing production operations from prepress to finishing. Her approach has always been surrounding herself with people with offsetting talents, attracting industry professionals who love yearbook and the company the way she does. Her leadership will bear the hallmark of the evolution of a company who wanted to get to know its customers, form enduring relationships and elevate to servant leadership. 

Carolynn lives the mantra of “everything you ever need to know you learn in yearbook.” She studied graphic arts, communication, sales and marketing and journalism because her high school yearbook adviser imparted her passion to her students. 

“She was passionate and taught us how to ask questions to get good information people wanted to read,” she said. “Both for newspaper and yearbook. Foundational things about how to write a story, putting the important facts first. She taught me to learn about people and what makes them who they are, to have respect for everyone, no matter their situations.

“I ended up somewhere I never thought I’d land,” she continued. “Back at home in yearbook. I get to be a part of this career with our advisers and staffs, and help carry out their visions. While I didn’t work for The New York Times, I had children. I learned you don’t have to be passionate about doing one thing, but you can love whatever do. I’ve loved everything I’ve done.”

Josh Swancutt

Art Director

Josh works as an art director, specializing in design and digital editing by producing innovative and instructional video and web content for all levels of yearbookers, from PTA volunteers to the most competitive staffers. Like all Pictavo’s experts, he discovered his love for visual communication as a go-to on his high school yearbook staff.

Josh said joining staff ignited his passion for photography and graphic design by giving him a platform and the tools to develop those skills. He said the ability to freeze emotions became an area of self-expression, shaping his creative identity and fueling his enthusiasm for these art forms.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in design and innovation management at Oregon State, while working as a photojournalist for its media network.

He now works closely with staffers to help them master the art of photography and content generation. He enjoys guiding the next generation of photojournalists by helping them explore their interests and passions through yearbook. 

Nelson Helm, CJE

Art Director, Publication Consultant

Nelson is an art director, curriculum developer and staff consultant for Pictavo. Starting yearbook on his middle school staff, he continued through high school and college, editing national award-winning books along the way.

After graduating, he worked in the journalism industry for Food Network Magazine and the Atlanta Journal Constitution before turning to his passions — printing and yearbooks.

Nelson has helped staffs create the books of their dreams. He enjoys sharing his passion by teaching at scholastic journalism conventions and engaging with young creatives across the country.

Jenny Atkinson

Vice President, Business Development

In her role, Jenny helps independent school photographers and yearbook reps build, expand and service their yearbook businesses with first-hand experience of their needs.

Jenny’s passion for yearbook started in middle school and continued when she served as editor-in-chief for two years at one of the most high-profile and award-winning high school programs in the country. She went on to earn a journalism degree from Virginia Tech.

In her professional life, she became a master of in-school photography and worked closely with yearbook staffs, at all levels, to create their publications and to meet their photo needs for more than 20 years.  

Now Jenny helps tailor services and offerings for creators at all levels and to the benefit of existing and new yearbook partners, as someone who’s been there. 

Wendy Myers

Yearbook Specialist

A veteran yearbook and school photography representative, Wendy combines her penchant for helping others with a passion for storytelling. Known for her resilience and persistence, she forges genuine connections by meeting folks where they live — understanding pain points and budget constraints as well as by keeping her word.

Like so many in Pictavo’s guru force, she works with students, advisers and even parents to help them build their books, create ads and convey the importance of yearbooks to buyers.

A former technology teacher and elementary yearbook adviser, she loves to offer an additional level of training and support to our staffs, and even some of our newer reps. Having rapidly built a territory of more than 100 accounts, Wendy takes pride in fostering a sense of community and excitement around the creation of one-of-a-kind yearbooks which celebrate shared experiences.

Steve Kent

Chief Marketing Officer

One of the most prominent voices in scholastic journalism, Steve Kent leads the world of yearbook innovation. While a publishing consultant based in Virginia, Steve’s family of staffs led the nation in earning Crowns from Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Pacemakers from National Scholastic Press Association.

He has taught thousands of students from coast to coast how to create the new kind of yearbook: Inclusive, relevant and coffee-table worthy. Steve’s always been at the forefront of innovation in the yearbook activity, from product development aspects such as new paper, cover and upgrade treatments to curriculum and design innovations affecting how staffers create the books themselves.

Steve authored the go-to playbook for content gathering, staff management, business planning and marketing, and holds its trademark. In addition, for more than a decade, he piloted a grid-based, modular formatting approach with staffs all over America, providing a faster spread creation process and a straightforward way to increase the number of students involved in meaningful content. He helps staffers discover buyers give us direction.