About Us
The Professional Editors Network is a nonprofit association of editors, writers, proofreaders, indexers, and other publishing professionals. For members, we provide opportunities to develop and share knowledge, exchange job leads, market services, and grow professionally. For those looking to hire, our searchable member directory is an easy way to find the right editorial professional for you. We are based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but have members located throughout the United States and beyond.
We offer free professional development events monthly from September through May online and at locations in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs, with start times generally alternating between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. Any nonmember is welcome to attend up to two of these meetings before joining as a member. In addition to unlimited attendance at PEN meetings, membership unlocks access to an archive of audio, video, and reference material for meetings on a wide range of topics going back to 2010. We host casual networking happy hours on a more variable schedule (currently on hold due to the pandemic), fully open to both members and nonmembers, as well as occasional one-off events such as paid workshops and webinars.
Browse our calendar to learn what’s coming up—and if you’re a member, be sure to attend our annual planning meeting to have your voice heard as we plan out the next season’s programming.
PEN is a member of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and a proud partner of the Twin Cities Literary Calendar.
Board of Directors
Renee LaPlume, President
Renee presides at board meetings and ensures that board resolutions and directives are carried out in coordination with other board members.
Renee Nelson, Secretary
Renee receives membership payments and prepares reports of new and renewing members. She also calls special meetings when requested and takes minutes at board meetings and the annual meeting.secretary@pensite.org
Erika Zabinski, Member Registrar
Erika maintains the membership database and notifies members before their membership is due for renewal. She also keeps PEN’s records of member volunteering.
membership@pensite.org
Madeleine Vasaly, Marketing and Social Media Liaison
Madeleine manages PEN’s website and social media feeds. She also drives overall marketing and outreach, plans happy hour events, and coordinates and runs online meetings.
Lynn Varon, Managing Editor
Lynn coordinates the production of PEN’s member newsletter, Networking News. She solicits articles from members, reviews content in collaboration with the newsletter copyeditor and proofreader, and maintains the editorial calendar.
Eden Kaiser, Event Coordinator
Eden oversees the planning of PEN’s professional development meetings and other programming in coordination with volunteer meeting organizers and other members of the board.
Tia Ross, Volunteer Liaison
Tia finds, coordinates, and documents PEN volunteers. She keeps track
of members’ interests and contacts them when opportunities arise.
Volunteers
- working on our newsletter
- moderating our members-only email list
- planning monthly meetings
- posting on PEN social media
- staffing the PEN table at local literary events and workshops