School Specialty Names Stacey Rubin Senior Vice President of Marketing

Chicago-based Integrated & Retail Marketing Expert to Accelerate Company’s Brand-building and Digital Transformation Efforts


GREENVILLE, Wis. and LOMBARD, Ill., Sept. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO), home of the 21st Century Safe School and the leading provider of products and innovative services and solutions that support integrated learning environments for improved student social, emotional, mental and physical well-being, today announced the appointment of Stacey Rubin as its senior vice president of Marketing. She will report to Joseph M. Yorio, School Specialty’s president and chief executive officer and be based at the Company’s Lombard, Illinois office.

An awarding-winning retail marketing innovator with more than 30 years’ experience advancing the brand perception and business performance of blue-chip companies across a range of B2B and B2C categories, Ms. Rubin will be responsible for School Specialty’s omni-channel marketing, overseeing development of the brand strategy to advance its 21st Century Safe School value proposition, which is centered on fostering best-practice school environments that improve learning outcomes and enhance school district performance,  as well as supporting the Company’s sales efforts. In addition, Ms. Rubin will drive the Company’s data analytics, digital experience strategy, along with its loyalty and e-commerce platforms across B2B and B2C audiences. In this capacity, she will work with sales, merchandising, operations and technology leaders to accelerate growth through initiatives that drive stronger connections with customers to discover, engage with and purchase through School Specialty’s omni-channels.

“We are thrilled to have Stacey join School Specialty. She brings tremendous experience, energy, creativity, and team-building skills. Her addition to our management team is a major plus, especially at this critical point in our corporate evolution,” Mr. Yorio stated. “Over the past year, we made significant progress in advancing our 21st Century Safe School value proposition. Under Stacey’s leadership, we are well-positioned for greater growth in the days ahead. Her industry expertise and ability to help connect with customers is paramount to our future success. She will undoubtedly be an inspiration to our marketing organization and the Company overall.”

Reflective of her marketing expertise, Ms. Rubin was honored as one of the Path to Purchase Institute’s 2017 Women of Excellence, receiving the organization’s Leadership Award for being a woman who exemplifies success in the four categories of collaboration, innovation, leadership, and rising star.

“I am excited to be a part of the School Specialty team at this pivotal time in the Company’s growth; focusing on a brand that is well-respected for the quality of its products and services to educators, students and parents across the country,” Ms. Rubin said. “The opportunity to impact the trajectory of the Company’s 21st Century Safe School vision is one a marketer like me truly relishes. I look forward to collaborating with the Company’s leadership, partners and dedicated customer community to achieve this aim while also delivering meaningful business results.”

Prior to School Specialty, Ms. Rubin was a senior vice president at Epsilon Agency|Catapult, a global, data-driven marketing agency, where she led strategy and integrated marketing programs for Whirlpool, American Express, Kraft Heinz and Office Depot, among others. Before that she served as vice president of Marketing for Tribune Media’s Publishing and Interactive divisions. Previously, she was a senior vice president at Havas Chicago, driving new business, and served as senior vice president and management director at FCB Chicago, also handling new business as well as running the Circuit City, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, and divisions of the Mattel and Kraft accounts. Ms. Rubin began her career at FCB as a media planner and subsequently, worked at DDB and J. Walter Thompson, both in Chicago, as well as managing the popular Frequent Diners Program for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises before returning to the agency.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with highest honors, from the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty designs, develops and delivers a broad assortment of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace, including essential classroom supplies, furniture, educational technology, supplemental learning resources, science-based curriculum, and evidence-based safety and security training. The Company applies its unmatched team of subject-matter experts and customized planning, development and project management tools to deliver this comprehensive offering as the 21st Century Safe School, a concept built around best-practice school environments that support the social, emotional, mental, and physical safety of students – improving both their learning outcomes and school district performance.
For more information, visit https://corporate.schoolspecialty.com/ or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Find ideas, resources and inspiration by visiting our blog: https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Any statements made in this press release about School Specialty’s future financial condition, results of operations, expectations, plans, or prospects constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," “projects,” “should,” "targets" and/or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on School Specialty's current estimates and assumptions and, as such, involve uncertainty and risk. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of a number of factors, including the risk factors described in Item 1A of School Specialty's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws, School Specialty does not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contacts:
Glenn Wiener and Gus Okwu
GW Communications (for School Specialty)
Tel: 212-786-6011 / 212-786-6014
Email: gwiener@GWCco.com / gokwu@GWCco.com