Our Staff

Beckie Karras is the founder and president of ElderSong Publications. Beckie started out as a music therapist working with older adults in nursing homes. She began writing materials while an activities director, which led to the publishing of her first book, Down Memory Lane, in 1985. Today she has 19 products in print. In addition to running ElderSong and developing new products, Beckie is the Director of Music at a local United Methodist Church, makes quilts, and plays the piano, guitar, and hammered dulcimer. She is married, with two grown children and four grandchildren.

Sue Hansen is part of the product development team at ElderSong, editing and proofreading ElderSong publications, as well as writing product descriptions for the catalog. She is the coauthor, with Beckie Karras, of Journey Through the 20th Century, writes the ElderSong Online Newsletter each month, and is the author of Famous Folks. Sue is a former high school English teacher and community college reading/writing instructor. Sue is married with two grown children.

Martha Lamborn has been part of the customer service team at ElderSong since 2007. She retired from county government and now divides her time between ElderSong, working as an office staff member at a Methodist Church, and attending live theater productions.

Phil Karras keeps our computers and other equipment humming, a job he's been doing for more than 20 years. Phil bought his first computer in 1983. A year later, his wife Beckie asked him to teach her how to use it in order to write a book. In 1985, on a borrowed daisy wheel printer, the first copy of Down Memory Lane was printed, and that was the birth of ElderSong Publications. By day, Phil is a database programmer. When not working, he plays the guitar, sings, and helps to entertain his grandchildren.

Sandy Yeroshefsky has been with ElderSong since 1997. She manages ElderSong's customer service and shipping operations, and is always happy to answer your questions. Sandy has a husband, two grown sons, and a daughter-in-law. She loves to tend to her garden, read novels, and take power walks with her dog Lilly.

Debbie Bankert joined the ElderSong staff in November 2009, as part of the customer service team. She worked for many years in banking. She is married and has two boys.