We recently chatted with our newest team members to learn more about their backgrounds, what excites them about joining Silverchair, and their advice for others in the industry. Here's what they had to say:
Scott Bouchard, Director, Business Development
Tell us about your background in scholarly publishing.I started as a typesetter at Le Jacq, a small medical publisher in Connecticut, back in 2004. That role quickly expanded as I helped build their early digital presence, developing a CMS, webinar platform, and peer review system alongside a great mentor. After Le Jacq was acquired by Blackwell Publishing before the Wiley merger, I spent almost 14 years at Wiley in various roles across project management, marketing, sales, and eventually product strategy for their publishing platforms and advertising technologies.
Following my time at Wiley, I did some consulting work helping publishers refine their go-to-market strategies and business development approaches. That experience broadened my perspective on industry needs and confirmed my desire to join a mission-driven team, which brought me to Silverchair. My career has been shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a deep appreciation for the publishing community.
What are you most excited about in the next 3 months?
I'm excited to get to know Silverchair's clients and platforms inside and out. I'm particularly looking forward to Platform Strategies 2025 and the upcoming conference season. There's a strong focus on innovation here at Silverchair, especially with the evolution of ScholarOne, and I'm eager to contribute to that momentum.
What's one piece of advice you'd give someone just starting their career in scholarly publishing?
Be outgoing, interested, engaging, and above all, empathetic. Relationships are everything in this industry. It's a small, interconnected community where reputation matters. Ask questions, stay curious, and genuinely engage with colleagues and customers. The ability to listen and understand perspectives is just as important as technical skills.
One rule that's served me well: avoid burning bridges. Paths tend to cross again, and early goodwill can take you far. Also, keep a notebook handy—you'll need it for all the acronyms.
Is there a particular project or achievement from your career in scholarly publishing that you're especially proud of?
I can't choose just one—each challenge feels significant until the next arrives. Over the years, I've guided strategies for advertising innovation, platform enhancements, M&A, and user-focused product development. I've built operational teams, improved interfaces, and cultivated strong partnerships.
What I'm most proud of is my approach: focusing on human-centered design, measurable value, and the change management needed for innovation. That's what builds trust and drives lasting impact. Every success has involved collaboration—I've always approached business development as both a creative challenge and a shared effort.
What drew you to join Silverchair?
Silverchair has always stood out for its clear purpose and reputation for platform innovation and client partnership. I've long admired both the product and the people behind it.
The industry is facing significant turbulence right now—concerns about research integrity, predatory publishing, changing open access models, market consolidation, AI's influence, and reduced research funding. In this environment, publishers need trusted partners who help them move forward without compromising their mission.
Silverchair's independence and client-led development model are among its greatest strengths. That independence allows the company to stay aligned with its principles and deliver the technology, service, and collaboration the industry needs most. For me, this is about doing meaningful work with the right people.
Ryan Ross, Solutions Engineer
Tell us about your background in scholarly publishing.I worked at the Health Sciences Library at UVA fresh out of grad school, and a few years later, in 2007, a grad school classmate convinced me to go to work for ScholarOne. I spent almost nine years there, working in implementations and client solutions. I met one of the co-founders of Overleaf at a ScholarOne user conference, and went to work there in 2016. I spent nine years there, first focusing on onboarding university customers, and later on I scaled up the support org. Along the way, I did a lot of “other duties as assigned.”
What are you most excited for in the next three months?
Having been with ScholarOne previously, I am excited to be working again with some familiar and friendly faces and have felt warmly welcomed. I’m excited that ScholarOne has found a good home within Silverchair and look forward acceleration in innovation that is already starting to happen.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone just starting their career in scholarly publishing?
Scholarly publishing is filled with curious, interesting, and interested people. Get to know your colleagues and professional contacts – they’re a really cool bunch.
Is there a particular project or achievement from your career in scholarly publishing that you’re especially proud of?
One relatively small accomplishment was that I helped initiate and manage a program to give anyone who wanted one a free premium Overleaf account during early Covid. What started as a small initiative resulted in over 30,000 people having access to premium accounts when their access to place-dependent resources was restricted. It was a project that took on a life of its own, and involved cooperation between every department. It was a small gesture to the scientific community during a difficult time, and it was unquestionably the right thing to do.
What drew you to join Silverchair?
I am lucky enough to have kept in touch with my colleagues from nearly a decade ago who still call ScholarOne home. After ScholarOne joined Silverchair, it wasn’t long before the right opportunity landed at my doorstep, and I jumped at the chance.
Welcome to Silverchair!
Silverchair is excited to have these accomplished professionals join our team and contribute to Silverchair's mission of empowering scholarly publishers with innovative technology and exceptional service. Their diverse backgrounds and shared commitment to the publishing community will undoubtedly strengthen our ability to serve our clients and advance the industry.Want to stay up-to-date with Silverchair news and insights? Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an update.