Mary Burleson has retired after more than 23 years of distinguished service as President of Whitman Publishing, capping a remarkable 38-year career with the Anderson companies.
A native of Haleyville, Alabama, and an Alabama football fan for life, Burleson earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Alabama. She began her career with the Anderson News Company in 1986, rising through the ranks to lead Whitman Publishing in 2001. She played a crucial role in the recent acquisition of Whitman Publishing by CDN Publishing, ensuring a seamless transition and operational continuity for associates in Florence, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Throughout her tenure, Burleson expertly steered Whitman through several significant milestones, including H.E. Harris’ acquisition of Whitman Publishing from St. Martin’s Press, the relocation of company headquarters, the purchase of the formerly named Baltimore Coin Show, and navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she oversaw Whitman’s acquisition by CDN Publishing in November 2023.
In a heartfelt message to her colleagues, Burleson reflected on her time at Whitman: "Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives for the last 38 years. It has been a wonderful journey… I appreciate the years of support during the highs and lows of the business and leave with a heart overflowing with wonderful memories." She added, " … words like gratitude, thankful, happiness, indebtedness come to mind, but none can fully express how I feel about my years at Whitman."
Under Burleson’s leadership, Whitman released over 500 new titles and maintained the continuous updating and record-breaking sales of key standard references like A Guide Book of United States Coins and Handbook of United States Coins. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Whitman Coin & Collectible Expo, now Whitman Expos, as North America’s premier coin and currency show producer. Burleson was a familiar and respected presence at regional and national conventions and worked tirelessly with the American Numismatic Association, the U.S. Mint, and various organizations, writers, and researchers to advance the field of numismatics.
John Feigenbaum, President and CEO of Whitman Brands, expressed his gratitude for Burleson’s leadership, stating, "Mary has been a rock and leader for Whitman for so many years. We can’t thank her enough for her love and dedication to the organization and its people. One of the things I noticed and admired very early on was the fact that Mary treated every associate like family." He added, "Congratulations on a very successful career!"
In recognition of her contributions, Burleson was honored with the 2016 Elvira Clain-Stefanelli Memorial Award for Achievement in Numismatics and was named one of Coin World’s 100 Most Influential People in Numismatics in 2022.
As she embarks on the next chapter of her career, Burleson will rejoin the Anderson family in a leadership role at American Promotional Events, Inc. and continue her role as co-owner of KA Display Solutions, LLC. with her husband Bob Burleson.
About Whitman Brands
Formed from the 2023 merger of the numismatic publishing powerhouses of CDN and Whitman, Whitman Brands™ combines the revered titles of Red Book, Blue Book, 100 Greatest, Cherrypicker’s Guides, and an expansive line of folders, albums, and supplies, that have long dominated the retail landscape with the pricing and data-rich expertise of Greysheet, Greensheet, CPG, CDN Exchange, andthe Banknote Book.
Whitman Brands offers a comprehensive and rich coverage of collectibles, literature, cataloging and pricing, which embraces the heritage of numismatics and seeks to enrich the lives of all coin and paper money enthusiasts. As North America’s leading producer of coin and currency shows, Whitman Expos and its three industry leading events in Baltimore further enhance the brand portfolio and expand the company’s national reach.
She worked 38 years straight for one company. Now that is what I would call dedication.
High School photo or are mint employees just well preserved?
Regardless, congratulations are in order – our Gen X kids seem to change employers every couple of years!
DaveSWFL,
You read my mind; I had a hard time putting together such a young looking woman with all those years on the job. Congrats to her for sure!
You’re so right about the speed with which people change jobs these days, but to be fair, there were already lots of short termers especially among the younger folks even back in the day (mid-1960’s and onward).
I’ve been using the Whitman coin folders since 1967, 57 years. I realize they’re not the best but they work for me. I remember when they had half cents, large cents and three cents (silver and copper nickel) coin folders. I still have my silver three cents although sadly I’m not able to collect past 1862 for some reason. I’ve gotten all the other years and realized the journey is more enjoyable than the destination. A valuable lesson I’ve learned, thanks to the humble silver trime.
Thanks for that information about yourself Antonio. You’ve been at this awhile! Congratulations. Now a couple of photos of Silver trimes or Whitman coin pages are in order!