Ali Trujillo
CEO
Ali Trujillo is the CEO and co-founder of White Finch Press, where he oversees the operations, finance, and production systems that drive the business and works with authors to bring their books to life. He brings this experience from six years as COO of Platypus Media and its Science, Naturally! imprint, where he built and managed systems for finance and production coordination. This includes collaborating with authors, proofreading, and Spanish language translation. Ali is passionate about crafting high-quality books that make every reading experience special.
Before joining Science, Naturally!, Ali worked in operations and finance across conservation, policy, and international publishing. At World Wildlife Fund, he managed contract processes for private-sector consultants and collaborated with clients and colleagues on conservation efforts. He later held a finance and operations role at the R Street Institute, a DC-based think tank. At Asia Pacific Offset, an international print brokerage firm, he worked on high-profile projects for institutions including MoMA, National Gallery of Art, and Oxford University Press, and traveled to Hong Kong to oversee production. Together, these experiences gave him a practical understanding of both the business and production sides of publishing which he brings to White Finch
Press.
Ali currently lives in Washington, DC.
Eileen Halpin
Senior Editor & Art Director
Eileen M. Halpin is a Senior Editor and Art Director at White Finch Press, where she brings together editorial, visual, and creative expertise to shape books from early concept through final production. She works closely with authors, illustrators, and the White Finch team to develop strong narratives, thoughtful design, and cohesive visual identities across a range of subjects and audiences.
With a background in both storytelling and visual communication, Eileen brings a collaborative and highly creative approach to bookmaking. Her work is grounded in the belief that a successful book should be engaging, purposeful, and visually compelling, with every element working together to create a lasting experience for the reader.
Outside of publishing, Eileen creates her own mythic stories and whimsical illustrations and enjoys reading with her new baby.
Sarah Cox
SeNIOR eDITOR
Though school papers were some of her most dreaded assignments as a young student, Sarah discovered her love of wordcraft during college. Now as a researcher and writer, she has the most fun when making complex subjects understandable. Sarah holds a BA in History and is passionate about adding historical elements to any topic. When she is not at her desk, Sarah enjoys gardening, baking sourdough, and playing the violin. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest.
Sarah has been working with Platypus Media for over five years, bringing her experience as a researcher, writer, and editor to a wide range of publishing projects. At White Finch Press, she is excited to continue helping authors bring thoughtful, engaging nonfiction to readers of all kinds.
Dia L. Michels
Investor
Dia L. Michels is an investor and longtime champion of thoughtful publishing, bringing over 25 years of industry experience to White Finch Press. She is the founder of Platypus Media and its Science Naturally imprint, where she has spent two decades acquiring, editing, and publishing books, and building the kind of author relationships that come from sitting on both sides of the table. An author herself, Dia has written or co-authored more than a dozen books, with translations spanning six languages, and speaks regularly at industry and education conferences across the country. She brings that full-spectrum view of publishing — from manuscript to market — to White Finch's mission of helping authors bring their own books to life.