Adam Lerner began his publishing career in 1991, working for Barnes & Noble and a number of New York publishing houses. In the late 1990s, while working as a rights manager and director at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, he was instrumental in negotiating and contracting the film rights of the picture book SHREK to Dreamworks. Adam returned to Minneapolis in 1998 to take a leadership role within Lerner Publishing Group Inc. In 2001 he was appointed president and publisher and in 2007 became chief executive officer of Lerner Universal Corp.

Under Adam Lerner's leadership, Lerner Publishing Group enhanced its trade market presence through increased production, revamped designs, and focused publishing goals. Adam has overseen a 50% growth of annual title output and sales revenue over five years and the incorporation of two major acquisitions. He also strengthened Lerner Publishing Group's connections with the publishing industry by opening a New York City editorial office in the Empire State Building. Adam Lerner holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and currently serves on the advisory board to the university’s English Department. A current board member for the Minnesota Library Association Foundation and Milkweed Editions, he has also served on the boards of the Children's Book Council, Coffee House Press, and the Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable.

Harry Lerner, chairman of the board, was a GI stationed in Germany when he started publishing a guidebook, distributed by Stars and Stripes, for servicemen who wanted to purchase cars while serving overseas. The guidebook helped them select cars and provided information on traveling in Europe. When he returned to civilian life, Harry finished college and began publishing a magazine, Sporting Goods Journal. In 1959, he switched to publishing children's books with a series of medical books aimed at helping children through their childhood illnesses. This was the start of Lerner Publishing Group Inc., which today produces more than 350 titles per year.

Harry Lerner built his businesses through self-sufficiency. He started Muscle Bound Bindery Inc. in 1967 and purchased Interface Graphics Inc. in 1994 to support a fully integrated and independent publishing operation. Today Lerner Universal Corp. has about 200 employees and more than 3,500 titles in print.

Harry Lerner holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota. A founding member of the Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable, Harry has supported a variety of literacy organizations, including the Minneapolis Public Library, the University of Minnesota libraries, Books for Africa, and more. He was recently appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Advisory Council on Small Business and Labor.

Margaret Wunderlich, vice president and chief financial officer for Lerner Universal Corp., is responsible for treasury management and financial reporting. She also oversees operations at the Lerner Publishing Group Inc. distribution center.

Prior to joining Lerner Publishing Group in 1999 as vice president and chief financial officer, Wunderlich worked in retail merchandising and public accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Minnesota.

Michael Welsch started with Muscle Bound Bindery Inc. in 1993 as a production coordinator and worked in a variety of supervisory and leadership roles. He was appointed vice president in 2003 and president in 2004.

Welsch earned a bachelor's degree in technology from University of Wisconsin-Stout and has been an advisory board member for Hennepin Technical College.

Gary Hansen has served Lerner Publishing Group and Interface Graphics Inc. in various capacities since 1973. He was appointed president of Interface Graphics in 2000. Under Hansen's leadership the company has developed a reputation for technical expertise and effective integration of leading-edge production concepts for illustrations, photography, graphics, printed material and pre-press applications.

Prior to joining Interface Graphics, Hansen worked for Suburban Newspapers and Associated Litho. He attended the University of Minnesota and is a U.S. Army veteran.