March 10, 2008: Winans Kuenstler Publishing, an independent publisher specializing in Book-Driven Branding®, has released the first in a new series of marketing how-to books aimed at professionals in the banking industry. “Conversations With Prospects: The first step to sales success,” by banking veterans and consultants Jack Hubbard and Robert St. Meyer (www.stmeyerandhubbard.com ), is both an inspirational and a practical guide to how traditional banks can successfully compete for commercial banking business in an increasingly crowded and commoditized marketplace.

Winans Kuenstler publishes books by entrepreneurs, thought leaders, professionals, small businesses, corporate branders, and anyone else seeking to tap into the prestige associated with authorship. Along with the publication of “Conversations with Prospects,” the company re-designed and re-launched St. Meyer & Hubbard’s corporate web site and negotiated publication of an extended excerpt as the cover story in the current issue of American Bankers Association Bank Marketing Magazine, a leading trade journal.

Co-author and St. Meyer & Hubbard President Jack Hubbard said the book has triggered a surge of traffic to its web site, and has already proven to be “a high-value, high-return investment in the future success of our company.”

“A book is the marketing collateral no one throws away,” says Foster Winans, Chief Creative Officer of Winans Kuenstler. “It confers authority on authors, opens doors, builds brand awareness, and can lead to a wide range of opportunities, from public speaking to business development.”

CEO Walt Kuenstler adds, “Our Book-Driven Branding® model provides a complete positioning and marketing package to authors overlooked by traditional publishing houses, or who want to get to market on a schedule they control.”

Elgin, Illinois-based St. Meyer & Hubbard is a leading provider to the banking industry of sales training, coaching, and management support. “Conversation with Prospects” targets bank relationship managers—banking’s frontline sales force. The audience for the second title in the series, “Conversations About Coaching,” due later this year, will be sales managers and executives.

Winans has written over 40 books, including his bestselling memoir, “Trading Secrets ” (St. Martin’s Press , 1986), and “The Man on Mao’s Right ,” ghostwritten for Random House, due this summer. Kuenstler has three decades experience in advertising and marketing, including stints with The New York Times , Playboy magazine, and a major web development firm.