Brent Mayes and Thomas R. Harris, the owners of Lead Winds, have a giant goal – to change the textbook industry and lower the price of textbooks for students. 

"From working in higher education and from our research, we have seen how students struggle with the high cost of textbooks," said Harris. "Studies have shown that about two out of three students have skipped buying a textbook because of the cost, even when they knew it would hurt their grade."

Lead Winds seeks to solve these problems.

Lead Winds provides an online platform that provides chapter-by-chapter access to the written textbook, the audiobook version of the textbook, instructor-led videos, videos of students sharing tips, study notes for each chapter, and numerous other items.

The cost is $35 per student. And, if a college or system makes it inclusive, as part of the tuition, the price is even lower.  

"This product is designed to meet the student's needs academically and financially. It fits visual, aural, verbal, logical, and solitary learning styles. And, it is accessible on all devices, so the materials travel with the students and are present when needed," says Mayes.

"One of the factors that separates Lead Winds from traditional textbooks are the learning resources that you do not find with most textbooks," says Harris. "We also break down the material to fit the YouTube generation better."

Currently Lead Winds has two textbook platforms available for the coming Summer and Fall semester, English Composition and Public Speaking. However, they already have additional subjects in development for a 2019 release.

Both Harris and Mayes will be at the Conference on College Composition & Communication in Kansas City, Missouri, later this month.

Mayes and Harris have worked in a variety of roles in higher education. Mayes has served as both a two-year and four-year college instructor for multiple English and Communication courses, and in administration (coordinator, dean, and VP), accreditation, and as a board member.

Harris taught video production at a community college, taught multiple subjects in the K-12 setting, and has worked in institutional effectiveness and accreditation.

As for the name Lead Winds, Harris says it refers to the change they hope to bring.

"Wind is powerful, and it's a force of change. We hope to be a leading wind of change for the textbook industry, to drive down prices, and to make quality content more affordable for students."