CONSUMERS UNIFIED - Key Persons
Amy Martyn is a writer and investigative reporter now based in San Diego by way of Tijuana, BC, Dallas, TX and Los Angeles, CA. She primarily writes about how consumers, taxpayers and businesses are affected by corporate and government policies.
Job Titles:
- News Manager & Editor
- Writer and Editor
Christopher Maynard is a New York-based writer and editor who has worked as a security guard, high school teacher, theatrical lighting designer and volunteer fireman. He is a graduate of Marist College. He has performed writing and editing duties for Brainstorm Health Services and ConsumerAffairs and spends his spare time hiking, biking, and playing tennis
Job Titles:
- Contributing Writer
- Writer for ConsumerAffairs.Com
Daryl Nelson is a contributing writer for ConsumerAffairs.com. Before joining Consumer Affairs Daryl has written for Readers Digest, Townsquare Media, AllHipHop.com, The Urban Post, Impose Magazine, Crumbs for Men Magazine, and a number of other print and online publications. He's a native New Yorker, and attended both Virginia State University, and Medgar Evers College. He currently resides in the Washington D.C. area.
Job Titles:
- Home and Mortgage Journalist
- Journalist and Writer
Emily Moore is a journalist and writer who has been writing professionally for more than 10 years. She specializes in real estate writing and has worked with nationally known news organizations and companies. She has degrees in journalism and political science from Michigan State University.
Gary Guthrie is new to the ConsumerAffairs team. His main beats are technology and travel. Prior to ConsumerAffairs, he was a programming consultant for radio and TV stations in some 20 markets around the U.S., as well as a presentation developer for the likes of Jack Daniel's, Procter & Gamble, AT&T, and Columbia University.
"My deepest consumer belief is one that I take from Tom Peters - that the customer perceives service in their own terms." And Gary gives that angle as much sunlight as possible in his ConsumerAffairs pieces.
He received a B.S. degree in Communications from Murray State University. He lives in Louisville, KY, where he serves on the board at a refugee initiative and can be found rooting on the Bellarmine University Knights any time they're on the court.
"The Internet gives remarkable power to consumers but it affords even greater power to corporate interests, which is why it's essential to have sites like ConsumerAffairs.com to give consumers a voice and dig out information that's useful and illuminating to them."
A veteran Associated Press newsman, Limbach worked for more than 33 years in AP's Washington broadcast news center. He has covered Space Shuttle launches, Presidential elections, business and consumer news and medical stories.
Before joining AP, Limbach was news director of WAVA-AM/FM when it was one of three all-news radio stations in the then-hotly competitive D.C. radio market.
He and his wife live in the D.C. suburb of Prince William County, Virginia, and have several grown children. James volunteers regularly in soup kitchens, food pantries and other social services that provide aid and comfort to the downtrodden.
Jan Yager, Ph.D. is a sociologist, trainer, speaker, coach, and author of numerous nonfiction books on work and relationships and other topics including: Friendshifts, When Friendship Hurts, Work Less, Do More: The 14-Day Productivity Makeover, Creative Time Management for the New Millennium, Business Protocol, Road Signs on Lifes Journey, Victims, The Help Book, and 125 Ways to Meet the Love of Your Life as well as novels including Just Your Everyday People, coauthored with Fred Yager and her forthcoming debut solo novel.
Jans appeared on major television shows including Oprah, The View, and the Today Show. Shes taught at colleges and universities, most recently, the University of Connecticut. Jan is married to Fred, a communications executive and writer; they have two sons and one grandson.
"Most people are way too trusting, way too polite and not nearly inquisitive enough. If everyone spent a little time reading worthwhile history, science and journalism instead of listening to blowhards and con artists, the American middle class wouldn't be imploding quite so quickly."
A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Jim occasionally studied English literature but spent most of his time as a radio reporter and freelance correspondent covering the social meltdowns of the 1960s.
A serial entrepreneur, Jim founded ConsumerAffairs.com in 1998. A former Associated Press executive, editor and reporter, he has covered just about everything imaginable and a few things that seemed unimaginable until they happened. He is unduly proud of his many enemies.
He lives in the Washington, D.C., area and Sayville, N.Y., with his long-suffering spouse and two dogs, his children having grown up and moved far away.
Job Titles:
- Contributing Writer
- Writer
A graduate of New York Law School and Le Moyne College, Joan is an attorney who writes frequently about consumer issues. She is the author of ConsumerAffairs.com's Guide to Small Claims Court and has been published in The Washington Post, Better Homes & Gardens, Entrepreneur, and the American Bar Association Journal, among others.
Joan has been a Deputy County Attorney in Nassau County, N.Y., an Assistant District Attorney in New York City and has practiced law in Northern Virginia. She is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia bars and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Joan asks us to note that she has retired from practicing law to devote more time to her saxophone and no longer accepts new clients. She regrets that she is not able to respond to requests for advice or referrals.
Jonathan Hood is a New York City attorney who practices intellectual property law. He is also knowledgeable about consumer class actions and criminal defense.
Kristen Dalli is a New York native and recent graduate of Marist College. She has worked as a writer and editor for several different companies and publications, including Thought Catalog, The Oddysey, Thomas Greco Publishing, and several travel blogs. She's currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Non-Fiction at Fairfield University and spends her free time drinking lots of coffee!
"I think consumers need someone to listen to them and I find taking on that role to be very gratifying." Mark has written about consumer issues for ConsumerAffairs.com since 2004. Previously, he was a news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One Radio Networks and Marketwatch.com.
Robbie Miller Kaplan has traveled a long and interesting road to becoming a successful author. When she started writing career books, she had no idea she would eventually write about travel, social issues, loss, and grief. It's her personal experience and desire to make a difference that motivates her to help readers navigate life's challenges and opportunities.
Robbie is the author of nine books, including How to Say It® When You Don't Know What to Say, now available for ebooks and Kindle for Illness & Death, Suicide, Miscarriage, Death of a Child, Death of a Stillborn or Newborn Baby, Pet Loss, Job Loss, Caregiver Responsibilities, and Divorce. You can find Robbie on her Comforting Words website, www.wordsthatcomfort.com.
Job Titles:
- Columnist
- Pharmacist, Medical Writer, and Principal at Rx - Press.Com
Ron Gasbarro, PharmD, is a pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com.
Sarah Maier has been writing for ConsumerAffairs since 2021. As a freelance writer and editor, she has worked on a variety of publications, ranging from academic journals to social media posts. She has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of San Francisco.
"Consumers need to stand up, make noise and demand the service and product quality they are entitled to. This includes taking an active interest in politics and voting for candidates who don't move their lips when they read. Aggressive journalism and educated, civic-minded citizens are what made America great - not long-winded speeches, cable shouting matches, dumb political ads and celebrity gossip."
Truman is an old hand at covering news, interrogating politicians, cozying up to sources and slipping past police lines. After a youthful stint covering Mob activities and other war-like enterprises, Truman sought out more peaceful beats. He has been a bureau chief and correspondent in D.C., Los Angeles, Phoenix and elsewhere, reporting for radio, television, print and news services, for more than 30 years.
Now somewhat secretive and not eager to meet up with certain of his past subjects, Truman, who writes under a pseudonym, keeps mum about his personal life and eschews social media.
Zac studied Engineering and Sculpture at Dartmouth College and lives in Tulsa with his wife their beautiful son, daughter and a pet fish named Giacometti. His volunteer activities include the Children's Abuse Network and Lee School.
Previously, Zac was Entrepreneur in Residence at Mainsail Partners, a private equity firm in San Francisco. Prior to that, he was a Senior Associate and Associate at the firm. Previous positions included roles of increasing responsibility in engineering and sales at IBM and Hitachi.