GINA - Key Persons
Ashley Keegan is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer, virtual assistant, and social media specialist. She has worked with LaGuardia Media since 2016, contributing to BELLA NYC Magazine in print, and crafting web, e-mail, and social media content for numerous clients including 5arch, BankPurely, Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs, and Sundance® Spas.
She also acts as Gina's go-to gal for any odd jobs and loose ends that inevitably arise. (GL's edit -> She's the best!)
In addition to her work with LaGuardia Media, Ashley curates and writes about a wide variety of products (i.e., window shopping for the greater good) for AskMen and BestGifts.com.
Dawn Allcot is a full-time freelance writer, editor, and social media marketing consultant with close to 20 years of experience writing for print and online. Working closely with GLES, Dawn's current and past client list includes such websites as Amex OPENForum, YahooJobs!, EcoOutfitters.net, SeniorLiving.net, The CollegeBound Network, and more.
A former magazine editor, Dawn specializes in creating content to help small business owners generate leads and enhance brand recognition. She writes about a broad range of topics, from personal finance and parenting to home remodeling, health, and green living. She prides herself on being able to make any topic fun and accessible for nearly any audience. Applying this skill, she frequently writes for technology companies and audiovisual technology trade magazines. She also manages social media for a number of firms, large and small.
Dawn Papandrea is a freelance writer, editor, and content specialist with more than 15 years of print and online journalism and custom content experience. She's been a senior editor with GLES since its inception, and worked alongside Gina on the editorial team of The CollegeBound Network for 14 years.
Dawn specializes in personal finance, careers, higher education, real estate, and lifestyle topics. Her publishing credits include Family Circle, Parents, WomansDay.com, CreditCards.com, Amex OPENForum, and many more. In addition, Dawn creates branded content on behalf of clients ranging from Walmart to Experian to Samsung.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Writer and Editor
Diane Franklin is a freelance writer and editor who has worked on the GLES team since 2013, writing about business, employment, healthcare, and senior living topics. She has served as one of two lead writers on OurParents.com, a website that helps families with aging parents find the best senior care solution for their loved ones.
Diane also has written hundreds of articles for business and trade publications, including leading magazines for the credit union and retail paint industries. She also writes press releases and marketing proposals, provides content for websites and blogs, manages social media programs, and provides editing services for projects ranging from single-page sell sheets to full-length books and manuscripts.
Job Titles:
- Professional Freelance Writer, Editor
Elizabeth Weiss has been a professional freelance writer, editor, and web content developer for over 10 years. She's been with the GLES team for more than a decade and, in that time, has edited and proofread hundreds of pages for print and online publications.
Elizabeth has written articles, blog posts, press releases, and all manner of promotional materials in subject matter ranging from parenting to education. She is a contributing writer to BeachsideeRehab.com and has written in the past for GL accounts, SeniorsForLiving.com, Mint.com, and The CollegeBound Network, with features appearing on MSN, AOL, and Yahoo HotJobs.
Elizabeth has an MFA in creative writing from George Mason University and a bachelor's degree in English and communications from Saint Francis University. She believes that one of the most important elements of a business is an eloquent mouthpiece, and that every good or service deserves to be presented through competent, creative writing, both online and offline.
Job Titles:
- Journalist
- Online Columnist for Parade
Janene Mascarella is a New York-based lifestyle journalist. She is the Beauty Director of BELLA NYC Magazine, a GLES client that produces a highly popular women's service magazine in New York City. She has also contributed to Mint.com, Parent Society, and SeniorsForLiving.com as part of past GLES projects.
Janene also serves as a weekly online columnist for Parade magazine, and has had her work published in a variety of publications, including The Washington Post, Newsday, CNN, Cosmopolitan, Self, Glamour, Health, Cooking Light, Women's Health, Scholastic Parent & Child, Woman's Day, Parenting, Parents, Family Circle, American Baby, Weight Watchers, Working Mother, Fodor's Travel, USA TODAY, AOL, AOL Travel, and many others.
Janene enjoys tackling a wide range of lifestyle topics, from baby care tips to far-flung trips and everything in between.
Freelance writer (and absolute deadline junkie), Jarrod Thalheimer has spent more than 15 years creating entertaining and effective content - cross-platform - throughout North America. His work has appeared in such cool and interesting places as BellaNYC, MSN, AOL, Q Magazine, The CollegeBound Network, BestoOfTheWeb, Off Centre Magazine, OK Arts and many, many more.
An honors graduate of UCLA's creative writing program, Jarrod has written and produced numerous short stories, several stage plays, and even a few movie scripts. He is also the creator of AdFool, the weekly, cult-fave column that sliced and diced all-things advertising for more than six years.
Along the way Jarrod also found time to design a few crazy apps, promote an ITF pro-men's tennis tourney, and even executive produce an independent film or two (Chariot and Zero Charisma). And he managed to do all this while still remaining a somewhat satisfactory husband to his amazing wife and (fairly good) father to their five children. He will sleep when he's dead…..
Kara Wahlgren is a full-time freelance writer based in South Jersey, and has been writing for GLES since 2008. She specializes in personal finance, health, and entertainment coverage.
After graduating from Rutgers University with degrees in Journalism and Communication, Kara worked on-staff as Deputy Editor of Twist magazine. Her work for GLES has been published on AOL, MSN, Chase, HotJobs, and SeniorsForLiving.com.
She currently writes the monthly entertainment section for Penthouse magazine, and has also written for Huffington Post, Glamour, Marie Claire, New Jersey Monthly, Women's Health, and a variety of teen magazines and photography websites.
A viral marketing guru, she specializes in creating engaging and share-worthy blog content for clients.
Linda Abbit is a California-based freelance writer, editor, and eldercare content specialist who joined the GLES team in 2015.
Spending over 10 years as sole family caregiver for her parents, Linda was inspired to share caregiving lessons learned with her friends and fellow baby boomers, "because no one teaches us how to be caregivers!" This led to the creation of her award-winning blog, TenderLovingEldercare.com, in 2007 and kick-started her freelance writing career.
She also serves as a contributing writer for the online publication, SeniorPlanet.org, and works as a marketing consultant for several in-home care and assisted living facilities in California.
Linda has a BS in Education from Adelphi University in New York and an MS in Education from Lesley College Graduate School in Boston.
Lori Johnston is a former Associated Press writer and magazine editor who contributes daily to newspapers, magazines, and websites. She has nearly 20 years of print and online journalism experience, working closely with editors, photographers, art directors, graphic designers and social media divisions, to create compelling content.
Working with Gina LaGuardia Editorial Services, Lori has produced pieces on a diverse lineup of topics, from tips on applying to college, paying for school, and enjoying college life via The CollegeBound Network, to making human resources professionals and job seekers more savvy with blog posts on FindTheRightJob.com. Through her partnership with Gina, she also has contributed stories on personal finance, careers, small business strategies and even senior adult health to a range of websites including AOL.com, Mint.com, Experian.com, ReadersDigest.com, and Amex OPENForum.
Melissa A. Kay is a writer, editor, and content strategist with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing field in the areas of family, beauty, health, employment, lifestyle, and more. She is an active contributor to P&G's website, PGEveryday.com, Pampers.com, Understood.org, DailySyndrome.com, The Employment Network, and a variety of additional lifestyle- and health-related sites.
Melissa lives in Manhattan with her loving husband and inspiring cat, and enjoys reading, fitness, cooking, music, and the amazing experiences New York has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Writer, Editor, Social Media Strategist
A writer, editor, social media strategist, and senior care content specialist, Michelle Seitzer joined the GLES team in 2008 and became a full-time freelancer in 2010.
Spending her early career years in senior housing and Alzheimer's policy opened many writing doors in that niche: Michelle's GLES work has been published on AARP.org, ReadersDigest.com, USNews.com, and she has had thousands of articles appear on SeniorsForLiving.com and other related sites. As part of her social media management duties for a GLES client, she co-moderates #ElderCareChat on Twitter, a consistently well-attended forum that has hit trending status several times since its launch in November 2010.
Though senior care is her area of expertise and greatest passion, Michelle has written and edited branded content, blog posts, feature-length magazine articles, company profiles, and more on a wide range of topics.
During her 10 years as a freelance writer and editor, Nancy LaFever has published thousands of magazine articles, blog posts and web pieces on the topics of fine crafts, emotional health, business, humor, popular culture and issues affecting baby boomers/seniors. She is currently a lead blogger for GLES' SeniorsForLiving.com, has written for GLES on The CollegeBound Network, BELLA NYC Magazine, the American Express OPEN Forum and ReadersDigest.com.
Nancy's work has also appeared on Orbitz.com, Huffington Post, FoxBusinessNews.com and The Crafts Report magazine, where she was a senior columnist for three years.
Robyn Tellefsen has been part of GLES since its inception, performing research analysis, copywriting, editing, copyediting, and proofreading for Online Degrees magazine, Learning magazine, BELLA magazine, SeniorsForLiving.com, EcoOutfitters.com, ClassesUSA.com, and others.
As a contributing blogger for ParentSociety.com, Robyn pitched and developed first-person narratives and informative slideshows on the topics of parenting and marriage. She has also served as one of two lead GLES writers for OurParents.com, a website that helps families with aging parents find the best senior care solution for their loved ones. In addition, she is a contributing writer and editor for a variety of other GLES accounts.
Robyn is also a freelance copy editor and proofreader for textbook publishers, educational technology companies, advertising agencies, and individual authors.
In her 12-year tenure as a writer and editor for The CollegeBound Network, she ran a variety of departments and features for national and regional issues of CollegeBound Teen magazine and SUCCEED magazine, and conceptualized, reported, and produced weekly education and career content for The CollegeBound Network's suite of sites. Robyn has a bachelor's degree in communications from Wheaton College (IL).
Susan Johnston has a decade of experience writing, researching and developing content. She has written for numerous GLES clients, including American Express, The CollegeBound Network, Epson, Experian, and many others.
Susan's specialties include articles about personal finance, small business and lifestyle topics. Her articles have appeared in TheAtlanticCities.com, The Boston Globe, Bankrate.com, Learnvest.com, Parade Magazine, Self Magazine and others. She's also a weekly contributor to the money section of USNews.com and has live-tweeted conferences and other events for clients and under her own Twitter handle.
Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Boston University and a Certificate in Writing for Professional Communication from Emerson College.
Job Titles:
- Freelance Graphic Designer
Suzanne Vidal is a freelance graphic designer who has been working with Gina LaGuardia Editorial Services (GLES) for many years. With more than 20 years of experience in the design industry, she has developed a strong background and superior skills in media arts, as well as a keen eye for leveraging smart design to meet goals and objectives.
Working with GLES, Suzanne has worked on a variety of projects, including print design, website design, banner ads, email blasts, PowerPoint presentations, and more.
Suzanne also works at Casa Belvedere, The Italian Cultural Foundation as the Director of Development. In this role, she is involved in marketing, donor relations, managing fundraising initiatives, and special events. She works closely with the team to design and develop marketing material and strategies for all programs and special fundraising events. She also maintains the organization's website and social media presence.
Vicki Salemi is a New York City-based multimedia career expert, speaker, author, and journalist, and a frequent contributor to BELLA NYC Magazine, a GL Editorial Services (GLES) client that produces a popular women's service magazine in NYC. She's contributed to SeniorsForLiving.com and ParentSociety.com, and previously served as a regular contributor to CollegeBound Teen Magazine and ClassesUSA. She also served as ClassesUSA's national spokesperson. She's been with GLES since its inception and penned her first byline for Gina in the late 90's.
Vicki also writes a column for Metro newspapers and contributes to Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and The New York Post. She is Mediabistro's resident career expert and pens the MediaJobsDaily blog on a daily basis and created and hosted a show for them called Score That Job.
She is the author of Big Career in the Big City and The ABC's of College Life. Vicki previously worked for 15+ years in corporate HR and recruiting while moonlighting as a journalist; inspired to share her wisdom with the masses, she walked away from corporate life to pursue multimedia endeavors and speaking engagements/consulting projects to organizations, companies, and campuses about the inside scoop from the hallowed halls of HR.