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Managing Editor Jessica Santina	Jessica Santina joined Family Pulse as Managing Editor in October 2010. She is also the owner of Jessica Santina Writing Services, a full-service writing and editing firm, as well as former associate editor of Family Pulse and former editor of RLIFE Magazine. Jessica grew up in Atlanta and attended Emory University, where she earned a bachelor of arts in English in 1994. In 1996, she moved to Reno to attend the University of Nevada, Reno where she completed a master of arts in writing. Her professional experience includes 7 years' experience in local television production and promotions; teaching writing, literature, and communications courses at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Phoenix; and 8 years as a self-employed freelance writer and editor. Her writing has been published in numerous local and regional publications, e-zines, websites, collateral pieces, and online direct marketing sites.
Jennifer Baumer	Jennifer Rachel Baumer lives and writes in Northern Nevada. A desert rat at heart, she's happiest running in the heat, climbing foothills and writing about Nevada and its people, places and events. A freelancer for 13 years, she's written about Nevada and its people and economy, and has recently added Family Pulse's “Click!” and “Ready, Set, Go!” sections to her byline. She's been associate editor of RLife magazine and was Northern Nevada editor of Nevada Woman for several years. Jennifer is the owner of Ink Communications, a full-service writing agency based in Reno, and spends rather a lot of time convincing the furry, cat-shaped muses to get off her desk so she can work.
Heidi Bethel	Heidi Bethel is a graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism at UNR. She has spent much of her life traveling and living in very diverse areas including Wisconsin, Costa Rica, Indonesia and good ol’ Sparks, Nevada. She discovered her passion for writing at a very young age and has been hooked ever since. Her love for life and all of the great things in it are her inspiration and she looks forward to each and every journey that lies ahead.
Susan Botich	Susan M. Botich is a freelance writer who loves the arts, nature and family. She lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon, with her inventive, entrepreneurial husband, and very close by to their multi-talented, good-humored son.
Sue Edmondson	Sue Edmondson has two parallel careers, one as a writer and the other as a lawyer. As a lawyer, she spent 19 years as lead juvenile prosecutor, and now works for the Family Court. Her writing work includes freelancing for newspapers and magazines, and writing fiction. She's sold several short stories, and like most writers, has a novel in the works.
Nicole Francis	As a partner at Raintree Financial and a mortgage advisor, Nicole Francis has provided thousands of families with innovative debt strategies to create and preserve wealth throughout her 10 years as a mortgage professional. Her commitment to client education is focused around the importance of a mortgage to build wealth and plan for future financial needs. She can be reached at Nicole@raintreefinancial.com.
Tim Hauserman	Tim Hauserman wrote "Tahoe Rim Trail: The official guide for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians," as well as "Cross-Country Skiing in the Sierra" and "Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking with Children." He teaches cross-country skiing and directs Strider-Gliders, the after-school kids' ski program at Tahoe Cross-Country Ski area in Tahoe City. He writes frequently about whatever strikes his fancy.
Wendy Nason	Wendy Nason has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a master’s degree in speech communication and a master’s degree in marriage, family and child therapy. She loves her jobs as a family counselor at The Ridgeview Group, a writer for Family Pulse, and a group counselor at The Center for Hope of the Sierras.
Charles Nemitz	Charles Nemitz is a Nevada native and graphic designer who likes nothing more than to doodle and color – almost compulsively. He's a graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno's Reynolds School of Journalism. He lives in Reno with his wife Mary and his daughters Katie and Joanna. He is currently the senior designer at Calculated Industries in Carson City.
Emilio Parga	Emilio Parga is the Executive Director of The Solace Tree in Reno. He is a speaker for The National Association of the Education of Young Children and is a member of National Alliance for Grieving Children. He has written five books for children and teens, and his books, "Love Never Stops" and "I Will Never Forget You," are being translated into Spanish and Japanese this fall. Learn more at www.SolaceTree.org.
Karen Simmons	Karen Struffert Simmons is a mother, teacher and writer who spent a number of years living in Reno. As a child, she always wanted to be labeled "the quiet, thoughtful one," but because of impulse control issues, that never quite worked out for her. Her inability to keep her thoughts to herself manifests itself in our monthly "Worst of Wisdom" column. Because, let's face it, if you can't laugh about parenting, there's got to be something wrong with you.
Jeanne Walpole	Born and raised in northwestern Montana, Jeanne Lauf Walpole moved to Nevada after receiving a degree in education and foreign languages from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. During her career, she has taught high school Spanish and geography, co-owned several gaming establishments and worked as an editor and freelance writer. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. She has been a contributing writer for a variety of publications over the years and the author of six editions of the travel book, “Insiders Guide to Reno and Lake Tahoe,” published by The Globe Pequot Press. Community service has played an important part in her life as she has taken an active role in numerous organizations and boards, such as the Crisis Call Center in Reno. When not researching or writing she can be found in the backcountry hiking or backcountry skiing with her significant other, James, and their Chesapeake/Labrador retriever, Koko.
Jeanne Walpole	Born and raised in northwestern Montana, Jeanne Lauf Walpole moved to Nevada after receiving a degree in education and foreign languages from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. During her career, she has taught high school Spanish and geography, co-owned several gaming establishments and worked as an editor and freelance writer. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN. She has been a contributing writer for a variety of publications over the years and the author of six editions of the travel book, “Insiders Guide to Reno and Lake Tahoe,” published by The Globe Pequot Press. Community service has played an important part in her life as she has taken an active role in numerous organizations and boards, such as the Crisis Call Center in Reno. When not researching or writing she can be found in the backcountry hiking or backcountry skiing with her significant other, James, and their Chesapeake/Labrador retriever, Koko.