Staff
David Anderson
Advertising, Sponsor & Partner Development 
An import from Minnesota, David joined High Country News in March 2009. With 20 years of experience in marketing and sales and an upbeat personality, he helps keep our advertising pages filled. He enjoys a good game of golf, live music, and spending time with his family, including his wife Stevi and young son Skylar.
email: davida at hcn.org
Brian Calvert
Associate Editor
email: brianc at hcn.org
Cally Carswell 
Contributing Editor
Cally got her start in public radio before taking the print plunge as an HCN intern and editorial fellow in 2009. New Mexico-born, Chicago-raised, Cally spent her pre-HCN decades plotting her return to the Southwest. Happy to once again be a tiny dot in a big landscape, she writes and edit news and features for the magazine, mentors (and drinks beer with) interns, produces multimedia, and reads. A lot.
email: callyc at hcn.org
Sierra Crane-Murdoch
Contributing Editor
Sierra has lived in traveled in the West since 2011, as an intern, correspondent and now a contributing editor at High Country News. She has also written for The Atlantic. She covers health, culture, politics, and crime in rural and indigenous communities and returns frequently to North Dakota to report on the Bakken oil boom, which she first covered in HCN. She is a 2013 National Health Journalism Fellow through the California Endowment and a former Middlebury Fellow in Environmental Journalism. Her home base shifts regularly, though it is currently Berkeley, California.
email: sierra.murdoch at gmail.com
Andrew Cullen
Associate Designer
Andrew designs and photographs for the magazine. He previously worked as a newspaper reporter in Maine and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh and Mongolia, where he also launched a freelance photojournalism career. Outside the office, he can be found exploring by camera, bicycle, skateboard, or foot.
email: andrewc at hcn.org
Paul Gibb
Financial Advisor
Paul escaped Austin's corporate life for western Colorado in 2000. Since then, he has been helping small businesses & non-profits with their finances while enjoying the rural lifestyle of Paonia. Paul has consulted with more than a dozen organizations of varying size and at different stages in their evolution. Paul signed on as High Country News' Financial Advisor in 2002. When not crunching #’s, Paul chases around his twin sons and provides free labor to his wife’s organic farming operation.
email: pgibb at hcn.org
Sarah Gilman
Associate Editor
Sarah, a former High Country News intern, now edits and writes short news, profiles, infographics and features for the magazine. She also manages the HCN intern program. Before working for HCN, she bounced around the Rockies, studying white-crowned sparrows, reporting at a daily newspaper and working on a trail crew. Sarah enjoys weaving, hiking, running and painting. Her favorite tool—from her days carving out trails on the slopes of Mount Massive—is the double jack. These days, she's also especially partial to her 8-lb. maul.
email: sarah at hcn.org
Ben Goldfarb 
Editorial Intern
Ben Goldfarb is a native New Yorker who first made his way out west to kill invasive fish in Yellowstone National Park back in 2009. Since then, he's taught English and agricultural science in Thailand, advocated for environmental protection in Alaska, conducted forestry research in the urban jungles of the Bronx, and worked steadily as a freelance writer. He's thrilled to be honing his knowledge of the west, and the journalism business, with High Country News — although he's secretly in Colorado for the fly-fishing.
email: bengoldfarb at hcn.org
Emily Guerin
Correspondent
After finishing an internship and editorial fellowship, Emily Guerin decided she liked Paonia--and HCN-- too much to leave. Now she works as a correspondent for the magazine, writing shorter, newsier pieces from her home in one of Paonia's many fruit orchards. She enjoys mountain and road biking, rock climbing and ultimate frisbee. She also leads wilderness trips for the National Outdoor Leadership School.
email: emilyg at hcn.org
Jenny Hill
Classified Advertising Sales Assistant
It hasn't taken long for Jenny Hill, classified sales assistant, to think of HCN subscribers as family. Since joining the magazine in May, Jenny has worked diligently to find ads that intrigue our readers.
A Colorado Front Range native, Jenny has lived on the Western Slope for 11 years, working in veterinary clinics, medical service positions, and at a publishing agency. Jenny's overarching passion involves bringing people together, whether helping underserved communities access health care, or encouraging dialogue about divisive issues. In her free time, she's an avid gardener and Elks Club volunteer.
email: jennyh at hcn.org
Kati Johnson
Circulation Assistant
Since November 2011, our new circulation assistant, Kati Johnson, has been helping to fill the caverns of HCN’s databases with information. She’s also one of the friendly voices you may hear when you call our headquarters. The comforts of family and fast food from her hometown of Omaha, Neb., tug at her heartstrings from time to time, but as a Paonia resident since 2004, she loves the small-town convenience of living close to everything she needs. On a typical weekend, she’s playing cards and dice with her two teenage boys, Jonas and Noah, humiliating her husband, Ryan, at cribbage or reading a book.
email: katij at hcn.org
JoAnn Kalenak
Subscription Marketer
After many years at HCN working various positions including graphic designer and advertising sales manager, JoAnn now plans and executes subscription acquisition and retention campaigns. She is responsible for growing the number of paid print and digital subscribers to the magazine using various strategies, promotions and events. JoAnn has been in the publishing business since she was a skinny gal of 15 helping her dad with the family newspaper, Military Times. She moved to Paonia with her husband in 2002 and have enjoyed the uniqueness of life in a small community ever since
email: joann at hcn.org
Sarah Keller
Correspondent
After growing up in rural Maryland, Sarah made a leap to the West nine years ago for an undergraduate summer research program in Crested Butte, Colorado. She then earned a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in earth science. In her quest to connect science more directly with society, she's shifted to journalism, and last year obtained a science communication graduate certificate. As a 2013 HCN intern and fellow, Sarah wrote about a range of topics including energy, water and agricultural issues. Now she works as a correspondent for the magazine. Sarah is also a skilled and enthusiastic telemark skier.
email: sarahk at hcn.org
Gretchen King 
Community Engagement Coordinator
Gretchen is excited to hear from HCN readers and help them forge a stronger connection to the stories of the West. Her work here focuses on social media, syndication and website engagement. With a B.S. in journalism and Master's in professional communications, Gretchen has worked in the web world since 1992 (and knows this dates her to admit).
Raised on the Western Slope of Colorado, Gretchen has lived in Boulder, Indiana, Oregon and, most recently, Fairbanks, AK. In 2007, she moved to Paonia to open Revolution Brewing (www.revolution-brewing.com) with her husband, Mike. She loves any mountain experience, a good beer, yoga and spending time with her family, including her seven-year-old son, Riley.
email: gretchenk at hcn.org
Stephanie Kyle
Circulation Assistant
Though born in the Mid-West, Stephanie has lived in Colorado longer than anywhere else (29yrs) and considers Colorado her home. She is living the country life in the nearby town of Crawford with her husband Larry, youngest daughter Shelby and all their critters. Stephanie enjoys her work at HCN and in her spare time spends time with Larry doing whatever ranch work that needs to be done. Life is very good in rural Colorado.
email: stephaniek at hcn.org
Krista Langlois
Editorial Fellow
Before coming to western Colorado, Krista Langlois lived most of her life in wet places: the Northeast, Hawaii, Alaska, the Marshall Islands and New Zealand, to name a few. She's worked as a daily news journalist and copywriter; canoe, kayak and raft guide; trail-builder, teacher and part-time farmer. At High Country News, she's happy to be delving into the world of magazine journalism and deepening her understanding of the West. And while she's adapting well to an arid climate, she's still happiest when the rivers are running.
email: kristal at hcn.org
Paul Larmer
Executive Director/Publisher
After completing his internship in 1984, Paul went on to hold almost every possible position at High Country News. He is now responsible for working with the board of directors, drumming up funding and generally making sure the magazine is sailing in the right direction. He holds a Master’s Degree in Natural Resource Policy and worked for years at the Sierra Club. Every summer he plants a few crops on his small ranch in Western Colorado and pretends to be a farmer.
email: plarmer at hcn.org
Christine List
Development Assistant
New development assistant Christine List , who joined our staff in December, says the decision to move to Paonia, Colo., HCN's hometown, was a family affair. A Chicago native and longtime Northern California resident, Christine wanted to live in the same town as her daughter, Keaton, and her grandchildren. She brings years of experience as an education and litigation secretary, along with an unusual hobby: making glass beads. "I love playing with fire," admits Christine, who once belonged to a group of bead-makers called the Flame Dames. She's excited about helping HCN grow by encouraging reader contributions, especially via our monthly giving program, and she's looking forward to teaching her grandkids bead-making – as soon as she can get her hands on a torch.
email: christinel at hcn.org
Betsy Marston
Writers on the Range Editor
She may have edited High Country News for 19 years – longer than anyone else in the history of the publication – but Betsy insists the experience did not make her crazy. She currently edits Writers on the Range and writes the column “Heard Around the West.” She also delights in collecting quirky photos from readers and sharing them on the back page of the magazine. She describes herself as a “volunteeraholic,” and in no particular order, loves Paonia, biking back roads, reading the Sunday New York Times, and her grandchildren Maude and Bruno.
email: betsym at hcn.org
Kathy Martinez
Circulation Analyst
Since 1995 Kathy has worked her way up the ranks of the HCN Circulation Department from part-time office staff (applying labels to the newspaper when it was mailed from our Paonia office) to Circulation Manager. Kathy now concentrates on the various ways to crunch numbers needed to support HCNs' many endeavors. When not at HCN you can find her fishing and camping in the great outdoors or staying close to home gardening, cooking and being a grandma.
email: kathy at hcn.org
Denise Massart-Isaacson & Michelle Riley
Business Managers
Denise & Michelle are responsible for payroll, human resources, accounts payable and receivable, and general office management. Michelle also provides staff IT support.
email: denise at hcn.org, riley at hcn.org
Mike Maxwell
Associate Publisher
Mike joined HCN in 2009 as our Web and IT manager. Since then his role has expanded to Associate Publisher, now encompassing Circulation, Marketing, Sales, IT and the HCN business office. Mike, who has a B.A. in political science from the University of Colorado at Denver, has been in Paonia for seven years now with his partner, Thea Deley. Originally from Fort Collins, Colo., he's also lived in New Mexico and California, where he worked at an Internet start-up company. In his spare time, Mike enjoys really good wine, making satirical commercials, and running tech for local theater productions.
email: mikem at hcn.org
Judith Lewis Mernit
Contributing Editor
Judith Lewis Mernit is a contributing editor at High Country News who writes about energy and the environment from Venice, Calif. Her work has appeared in the American Prospect, the Atlantic Monthly, Mother Jones and Sierra Magazine.
email: judith.lewis.mernit at gmail.com
Jeremy Miller
Contributing Editor 
Jeremy Miller’s feature stories on education, politics, science and the environment have appeared in numerous publications including Harper's, Salon, Orion, Men's Journal and The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. In 2009-2010, he was a Middlebury College Fellow in Environmental Journalism. In 2011, he was a media fellow at the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University. For several years he worked as a high school science teacher in New York City. He holds a master's in science and medical journalism from Boston University. Follow him on Twitter @JeremyJ_Miller.
email: jjmiller1 at mac.com
Michelle Nijhuis
Contributing Editor
Michelle began her journalism career in 1998, as a High Country News intern, and has written for High Country News ever since. Michelle has also written for Smithsonian, National Geographic and Audubon, and won several national honors including an AAAS Science Journalism Award and inclusion in the anthology Best American Science Writing. A lapsed biologist, Michelle was once paid to chase tortoises through the Sonoran Desert; the tortoises usually won. www.michellenijhuis.com
email: michelle at hcn.org
Jodi Peterson
Managing Editor
In 2004, after 16 years as a technical writer, Jodi leapt out of the corporate world to intern with High Country News. A year later, she joined HCN as News Editor; she's now the Managing Editor, which means she oversees Web and magazine content, keeps an eye on budgets and schedules, and generally steers the editorial ship. When she's not in the office, she refuses to get within 50 feet of a computer. Instead, Jodi spends her free time backpacking, biking, gardening, reading, or rambling with her dog.
email: jodi at hcn.org
Alyssa Pinkerton 
Development Manager
For the first time in years, Alyssa is sitting behind a desk. Before coming to the magazine, she bounced around the country working at dude ranches and summer camps, where she did everything from leading creek walks to orchestrating tie-dye extravaganzas. Her duties now include working with the High Country News Board and administering the “Sustainers’ Club” monthly giving program. In her scant free time, she enjoys hanging out with her two kids, painting on oil and silk, and spending time outside.
email: alyssap at hcn.org
Ray Ring
Senior Editor
Ray has been writing about the West since 1979. He started freelancing for High Country News in 1985, did a stint as an editor in Paonia from 1994-1995, and has been back on staff since 2001, covering the Northern Rockies from his home base in Bozeman. He has won numerous awards, including the Sidney Hillman Foundation Journalism Award for his 2007 High Country News cover story “Death in the Energy Fields.” His favorite Western places include the Grand Canyon, Butte, Montana, Wyoming and any Mexican café.
email: rayring at hcn.org
Eric Strebel
Website Developer
Eric Strebel, our soft-spoken new Web developer, joined the HCN team Dec. 1. He’s been working with computers since 1978, when he got his first personal computer. Eric eventually developed his programming hobby into a livelihood. Prior to joining us, he freelanced and operated Mountain West Communication’s website for about a decade. Eric enjoys fishing, hiking in the mountains and perfecting his salsa recipe. He lives in nearby Hotchkiss, Colo., with Barbara, his wife of 32 years.
email: erics at hcn.org
Diane Sylvain
Copy Editor
Diane splits her time between painting – she’s an accomplished artist who sells her art all over Western Colorado – and making our prose sparkle. She sometimes draws illustrations for the magazine, too. She’s worked at High Country News since 1990. Her dad and brother have followed her to Paonia, where she lives in a century-old house with her exceptionally large cat, Gumbo.
email: diane at hcn.org
Doris Teel
Fulfillment Worker
Doris helps distribute direct mailings and issues of the magazine.
Jonathan Thompson
Senior Editor
Jonathan Thompson is a native Westerner with deep roots in southwestern Colorado. He owned and edited the Silverton Standard & the Miner newspaper in the tiny town of Silverton, Colo., and was the editor-in-chief of High Country News from 2007 to 2010. Jonathan and his wife and two daughters recently lived in Berlin, Germany for a couple of years. Most recently, Jonathan was a Ted Scripps fellow in environmental journalism at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
email: jonathanthompson70 at gmail.com
Christi Turner 
Editorial Intern
Christi Turner isn't just thrilled to be out West – she's pleased to be back in the United States. A Rhode Island native who studied international affairs at Lewis & Clark College, Christi spent over six years in Madagascar, where she founded a nonprofit, Atsika, that supports conservation and education. Madagascar also sparked Christi's journalism career: Her photos of rosewood smugglers played a small part in the international Environmental Investigation Agency's probe of the illegal lumber trade. "That was a big aha! moment for me, that my pictures could have an impact," she says.
As a student at CU Boulder's Center for Environmental Journalism, Christi edited the school's student-run environmental publication, the Boulder Stand, and enjoyed yoga and drawing with crayons. Her favorite stories involve snow, ice and wildfire, and she's excited to "join HCN's incredible nest of writers and come out flying."
email: christiturner at hcn.org
Cindy Wehling
Art Director
Cindy has been responsible for making the magazine look its best since 1990. She works with photographers and artists, and designs and produces most of the magazine. Cindy and her husband also work on the family farm, and are continuing to improve their Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house.
email: cindy at hcn.org
Tay Wiles
Online Editor
Tay Wiles comes to High Country News from San Francisco, where she did stints at Mother Jones, San Francisco magazine and Mission Local. She also co-founded a long-form photography and multimedia magazine for the iPad that published reportage from around the world. Tay now edits, writes and curates High Country News web content. She's a Colorado College graduate and a Maine native.
email: taywiles at hcn.org
Tammy York
Circulation Manager
Tammy grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, but set off for the West shortly after graduating from college. She's never looked back. She spent ten years in nearby Ridgeway, CO – where she says the wildlife is just incredible – before moving to Paonia in 2007. Tammy now ensures the safe delivery of the magazine to mailboxes everywhere. She manages our in-house circulation staff who provide friendly support to our subscribers, and works to keep them coming back. In her free time, she enjoys biking, playing the piano, baking sweets, and hanging out with her husband and kids.
email: tammyyork at hcn.org
