Cathy Alessandra
Publisher/Editor
My name is Cathy Alessandra. I am a wife, a mother of three, and the creator of What’s Up For Kids, LLC. What’s Up For Kids was founded in 1995 based on the need of finding information about local events and activities – all in one place. What started as a 4 page newsletter and 1000 copies has grown to a 32 page full color glossy magazine with a print count of 20,000. (You can read my full story by clicking here!)
As a parent, I am here to help you find the resources you need in an easy to use format. As a business women, I am here to help you with all your marketing needs.
Thanks for reading!
P.S. Are you interested in publishing your own What’s Up For Kids magazine? Opportunities are available! Contact me today for all the details!
Cindy Donnelly
Sales Representative
Cindy resides in San Pedro with her husband of 20 years, and their two daughters ages 15 and 4. Having grown up in the South Bay, she is happy to be able to raise her family here and feels fortunate to have so many choices of activities, camps, classes and recreation.
For over 14 years she has worked with Cathy at What’s Up For Kids and especially enjoys helping local businesses connect with parents through our magazine and events. Cindy can be reached at cindy@whatsupforkids.com.
Ann Gambrell
Column Writer, Quick Tips for Organizing
Ann Gambrell is an organizational consultant, helping busy people to get organized since 1985. She motivates audiences with her special brand of whit and sensitivity. They feel an immediate rapport with Ann as she inspires them with her sense of humor and unique organizational methods and techniques.
Ann is the originator of Creative Time-Plus, and conducts seminars,workshops and classes throughout the country. As an instructor in the adult school systems since 1985 she teaches classes on Paper Management,Clutter Control, Home Organizing, Time Management and more. Ann presents programs to business, social, religious and family groups and associations with emphasis on their specific organizational situations. Her programs are educational, humorous, stress relieving, realistic and most of all practical. She also facilitates Clutter Support Groups for those with serious clutter challenges. She is a member of the NSGCD the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.
Ann is a founder and active member, of the National Association Of Professional Organizers, established in 1985 with members around the world, and a member of their Golden Circle. She has received numerous awards for service to the association and profession. Ann has written articles for newspapers, magazines and Internet services nationally. As an organizational consultant, Ann has received publicity in numerous periodicals and has been a featured guest on national television programs.
Her cassette tape and CD series relate to a variety of organizational topics including paperwork management, clutter control and kitchen organizing. Contact Ann Gambrell at (310) 212-0917 or gambrellann@aol.com. Ann has many classes coming up. Click here for information on the Fall adult school class schedule and here for information on her Clutter Support Groups.
Michael Malgeri
Column Writer, On Dad’s Watch
Michael lives in Redondo Beach with his wonderful wife and their beautiful children, the stars of “On Dad’s Watch.” He makes a living in the software industry and pursues writing in between fun family events.
Along with “On Dad’s Watch,” Michael believes there’s a need to teach young people about the morality and practicality of Capitalism as well as provide them with an alternative perspective on environmental issues. His books on these topics can be found at www.kids4biz.com.
JJ Flizanes
Column Writer, Health and Fitness
Credentials and accolades follow the name of JJ Flizanes wherever it appears and for good reason. J.J. is “America’s Guilt Free Trainer” and the creator of world-class fitness programs and routines, such as the Foundations Program for the New York Sports Club and Invisible Fitness™. What sets J.J. apart from her Celebrity Fitness counterparts lies in her anatomically centered routines, which protect overworked and aging joints from catastrophic failure.
Named by Elite Traveler Magazine as their 2006 Global Black Book pick of Best of the Best Personal Trainer in Los Angeles, J.J. has been lauded by Shape Magazine as one of the top 6 fitness trainers in 2003.
As a leader in innovative exercise, J.J. is not only certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), but also served as a Continuing Education Provider. J.J. launched her professional career in 1996 as the Foundations Director for the New York Sports Club, where she designed curriculum and in-house certification for new and previously uncertified fitness trainers. With a focus on Biomechanics, J.J. has lectured for The Learning Annex and as a featured speaker for New York Times Best-Selling Author of The Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Ecker’s Peak Potentials seminars as well as some corporate clients including Pacific Gas and Electric, Hanson Engineering, and Jostens Inc.
A favorite of journalists and the media for her depth of knowledge and vibrant personality, J.J. has been featured in many additional magazines including Muscle and Fitness HERS, Elegant Bride, Fitness Magazine and E Pregnancy Magazine to name a few. Her television appearances include LA’s KTLA, CBS and NBC. A published author, J.J. is a contributor to the book Inspiration to Realization.
In June of 2009, J.J. launches her most challenging and exciting program to date: the 6 Week Beach Body Program, in which candidates take on creating a new body and lifestyle for life. Invisible Fitness offers personal training, fitness coaching, corporate programs , workshops and seminars. For program details, please contact the office at 1.800.571.5722 or at www.invisiblefitness.com.
Karen Murphy
Column Writer, Family Friendly Travel
Karen Murphy has been involved in the travel business for over ten years. As a young adult she traveled extensively in the US, Caribbean and Mexico. After having a family of her own, she has continued that love of travel and exposing her children to the world around them. She takes great pride in creating memorable experiences for other families with close attention to detail and to customizing the experience for each family. Whether it’s a Disney Cruise to the Caribbean, a working ranch in Montana, captivating Hawaiian Islands, an adventure in Alaska, or a step back in time with Europe – she will create a memorable vacation to last a life time!
Karen can be contacted at Karen.mu@travelstoreusa.com or 310-750-9413 work 310-922-6902 Cell.
Erin Kurt
Featured Home & Family Writer
Erin Kurt, B.Ed., discovered her passion for studying families when she herself was a child, interviewing her friends’ parents and siblings to learn more about their family life. Throughout her education and years of experience, Erin became an expert on child development, child psychology, family counselling, and methods of improving children’s self-esteem and learning capabilities.
Erin has been a teacher and a nanny in five different countries. She’s worked with children of all kinds – at all ages, at every socio-economic level, with all kinds of personalities, some with disorders and some with family issues – and through this experience, she discovered that she used the same four steps over and over again to transform the kids she was working with. Erin turned these four simple steps into a full-scale, easy-to-implement system for transforming kids into children who want to behave, be kind, respectful and considerate, and who are incredibly happy and self-confident, while also creating a harmonious, beautiful family life. Visit Erin’s web site at www.erinparenting.com to learn more about her live events and teleseminars, and to subscribe to her weekly e-zine for moms.
Nancy Newcomer
Featured Food Writer
Longtime Santa Barbara radio personality, Nancy Newcomer is a food blogger and an accomplished cook & creator of simple, healthy meals made from fresh, organic ingredients. With an emphasis on gluten free fare and local farmer’s market bounty, her Facebook food blog, “Back to the Kitchen: Healthy Living with Real Food” is followed by people in over 22 countries. She is a contributor to several publications and websites including Santa Barbara Dining & Destinations, Today’s Innovative Woman, Empoweradio.com, and HealthRadio.net. On Nancy’s new website, she expands on her blog, shares recipes, shopping tips, dialogues with her fans, and continues to advocate cooking “real food “ recipes and sit down family dinners. Visit her at www.nancynewcomer.com, or on Facebook: Back to the Kitchen: Healthy Living with Real Food.
LaShanda Maze
Featured Home & Family Writer
LaShanda is the Community Liaison Officer at Counseling4Kids(C4K), a nonprofit organization that provides health and healing to abused and neglected children and youth in the foster care system. LaShanda works within the South Bay community to raise awareness and funding for the organization so that they may continue to offer needed therapy and mental health services for children placed in foster care. Counseling4Kids’ licensed therapists travel all over the South Bay and the entire Los Angeles County providing a unique “clinic without walls” approach of in-home therapy that is beneficial for the child. A mother of two boys herself, LaShanda provides practical advice for parents that draws from the professional advice C4K therapists provide. For more information on programs and services or to get involved by volunteering or donating please visit www.counseling4kids.org or contact Lashanda@counseling4kids.org; (310) 817-2177 ext. 219.
Kari Doody
Featured Home & Family Writer
Certified etiquette trainer Kari Doody, owner of Courteous and Cool etiquette School here in the South bay, is teaching kids, tweens and teens manners for the modern world. As a mother of three children, she understands the daily issues we all face as parents. The world may be constantly evolving but , but the basic principals of etiquette still hold strong and true. For more information visit courteousandcool.com.
Phoebe Schilla
Featured Food Writer
Chef Phoebe loved cooking from an early age growing up outside of Portland, Maine. Her mother and aunt were accomplished self-taught cooks who welcomed curious Phoebe into their kitchens. From tapping her own maple syrup from trees in the yard to baking homemade bread, Phoebe learned at an early age about the delicious benefits of whole, natural, seasonal foods.
After high school, Phoebe traveled to France where she studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Upon returning to the States, Phoebe worked in the New York restaurant scene and attended the Culinary Institute of America. After graduating from CIA in January of 1999, she moved to the Bay Area and worked in the catering industry and the wine industry. In 2004 she fulfilled her long term dream of becoming a private chef and having a direct impact on how people eat.
In 2005, Phoebe lost a good friend to a long-term illness, and the experience prompted her to look at her culinary gift through a new lens. While she had always understood intuitively how wellness and nutrition were linked, she realized that she could use her passion and skills to convey this value to the larger community.
“Cooking is a great way to teach yourself patience and forgiveness,” says Phoebe. “We should all learn how to cook healthy food for ourselves and not feel overwhelmed by the process. I want to help people learn the basics and not be afraid to experiment because that’s how we’ll learn to become more confident in the kitchen.”
Since the Studio of Good Living launched in 2005, Phoebe has developed a roster of clients including Silicon Valley top executives, a UN ambassador and families looking to relieve their hectic schedules. Phoebe is also an accomplished wine buyer and educator who helps clients and restaurants enhance their cellars.
Phoebe lives in San Francisco with her husband Peter Schilla and their daughter. In her spare time she enjoys reading cookbooks, traveling, studying yoga practices and, of course, learning about all the latest culinary happenings from around the globe.
