Profiles
Rotarian, July 2009
"Mission Improbable: Tragedy opens up an unexpected path"
Recalls the story of Mark Backlin, who founded The Judith Lombeida Medical Foundation to honor his wife, chief of neurology at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, after her untimely death in a car accident. Backlin gave up his career to operate the nonprofit, which conducts medical outreach in Lombeida's home country of Ecuador. The article includes original reporting and photography from a medical mission in Ecuador. — view article
Baltimore magazine, October 2009
"New Cat In Town"
The Cat's Eye Pub is one of the last bastions of Fells Point's rough-and-tumble past. As a venue for live music 365 days a year, musicians vie for a spot on the bar's tiny stage. When the bar's proprietor, Tony Cushing, died at age 62, his son "Little Tony" took over the day-to-day operations. This article profiles how a young upstart (Tony, Jr. is just 25-years-old) handles the reins of a Baltimore institution -- and how he manages to fill the shoes of the father he lost. — view article
The City Paper (Cover Story), June 30-July 7, 2010
"Lens of Anarchy"
Doug Barber is many contrary things: a gentle troublemaker, a biker and an artist, and a private man who published a book of very personal photographs. "Lens of Anarchy" profiles the life of Doug Barber -- his interest in biking and his years in his motorcycle club -- as well as his passion for photography, which led to the publication of living the life, a pictorial history of the biking world as seen through Barber's lens. — view article
Shelter
Baltimore magazine, July 2010
"A New Life for a Grande Dame"
Published in the magazine's home and garden section, "Grande Dame" details how a team of skilled professionals resurrected an outdated, early 20th century estate house (typical of Baltimore City's tony northern district) and made the home suitable for modern living without sacrificing the beautiful architectural bones or stylistic elegance . — view article
ChesapeakeHome (Cover Story), July 2009
"Restorative Retreat"
Inspired by the 1995 movie "Restoration," starring Robert Downey, Jr., the owners of this home meticulously transformed a 19th century farmhouse on the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, they performed a careful restoration of the surrounding landscape with special attention paid to the critical shoreline area. The result is the restful retreat home the owner's desired. — view article
House Beautiful, May 2005
"Barn Raising"
For the owners of this project, a barn razing might have seemed more appropriate than a barn raising. Where some might have seen a ramshackle structure, they saw the opportunity to preserve a bit of the past while introducing a modern weekend getaway and a home for the owner's contemporary art collection. "Barn Raising" describes how the project introduced a structural glass box inside the barn to create open plan living spaces with a visual relationship to the beautiful patina of the barn's aging structure. — view article
Better Homes & Gardens' Kitchen and Bath Ideas, June 2010
"Grand Opening"
"Grand Opening" details how a California couple opted to give their tired kitchen a facelift by reorganizing the floor plan and introducing a timeless look. — view article
Business
The Christian Science Monitor newspaper
Contributor, "Money" section
I am a semi-regular contributor to the business section of the Christian Science Monitor newspaper. I am unable to showcase those articles on this site, however, I encourage you to click the "view article" link or click on the Monitor logo to be directed to a search page where you can browse my recent contributions. — view article
SmartCEO (Baltimore, Md. edition), April 2010
"Best-laid Plans"
Hargrove, Inc., has been in the business of event planning for over six decades in a town that general takes its parties partisan: Washington, D.C. Hargrove is the go-to event company, particularly for The White House. For example, the company has managed every presidential inaugural parade since the Truman administration. This article talks to CEO Tim McGill, who took over the company from his father-in-law, about the business of event planning and the trickier business of family politics. — view article
Fishing Tackle Retailer, July 2009
"Typecasting Customers for Better Sales"
Fishing Tackle Retailer is a trade publication that educates its readers on how to maintain, expand and more efficiently operate their businesses. This article "typecasts" particular customers, from the gift buyer to the know-it-all, and provides retailers with expert advice on how to manage each personality to not only make a sale, but develop a customer relationship. — view article
Lifestyle
Go (The inflight magazine of AirTran Airways), December 2009
"Journey of the Heart"
Part of Go's special edition where writers contributed essays on travel dreams, "Journey of the Heart" is a personal tale detailing my trip to California with my boyfriend and how travel can teach us about love and relationships. — view article
AAA World, May/June 2010
"Taking the Waters"
For centuries, people have gone to Virginia's Jefferson Pools to restore their bodies, minds and souls. "Taking the Waters" is a first-hand account of the hot springs' therapeutic properties (experienced during a snowstorm, no less!), and the role they've played throughout history and in the development of the nearby Homestead Resort. — view article
Baltimore magazine, May 2009
"Last Legs?"
Written before the starting bell of the 134th Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horse racing's triple crown run in Baltimore, Md., "Last Legs" uses an as-told-to format to discuss the dire condition of the state's horse racing industry. Stories told include the viewpoints of a jockey, a gambler, a trainer and an anti-slots activist. — view article
Style, November 2008
"Guns & Grills"
Perhaps the most fun I've ever had on assignment, "Guns & Grills" follows five notable young chefs into the woods for a day of skeet shooting followed by an open-air meal of wild game inspired dishes. — view article