The Northeast Journal Family
Publisher
Jen MacMillen
Jen MacMillen began her “good-news-only” publishing business when she started an employee newsletter for Gannett Outdoor billboard advertising company in 1988. She had no idea where this would take her because she did it for the fun of it! Today, she publishes five print journals featuring the “good people, good places, and good things happening” in two communities in Vermont, two in New Hampshire, and one right here in northeast St. Pete! Seeing the good in people and sharing their stories is what she does best.
Jen spends most of her time in Vermont with her family, and visits the Sunshine City as often as she can.
Managing Editor
Shelly Wilson
Shelly is (almost) a Florida native who tries very hard to love her state in the summer. She’s been a writer and editor for 20 years, formerly at the Gabber Newspaper in Gulfport and, in 2022, she joined the Northeast Journal team.
She loves to read, travel, kayak, and share great stories. She lives in St. Pete with her wife and an obstinate dog.
Marketing, Advertising, and Sponsorship Consulting
Susan Seta Williams, SS Media
Susan brings over 30 years of marketing and advertising expertise to the Northeast Journal. Her past experience includes her roles as ad sales executive, sales manager, and business owner. After selling her business she teamed up with the Northeast Journal in 2005 to lead the advertising sales efforts. As such, she is as dedicated to the success of the publication as if it is her own and takes pride in helping her clients succeed. She enjoys helping local businesses expand and prosper. Susan has been part of the wonderful St. Pete community for over 18 years now, and is so proud to be part of such a great place to live.
Graphic Design Services
Julie Johnston
Julie, with the Northeast Journal since 2006, designs the publication’s layout and creates ads. She has freelanced for decades, with clients in FL/CA/VT/NH/ME/PA/WI/AK and Canada. In her spare time, Jools has also been a stagehand and board/staff-member at Eight O’Clock Theatre, the resident theatre company of the Central Park Performing Arts Center. Her volunteer interests are Horses for Handicapped, helping judge Special Olympics (local/state/USA), the SPCA, and high school drama troupes in FL and CA. Julie considers it an honor to be part of bringing NEJ readers good news. Her cat co-workers are Hopie (who has been blind all her life) and Jack-in-the-Box (a spectacular 20-lb Maine Coon Cat found in a box on a lawn at an apartment complex). Thanks, Mom.
Distribution/Subscriptions Management
Jamie Mayo, Wife For Hire
Jamie is the owner of Wife For Hire and Reconciled! (cleaning and bookkeeping, respectively), and handles home delivery and subscription management for the Northeast Journal. Jamie says, “Frankly, it is an honor to be associated with the Journal. The Northeast Journal has been my only printed form of advertising and some of my best accounts, many of whom I now consider like family, have come from my advertisement in the Journal.”
She moved to St. Petersburg in 1979 from Strongsville, Ohio (go Browns!), but has a heart for her new hometown, St. Petersburg. She is grateful for the small ways she is able to serve.
Northeast Journal Contributors
Abby Baker
Abby is a Tampa-based journalist for local media and the communications coordinator for American Stage in St. Petersburg. She currently lives in Seminole Heights but writes about South Pinellas communities every week.
When she’s not on deadline, she likes to paint, travel, and spend time with her two very chubby cats.
M.Shackelford Burns
M. Shackelford Burns is a writer and photographer originally from the North East of Scotland now resettled and happy to call the fair city of St. Pete his new home.
After a 32-year career in film and TV as a professional cameraman and filmmaker he is now pursuing his lifelong dreams of writing, playing music, and eating fresh fruit daily.
Jeannie Carlson
Jeannie is an award-winning writer experienced in fiction and nonfiction genres, with multiple freelance credits, published in newspapers, periodicals, and books internationally. She has a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.
Born in the Scandinavian neighborhood of Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, New York, Jeannie grew up in the New York metropolitan area where she sang in professional theatre and opera. In 1984 she moved to St. Petersburg and became a resident of the ONE in 2000.
Jeannie began writing for Northeast Journal in 2016 and is a correspondent for Tampa Bay Newspapers, Inc. as seen in Tampa Bay Times, TBNWeekly.com and Beach Beacon among others. She enjoys wandering the neighborhood with her husband, Tim, as the muse for her poetry column, ONE Inspires.
Rick Carson
After a career in Washington, D.C., in government service and political campaign operations, Rick Carson took a detour to New Jersey where he co-owned and was innkeeper of a Victorian bed-and-breakfast near the Delaware River. Upon retiring to Florida he became involved in numerous volunteer programs and projects including as editor of several newsletters and publications, including the newsletter of the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association (HONNA).
Jonathan Kile
Jonathan moved to St. Pete in 2001. A rare genetic condition forced him to give up a career in sales in favor of a full-time position as father, husband, and writer. He blogs about his family travels and advocates for awareness of vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome at dontmakemeturnthisvanaround.com.
He is also on the board of literary nonprofit Keep St. Pete Lit.
Monica Kile
Monica has lived in St. Petersburg since 2003, when she came to seek a master’s degree in Florida Studies from USF St. Petersburg. She has served as the Executive Director of Preserve the ‘Burg, OLLI at Eckerd College, and the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club, as well as the Special Projects Director at the Florida Humanities Council.
Monica guides historic and cultural tours throughout Florida.
Lynn Lotkowictz
Lynn spent years in radio in NY, and in business dev/mgmt at Florida Trend Magazine. She volunteers at NicerFL and travels internationally. Lynn enjoys photography and sharing her photos and video about exciting events, people, and places around town.
Will Michaels
Will Michaels has served as executive director and trustee of the St. Petersburg Museum of History, vice-president of the Carter G. Woodson Museum of African American History, president of St. Petersburg Preservation and co-chair of the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society, and as president of the Flight 2014 Planning Board, coordinated the celebrations for the centennial of the world’s first airline. He is the author of The Making of St. Petersburg, and frequently speaks to community groups about local history. Will is married to Kathy, has three adult children, and four grandchildren.
Samantha Bond Richman
Samantha continues a 30+ year career in employee benefits. She relocated Sam Bond Benefit Group to downtown St. Petersburg in 2014, after living and working in Tampa for 28 years. A graduate of USF, she and husband Tim enjoy fishing, golf, and supporting family oriented charitable causes. They live in a 100-year-old home in Old Northeast with a neurotic cat named Louie.
Cathy Salustri
Cathy Salustri writes about Florida. The New York Times featured her book, Backroads of Paradise, a travel narrative retracing the 1939 WPA Florida driving tours. Her next book, tentatively titled The Florida Spectacular, is undergoing edits. She and her husband live in Gulfport and own The Gabber Newspaper. Find her at greatfloridaroadtrip.com.
Brandy Stark
Brandy is an artist, writer, and educator who lives in Crescent Heights. She is known for her hand-wrapped wire metal sculptures, fascination with local ghost stories, lore, and legends, and her immense love of all things pug.
When not working, she spends time with her pug pack, pocket pets, and bearded dragon.
Janan Talafer
A long-time Snell Isle resident, Janan was the editor of the Northeast Journal for many years, and still enjoys writing about people and places in St. Petersburg.
She loves swing dancing, blues music, and gardening, even when the weeds threaten to overtake the yard.
