Dinner Conversations Archives - Forsyth Family Magazine

Carolyn Peterson

Senior Writer

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2006. Originally from Pfafftown, Carolyn now calls Clemmons home. Carolyn was a model for 20 years, and for five years, she was a hand model for Bojangles’ print and television advertising. She has a degree in journalism and psychology. Carolyn’s day job is as a pharmaceutical sales representative and, in her free time, she enjoys cooking, the arts and traveling. “I love learning about the businesses and people in my community who are making a difference in big and small ways, many of whom I am blessed to write about in my articles,” said Carolyn. Carolyn is also the magazines’ resident go-to writer when it comes to anything with animals. She has three dogs and loves all wildlife.

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Denise Heidel

Senior Writer

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2008. Denise hails from Gastonia, but grew up in Kernersville. With two brief stints living in other states (Texas and Ohio), Forsyth County kept calling her home, where she plans to stay. Denise has a grown son, Charlie, and shares her home with husband, Wayne, a local drummer. Denise loves her coffee and also loves animals, especially cats. In her spare time, Denise is an active volunteer for Proverbs 31 Ministries and serves in several capacities. Denise also writes a faith-based blog, MyGraceFullLife.com. On writing for Forsyth Magazines, Denise said, “I am so blessed to be a part of this incredible team, to meet these wonderful local business owners and to interact with our super-supportive readers!”

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Meghan Corbett

Senior Writer

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2009. Meghan Corbett grew up in Winston-Salem. She graduated with honors with a degree in mass media communication and a minor in journalism from NC State University. She married her high school sweetheart, Will, in 2008. Meghan and Will, along with rescue dogs Moze and Charlie, welcomed a baby girl to their family in 2016. Meghan loves to shop, read and take vacations. In fact, she’s been to Disney World 13 times and never gets tired of it! Meghan writes for all four titles in the Forsyth Magazines family and serves as backup editor. When asked what she loves about her job, Meghan said, “The people I get to work with! It is an amazing job where you feel supported throughout every aspect of your life.”

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Tabatha Renegar

Tabatha grew up in Buffalo, NY before migrating her way south to Winston-Salem. She has an associate’s degree in travel/tourism and aptly so! Her first job was on a cruise ship when she was 18 years old! Tabatha has been married to her husband, Bobby, for 18 years. They are proud parents to 14-year-old Beau and share their home with a Boston terrier named Norman and a fat cat named Shiraz. By day, you’ll find Tabatha working in Old Salem Museums and Gardens, where she helps plan events, but working with Forsyth Woman Engaged! is a great outlet for her great love and enthusiasm for weddings! In her spare time, Tabatha enjoys cooking, photography, camping and arts and crafts. And, of course, with a degree in tourism – she loves to travel!

Adele Casanova

Adele Casanova returned to the Forsyth Magazine team as a writer in 2018 after a four-year break. She was an Account Executive and writer with the magazines from 2006 through 2014, all while running her own businesses. Adele ran Casanova’s Coffees & Fudge in Lewisville for eleven years, followed by Casanova’s Confections and Adele Marie Beauty Studio in Winston-Salem. She is now retired as a business owner, enjoying more time with her husband of three years, Jeff Montgomery. Adele loves to learn and write about local businesses. Having been a small business owner herself she has great respect for business owners and loves to showcase their successes in the magazines. She also loves to read, her favorite genre being historical fiction. She enjoys decorating, gardening, music and her two sweet doggies, Zach and Zoey. She has two wonderful grown children, Myles, a teacher in Raleigh and Adrienne, a residential investment real estate agent in Charlotte. She is also the author of the upcoming book, “Old is the New Sexy!”

Brittany Orie

Bio coming soon.

Debbie Barr

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2017. Debbie Barr earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree in health education and promotion from East Carolina University. She is a master certified health education specialist (MCHES) with interests in work site health promotion, Alzheimer’s and dementia education, health literacy, and Christian growth. A versatile writer and enthusiastic speaker, Debbie is the author/co-author of four books, more than 600 disease-specific patient education articles, low-literacy employee benefits materials, medical education scripts, and newsletters for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers.

Elisa Wallace

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2010. A Winston-Salem native, Elisa now calls Charlotte home where she works as a middle school English teacher. Elisa has two degrees – communication studies and Spanish as well as a master’s in writing. She lives with her dog, Bella, who is a Lhasa Apso and enjoys antiques, arts, music, reading, traveling and baking (though she says she cannot cook). “I love working with such a talented and ambitious team,” said Elisa. “I like the flexibility I receive when pitching new story ideas.”

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A. Keith Tilley

Keith grew up in southern Virginia before moving to Winston-Salem with his wife, Cindy. He has a master’s degree in business administration from High Point University. Keith and Cindy have two children as well as their pet Maltese. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, reading, spending time with his family and travel. He’s also an ultimate sports fan and enjoys attending live events from college to pro. He writes “The View from My Section: A Father’s Perspective” column each month sharing his insights on parenting. When it comes to Forsyth Magazines, he said, “I enjoy working with people who genuinely care about providing a quality magazine that unites the community and celebrates family life in this area. It’s easy to stay excited in an environment that recognizes and appreciates the contributions you make every day.”

Debbie Linville

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2016. Debbie Linville lives in Winston-Salem, and this native Floridian is married to Mark. Together, they have two grown children. While both kids are married, Debbie is content with furry grandchildren (at least for now). Debbie has a Ph.D. in Literacy Education. Her natural love for reading has motivated her to write her own two children’s books as well, enabling her to cross off a goal on her bucket list! “I love the opportunity to meet others in the community,” said Debbie. “This is a great platform to share my passion and expertise with readers!”

Julie Fritz

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Julie Fritz moved to Winston-Salem in 2013 and has been writing professionally since 2012. She has two small children and enjoys hiking, trail running, swimming, travel, cooking, and volunteering. Julie graduated from college in 2006 and is a dental hygienist.

Kristi J. Marion

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2010. Kristi Johnson Marion hails from Mount Airy, NC and has called Winston-Salem home for 20 years. She’s received Smitty’s Notes Best of Winston-Salem “Mover & Shaker/Local Scenester” Award. She loves the variety of friendly locals she gets to know through sharing their stories here at Forsyth Magazines. Kristi also enjoys spending time with her kids, the arts, reading, cooking and the martial art of Krav Maga.

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Lisa Doss

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Lisa is originally from Maryland and, after living in New York, Colorado and Texas, she’s proud to finally call North Carolina home. Lisa shares a home with her husband of 10 years, Kevin. Together, they have daughter, Sayre and their angel-son, Finn who lived two years. Their family also includes two dogs. Lisa has a degree in education and, as such, writes many educational articles for the magazines. Lisa enjoys traveling, is an avid reader and gardener and has done extensive work on her family’s genealogy. When it comes to writing for Forsyth Magazines, Lisa said, “I love writing spring themes in winter, back to school articles in the heat of summer, and, best of all, starting to anticipate the Christmas season in October.”

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Madison Skakle

Bio coming soon.

Martie Emory

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Originally from High Point, Martie now calls Greensboro home. She has a degree in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a Carolina girl in every sense of the word – she loves Carolina basketball! Martie works for Randy McManus Designs and has two grown sons, Beau and Matthew, who are the light of her life. She has a dog (Lucky) and cat (Dusty) and loves to travel, read and listen to music. “I love the camaraderie of the women involved and the women we reach,” said Martie. “This is a great outlet to promote the success of small businesses.”

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Megan Taylor

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2015. Born in Texas, Megan was brought to North Carolina when she was only two months old. A recent graduate from Salem College, Megan has a degree in communication with a minor in history. She has a toy poodle named Gidget and, in her spare time, she loves cooking, music, reading and travel. Megan has also spent time in film, having appeared in two movies – an independent production and as an extra in studio film. “I love listening to an interviewee’s story and then sharing it with the community. Everyone has a story to tell, and I’m glad I can be a part of it,” said Megan.

Savannah Norris

Forsyth Magazines Writer since 2016. Savannah Norris is from Fayetteville, NC though she now calls Clemmons home. She joined the Forsyth Magazines team in the fall of 2016 as a student intern. Though her internship ended in December, Savannah was invited to continue as a contributing writer. She will graduate from high school in 2017 with plans to attend college in the fall. Savannah has a Jack Russell mix named Sophie and in her spare time, loves to sing, play guitar, and surf.

Mallory Harmon

Forsyth Magazines Intern and Writer since 2016. Mallory Harmon is originally from Rock Hill, SC and once spent a full year on a family RV road trip, when they visited all 48 states in the continental US! Mallory is home-schooled and will be graduating in 2017. After graduation, she will follow in her two older sister’s footsteps and attend Covenant College in Georgia. Mallory will major in journalism. She is the author of two columns in Forsyth Magazines — FORsyth Teens by Teens in Forsyth Family and A Day in the Life of… in Forsyth Woman. In her spare time, Mallory enjoys reading, writing, acting, and watercolor painting.

Sara Wiles

Forsyth Magazines Writer since 2017. Sara Wiles has called Winston-Salem home for most of her life. She has a bachelor degree in communication from East Carolina University, with a minor in geological studies. Sara is married to Evan and in her spare time, she enjoys cooking, arts and crafts, dancing, gardening, music, and travel. Sara is also a blogger. Her page is SaraFromScratch.wordpress.com and on it, she eplores fun, DIY recipes for healthy eating and meal prep!

Susan Schabacker

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Susan Schabacker was blessed to be adopted as a baby and made her journey from South Korea to Massachusetts where she arrived safely into her adoptive mother’s loving arms. She later moved to New Mexico and, after a few years, moved to Winston-Salem, NC, to study classical ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts from the eighth grade through high school. Susan has lived in the Piedmont Triad area for nearly 20 years and had the opportunity to travel to Budapest, Hungary; London, UK; and Beijing, China, where she studied abroad through Elon University. In Stockholm, Sweden, she had a marketing internship at Hachette-Filipacchi, publisher of Elle and other magazines. She graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications and a minor in Dance from Elon University. Susan loves writing and is pleased to have written for Winston-Salem Journal’s “Teen Page,” Triad Living, KernersvilleMagazine, and of course, Forsyth Mags. She is a co-author of a children’s book, Huckleberry Robin, based on a three-generation true family story. Susan is grateful for her faith, family, and friends and is happy and excited to be part of the Forsyth Mags team. She spreads the word about Forsyth magazines and enjoys reading and sharing them with her family and friends every month.

Susan Woodall

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2011. Originally from Washington, DC, Susan now calls Winston-Salem home. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in journalism and spent a term at Christ Church College, Oxford University. Susan and her husband, JC, have three daughters, Erin, Britton, and Meghan (who is Forsyth Magazines’ senior staff writer.) She loves working with her daughter, Meghan, as well as the Forsyth Magazines’ staff. Susan relishes her role of grandmother and caring for her two rescue pups – Duncan and Matilda. She loves to travel and on a recent trip visited China and climbed the Great Wall. “It is a privilege to work on these wonderful publications and to write such a variety of articles,” said Susan.

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Tabi Falcone

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Tabi Falcone has lived in Winston-Salem since 2014 and finds it is the perfect mix of country and city for her lifestyle needs. With a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, she works in the apparel industry during the day and runs a small business, Annabelle Beet, selling her art by night. She lives in a self-proclaimed “Rainbow House” with her husband, Matt, and their two young children Liam and Maxwell. With a background in art, she dabbles in just about every craft imaginable and enjoys sharing this passion with her children. Her other interests include camping, hiking, running, and she is never one to turn down an adventure.

Taryn Jerez

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2017. Originally from New York, Taryn grew up in Florida and moved to Winston-Salem in 2014 and has loved the city ever since. Taryn is a lifelong DIYer, creative business coach & public speaker with a heart centered on serving women who have a vision for their business and their life. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design & Marketing and is the founder of One Crafty Miss, LLC a brand that brings motivation, encouragement and community to creative women building handmade businesses. When she isn’t at home on a weekend watching Netflix with her husband, Leo, and fur babies, Luna and Izzy, you can find her rummaging through thrift shops or going to craft fairs and flea markets. Taryn’s favorite thing about writing for the magazine is being able to connect with so many amazing people in the community and create pieces that resonate with its readers.

Tracy Harris

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2018. Bio coming soon!

Aron Daniels

Graphic Artist

Graphic designer since 2016. Aron Daniels is originally from Charlotte, NC and currently lives in Greenville with his wife Amy and their two adorable boys, Elijah and Malcolm. Aron earned his degree in graphic design from Western Carolina University. Aron enjoys reading, photography, drawing, computer games, and camping. On working for Forsyth Magazines, Aron shares, “I love the variety about my job. We have a great team in place and with the diversity of each design project, I stay moving and creative all the time!”

Laurie Dalton

Graphic Artist

Graphic designer since 2016. Laurie Dalton calls Lewisville home! She shares her home with her husband, Jeff. She is 2/3rds of the way to an empty nest, with one grown son, one son currently at Appalachian State, and the third still in high school. Laurie graduated from UNC-Wilmington and has brought a fun, open and airy design style to Forsyth Family magazine! In her spare time, Laurie enjoys spending time with her boys, kayaking, and training her new puppy, Sierra.

Timothy Sellner

Content Editor

Forsyth Family editor since 2009. Forsyth Family Editor, Tim Sellner, was born and raised in Detroit, MI before ultimately relocating to Winston-Salem. Tim has a Ph.D. and is a retired professor of German studies at Wake Forest University. He and his wife, Vicki, have been married for 47 years, and they have three grown children as well as a Siamese cat. Tim enjoys collecting art and antiques, and spending time researching family genealogy. His research has helped him realize that two of his grandchildren are descendants of the Massachusetts Pilgrims and Native American heroine, Pocahontas. On editing for Forsyth Family, Tim said, “The people are wonderful to work with, and it keeps my mind active. I also think the magazines provide a great service to the county.”

Kim Beane

Content Editor

Forsyth Woman content editor since 2005. Born in the heart of country music, Kim Beane hails from Nashville, TN, though she now calls East Bend, NC home. Kim has a law degree from Wake Forest University and is an original member of the Forsyth Magazines team. Kim and her husband, Jody, have been married since 2002, and have two dogs and three horses. One of her horses, Raven, was once a popular featured columnist in Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family magazines. Kim loves her role as content editor and, in her words, “being a part of something that touches the community.”

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Vonda Henderson

Editorial Director

Forsyth Magazines writer since 2012. Vonda was born in Greensburg, KY. With a father who worked for the railroad, she grew up in several areas including various parts of Tennessee and Alabama. Eventually, Vonda relocated to North Carolina and has called Winston-Salem home for almost 40 years. Vonda has a degree in English and media communications and recently retired from HanesBrands after 37 years. She joined the Forsyth Magazines team a few years ago at the encouragement of her daughter, Denise, who serves as project manager. She enjoys traveling, knitting, cooking and reading (most of all, reading about military history). “I love the variety of articles (including human interest, historical, informational, local businesses, service organizations and humor),” said Vonda.

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Cindy Butler

Account Executive

Cindy Butler is one of Forsyth Magazines’ newest account managers. She has a degree in finance from Virginia Tech. She has been a stay-at-home mom for 13 years, but previously worked as a financial analyst for a government contractor in Northern Virginia. While she lived in VA as well as Alabama, Cindy was active and held leadership roles in Moms Club and MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) when her children were younger. In her free time, she enjoys riding and showing her registered quarter horse, as well as cooking and gardening. She has two children, Grace (13) and Henry (7). Her husband, Jim, is the sales director for Ferguson Enterprises.

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