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Kathy Klagg

David Kratzke
David Kratzke has spent more than 25 years working in the journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising and publishing arenas. Throughout his diverse career, he has written stories to engage a wide range of audiences and has crafted award-winning campaigns to sell numerous products and services. He is the author of the book – It’s okay to not eat you peas. And he is the owner and creative director of Big Kat Kreative, a publishing, digital marketing and advertising company. His work as a sportswriter and editor has been published by the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, the Cecil Whig and the Fort Myers News-Press. While working at a national non-profit association, he was editor-in-chief and the driving force behind developing a quarterly trade magazine for the kitchen and bath industry. Throughout his career in advertising, his words and strategies have steered the creative vision for countless advertising campaigns. He has advised a multitude of companies primarily in the industrial, construction, education, financial, insurance, medical device and transportation industries on how to boost their brand identity. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he now resides in Florida.

Shoni Landis
Hi, my name is shoni landis I live on a farm in Michigan but split my time there with time in Fort Myers Beach. A deep connection to animals coupled with an overactive imagination has led me to write about our everyday farm life with a twist. I create characters and storylines about my pets and livestock. I began sharing some of my stories on our farm Facebook page as a fun way for customers to get to know us, our animals, and way of life. Over the years, our animals have garnered quite a Facebook following and enjoy being local celebrities; they have a large fan base nationally. When one of our main characters, Officer Blu (the Great Dane) passed away, we received gifts and condolences from all over the United States; that was quite a neat experience!

Mario Lew
Published short story: Nowhere to Hide in Meat for Tea: The Valley Review. Nominated for a pushcart prize in 2023 Published short story: ...And Blow Out the Candles in Meat for Tea: The Valley Review Published 6 flash fiction pieces for the South Florida Writers Association

Kate Matthews
I work full-time in the fields of orthopedic research and medical writing and am a co-author of nine peer-reviewed medical journal publications and four book chapters. I’ve ghostwritten several medical manuscripts (all published) and have substantively edited many more; I am a board-certified editor in the life sciences. Other published work includes a short story (WWII romantic fiction) in Grit and a travel article in German Life.
Tom Mayer
T. Milton Mayer Is an award winning author. He's a fromer Major in The United States Air Force and a retired Head & Neck Surgeon. He has written five works of fiction and one non-fiction book. He and his wife divide their time between Greater Cincinnati and Naples, Florida.
Patricia Mcanulty
Robert McCarthy

Jeanne Meeks
Jeanne Meeks is an outdoors woman, an author, a late-bloomer, and a cheerleader for women who try. She was inspired to write when tragedy struck while backpacking across the Grand Canyon in 2007. Rim to Rim, was nominated for Best First Novel at Love is Murder, a Chicago writers convention. Four additional novels soon followed. In another lifetime, Jeanne and her husband, Bob, formed a security surveillance company. She was recognized as the Illinois Small-Business Person of the Year. She has been the township Tax Collector, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of a local bank and a hospital. After twenty-eight years in business a British corporation bought the business, and Jeanne and Bob retired early. To escape Illinois weather, Jeanne winters in Florida. Days in Fort Myers are filled with tennis, golf, pickleball, book discussion and writing groups, and volunteering. Jeanne comes from a family of ten, has two sons, loves wildflowers, kayaking, camping, reading, and gardening, and occasionally has fits of baking. She adores her five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters but doesn’t see them often enough. Now Jeanne is Membership VP for Gulf Coast Writers Association, the golf league president, and is trying to hatch a novel for boys, ages 10-12. Life is an adventure. Check out her website at www.JeanneMeeks.com.
Alice Oldford

Amy Pontius
Amy Pontius is a former educator residing in southwest Florida and summering in northern Vermont. Her work has been published in Kaleidoscope™ Reflections on Women’s Journeys: In My Shoes; Voices of Cleveland: A Bicentennial Anthology of Poems; and Bacopa Literary Review (TBA). Her writing has also been recognized and published online by Press 53, Florida Weekly, Gulf Coast Writers Association, and Kaleidoscope WoJo.
Malaina Purdon
Malaina Mote graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in communications, concentration public relations. Since graduating, Malaina has held various roles within the nonprofit sector, including positions in community outreach, relationship building, education, program management, strategy, fundraising, and development. Currently, she is the Director of Development at Lee Health Foundation. She deeply believes in giving back to the community and inspiring others. In her spare time, she volunteers as a board member for the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association and Our Mother’s Home, and she is vice chair of the City of Bonita Springs Outreach Committee. Recently, she concluded her term as a community board member of the Newspress-SWFL/Naples Daily News and a branch member of the Resilient Lee Housing Branch. She is a published author of a children’s book, Lavender, What Are You?, that sold copies in Italy, the UK, Canada, and the USA. She has been recognized by Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 2021 and was awarded FGCU’s Soaring Eagle Award. When she is not busy in any of her positions, Malaina enjoys writing, doing anything creative, reading, spending time with her husband and watching her son make goals on the soccer field or plays on the football field.
Amie Raterman
Margaret Roche
Irene Smith

Sheryl Stillman
I am the proud mom of two young adults and a Mini-Bernedoodle. I've lived in Southwest Florida since September 2022, hailing from Minneapolis, MN. By day, I am an Executive & Life Coach and consultant focusing on communications strategy and change management. At night, I write. I cover topics related to parenting, aging, self-care, healthcare, business, travel, and anything else that sparks my curiosity. I've been fortunate to be published at Insider, WIRED, and PBS's Next Avenue. I'm working on a memoir and a self-help book (in my head). I joined GCWA in spring 2024 and was elected to be part of the Executive Team as Vice President, Communications.