ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

 

DAVID TINGEN
PUBLISHER
My name is David, I am publisher of “El Ojo del Lago.” One of the objectives of our magazine is to get you to love and appreciate our little corner of the world, we believe once you know the area you won’t want to leave. As for myself, I went to elementary school in Ajijic, studied one year in Canada and did the rest of my schooling in Guadalajara. I have a marketing and business administration degree. I like living at lakeside because I get the opportunity to meet people from very diverse cultural backgrounds that come from all over the world

BRUCE FRASER
SALES

Bruce Fraser has lived in Mexico for 8 years. A Canadian, he especially enjoys the gradual turning of the seasons from wet to dry instead of warm to cold to colder to coldest. Bruce has been involved in several businesses and has lived in various regions during his time in Mexico.

ROBERTO C. ROJAS
OJO DEL LAGO DESIGNER & WEB DESIGNER
My name is Roberto, I am the Ojo’s office coordinator and graphic designer, I am also the webmaster of chapala.com, lakeside’s most visited website. I have been working for the Ojo since Aug/02. I’ve lived in Ajijic all my life and I am now a proud grandfather. Living in such a calm and beautiful place is the ultimate reward after a hard days work. Your opinions either positive or negative are always welcome this way, please help us in our constant search for improvement.

 

IRMA CASTELLANOS
MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT – DISTRIBUTION
Hi, I’m Irma, I was born in Chapala, I love my job, I am the one that is out of the office in the street helping out with any kind of job, I know a lot of people lakeside, I am highly social, I love the nice and warm environment that all the Ojo staff has created.

 

EDITORIAL STAFF

Victoria Schmidt

EDITOR IN CHIEF
Victoria Schmidt came to Mexico with her husband, in 2007. She is a graduate of Moorhead State University, Minnesota and graduated Cum Laude with a BA degree in Radio, Television and Film. At 23 she was hired at multi-national media corporation, where she worked 10 years as their Director for Operations and Finance. She then ran her own business consulting company. She has won multiple community service awards. Writing has been a passion of Victoria’s since Junior High. She has been active in the writing and publishing business for over 40 years and has been a columnist for the Ojo del Lago since 2008.

alejandro-grattan

ALEJANDRO GRATTAN-DOMINGUEZ

EDITOR EMERITUS
Alejandro Grattan Dominguez is our first Mexican-American Editor-Emeritus. A former screenwriter and film director, he is the author of several critically-acclaimed novels, The Dark Side of the Dream, Breaking Even, Only Once in a Lifetime, The Stuff of Dreams and Hollywood & Vine, Against All Odds and Whereabouts Unknown. His feature film, Only Once in a Lifetime premiered at the Kennedy Center and later was chosen as an Official Entry at the Deauville Film Festival in France. His novel The Dark Side of the Dream has been optioned by the Wolper Organization. Two of Grattan's recent screenplays have won top honors at the Ajijic Film Festival.

David Ellison

An Ohio native (but he escaped!), David Ellison was an educator (teacher, teacher-trainer, administrator) in the San Francisco Bay Area for 36 years, and wrote an education column in the local newspaper for 18 of them. He taught mostly middle-school English and history. Two years ago, he retired and moved with his husband to west Ajijic where he enjoys reading, writing, and hiking.

Don Beaudreau

Don Beaudreau is a member of the Ajijic Writers Group, and has published 10 books, including Playbook for the 21st Century (A Guide to Practical Spirituality for Free Thinkers).

Francisco (Fco.) Nava

Gardener, teacher, organic food grower, natural warrior against pests, helping make healthier towns by teaching garden earth consciousness.

Jackie Kellum

Jackie Kellum is a RN from NYC and CA, retiring in San Juan Cosala with her husband. For 12 years we provided foster care for abandoned motherless infant kittens and puppies, and now due to circumstances I only rescue kitten babies. During my many years volunteering with Anita’s Animals, I was given the privilege of writing a regular pet Column in the Ojo starting December 2010. Even with a column name change to “If Our Pets Could Talk” in August 2017, the purpose of the writings remain the same - help pet owners better understand their pets, learn what they can teach us , recognize their health needs and provide them with the best care possible.

Katina Pontikes

After a twenty-year career in telecommunications management, Katina took early retirement to pursue personal goals. She returned to a long-shelved love of writing, currently addressing the myriad ways we all cope with life’s dilemmas.

mel goldberg 2018

Mel Goldberg

Mel grew up in Chicago. After completing his bachelor’s degree in English at Northern Illinois University, he taught English and literature in Los Angeles. After earning his master’s degree in literature at California State College at Long Beach, he returned to Illinois to teach high school literature and writing and college English. He taught literature at Stanground College in Cambridgeshire, England for one year as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher. After he retired and moved to Sedona, Arizona, he taught literature at Yavapai College in Clarkdale, Arizona. He and professional artist Bev Kephart bought a small motor home in 2003, sold most of their possessions, and traveled the U. S. for seven years. After visiting Mexico several times, they settled in the village of Ajijic, joining the ex-pat artist and writing communities. Mel’s writing has been published online and in print in The United Kingdom, The United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. He is the author of three novels, a book of short stories, and several books of poetry. He and his wife now make their home in the village of San Nicholas de Ibarra.

Tepehua Shelter

MOONYEEN PATRICIA KING

Settled in Mexico 13 years ago. The intention was to retire into the arts as a writer, poet and painter...that didn’t happen. Beneath the smiles of the peoples of Mexico there was such a great need for change, especially for the women and children of the barrios, Moonyeen has dedicated these years to change the face of this little corner of the world. The work done by the volunteers of the Tepehua Community Center is teaching that change is possible anywhere. Moonyeen was portrayed as “Woman of the Year,” also two Paul Harris Rotary awards for the work done at Tepehua. “Life in Mexico is very fulfilling. The Mexican people give so much more to us immigrants than we can possible return.

Scott Jones

Scott was born in Fargo, North Dakota, but he takes pills for it. Life in the Laugh Lane at www.lifeinthelaughlane.com, web www.kingcobrapress.com and Amazon.com


For more information about Lake Chapala visit: www.chapala.com


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