Contributor Biographies

Jessica Dean, Publisher & Art Director

Born and raised in Adams County, Pa., Jessica and her husband Troy, created Celebrate Gettysburg magazine in 2006. Before starting the publication, Jessica was art director for Frederick magazine, a successful regional publication based in Frederick, Md. She is also involved with the AIGA Blueridge chapter and has won many awards for her graphic design. Always eager to give back to the community, Jessica has helped to promote many local activities and volunteered design services for numerous regional non-profit organizations. She received a Specialized Associates degree from The Art Institute of York, Pa. She may be reached at jess@celebrategettysburg.com

Jaime Ridgley, Editor

Before becoming the editor of Celebrate Gettysburg magazine, Jaime Ridgley was an award-winning religion reporter and features writer at the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Md.,and later served as an editorial assistant and a contributing writer at Frederick magazine. In addition to her work at Celebrate Gettysburg, Jaime continues to freelance for publications in Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. She and her husband, Rich, live in Carroll County, Md. She may be reached at editor@celebrategettysburg.com

John Armstrong, Photographer

John Armstrong is an Adams County artist and freelance photographer whose work has appeared in multiple local shows and in Celebrate Gettysburg, Gettysburg College publications and The Gettysburg Times. His interests center around landscape, nature and feature photography, and he loves living among the limitless photographic possibilities of Gettysburg and Adams County.

Tara Hope, Photographer

Tara Hope is a professional freelance photographer specializing in editorial and commercial imagery. She has a great deal of experience photographing commercial images for businesses, editorial spreads for various magazines and photojournalistic wedding photography. She is the owner of Tara Hope Photography in Westminster, Md.

Tara holds a Fine Arts degree in photography from the Savannah College of Art & Design in GA. She is also a graduate of Villa Julie College in Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic design. In addition to Celebrate Gettysburg magazine, her work can be seen in Carroll magazine and at www.TaraHopePhotography.com

Noel Kline, Photographer

Noel Kline has been a freelance photographer in southcentral Pennsylvania since 2004. He covers news and sporting events for The Record Herald, The Public Opinion and The York Daily Record newspapers. Noel also has provided photography for local organizations, including the Waynesboro YMCA, YMCA of York & York County, STATMedevac and Eastern PA Football. Noel earned his A.S. and B.A. degrees from Penn State University and his M.S. degree from the University of Phoenix. He volunteers as an EMT with Grantley Fire Company in York. His website is www.noelkline.com

Sandy Wagerman, Photographer

Sandy Wagerman is a custom portrait photographer who prides herself in creating modern images for her portrait clients. She is the owner of Lucky Ladybug Photography by Sandy Wagerman (www.luckyladybugphotography.com), where she provides a creative, fun and fresh photographic experience. Her editorial work has appeared in Frederick magazine, the Daily Record, the Washington Business Journal and several local economic development publications.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, she received a B.A. in mass communications and spent six years as a broadcast journalist for the U.S. Army Reserves. She resides in Fairfield with her husband and daughter, who happens to be a wonderful model for her photographer mom!

Barbara D’Arienzo, Writer

Barbara D’Arienzo has been writing lifestyle pieces since the beginning of her career at a New Jersey daily newspaper more than 30 years ago. In addition to writing, she has worked in college administration and for nonprofit organizations. She comes to Celebrate Gettysburg after what she considers her most challenging and rewarding position, caregiver for her mother. She holds a B.A. in social studies from Seton Hall University. She lives in Zullinger, Pa.

Jen Faul, Writer

Jen Faul recently graduated from Penn State University in State College with a Bachelor of Arts in communications. She currently lives in Gettysburg. She may be reached at jen_faul@yahoo.com.

Adam Kulikowski, Writer

Adam Kulikowski, a native of Pleasant Mount, Pa., is a reporter and copy editor for The Public Opinion. He is a 2007 Shippensburg University graduate, where he served as editor-in-chief of the university's campus-run newspaper. Adam is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and enjoys photography and golf in his spare time. He currently resides in Chambersburg and may be reached at akulikowski45@gmail.com.

Chris Little, Writer

Chris Little grew up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. She earned a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Virginia and an M.A. in journalism from the University of Texas. Since then, she has worked primarily as a freelance writer and editor, with clients including the M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Lancaster General Hospital and Rodale Press, though she did do some time as an advertising copywriter. These days, she writes for Celebrate Gettysburg, Chester County Life and the Adams County Arts Council’s Imagination Station. She lives with her family in Gettysburg.

Jennifer Mellace, Writer

Jennifer Mellace, a freelance writer based in Frederick, Md., served as assistant editor for a regional lifestyle publication until she made the decision to stay home with her two young children. Her work varies from marketing collateral to lifestyle features in publications such as Celebrate Gettysburg, Frederick News-Post, Hagerstown Magazine, Maryland Life and Today's Diet & Nutrition.

Michael Vyskocil

Michael Vyskocil is a former editor for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Md., and has written for several local, regional and national publications, including Carroll Magazine, Grit, Home Cooking magazine, The Country Register newspapers and The York Dispatch. He received a Bachelor of Arts in communication from McDaniel College in Westminster. In addition to contributing to Celebrate Gettysburg, Michael serves as the current feature writer for Recipes on the Suite101.com website. He lives in Glen Rock.