Karen Hao is a Berkeley-based journalist mainly covering the environment, science and technology. Most recently, her work has appeared in Sierra magazine, How We Get to Next and The Chronicle for Social Change, among others. She graduated from MIT with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Energy Studies.

Sonya Doctorian is a video and photojournalist whose work focuses on documentary stories. She recently completed the Ted Scripps Environmental Journalism Fellowship at the University of Colorado. Living in Boulder is a homecoming for Sonya, who was a video journalist for The Rocky Mountain News until it closed in 2009.

Zack Quaintance has more than a decade of experience working in the media. His writing has appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman. He lives in Northern California. Follow him on Twitter @zackquaintance.

Andru Defeye is an established poet, writer, film editor, emcee, journalist and is currently the videographer for Comstock’s’ Buzzwords series. Defeye is founder of the Zero Forbidden Goals performance art crew (ZFG) and has performed everywhere from art museums to festival stages while also designing and developing a Hip Hop based curriculum that meets common core standards in classrooms. Defeye has worked since 2006 documenting local arts and culture as a writer and editor with publications including Sacramento News and Review and Submerge Magazine. 

Terence grew up everywhere and liked to make things. He discovered photography as a medium with endless creative possibilities and studied the craft at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. “Now I try to figure out how to balance shooting ads and magazine work in between storytimes with my children and matching piles of socks that are endless,” says Terence, who photographed this month’s feature on young professionals, which involved a day-long studio shoot. “I wouldn’t choose any other man’s life over the one I live or any other career — each experience is part of the process.” For more, visit www.terenceduffy.com.

Former Diablo Magazine style editor Caitlin McCulloch is now a freelance writer and agency-signed model. Interests include fashion, rooting for the Niners, Giants, and Warriors, working out, cooking, and, like many other graduates of Sonoma State University, a good glass of wine. Caitlin is based in Sacramento but travels as much as humanly possible. 

Blake Gillespie is a freelance journalist. His work can be found in the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento News & Review, Submerge Magazine and Vice.com.

Dr. Jessica Kriegel works as an organizational development consultant for Oracle Corporation, where she acts as an adviser and strategist in organizational development, change management and talent development. In 2016, she authored Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit From Ditching Generational Stereotypes, published by Wiley. She completed her doctoral degree in educational leadership and management with a specialization in human resources development from Drexel University. Jessica also has an MBA in international business.

Michael Strech is the president and CEO of the North State Building Industry Association.

Kim Laughton is president of Schwab Charitable, based in San Francisco.