VegNews Staff

Joseph Connelly

Publisher

Co-creator Joseph Connelly had no idea when he started the Syracuse Area Vegetarian Education Society in 1996 to where it would lead. After running a local organization for four years, he realized the country needed a national publication to unify the vegetarian movement and, together with Colleen, launched the magazine in 2000 with a whopping $3k in start-up funds. Joe came to vegetarianism from a passion for environmental issues and has been self-employed nearly all of his life. Prior to VegNews, Joe owned and operated Play It Again Records, a music collectibles business, for 15 years.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? I'd have to go with sweet potatoes or yams because you can do so much with them.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carniverous friend? If we are in San Francisco, whatever Millennium is serving that night!

Sutton Long

Art Director

A happy San Francisco transplant originally from Richmond, VA, Sutton is an art director and graphic designer with a background in magazine design and a healthy appetite (some would say an addiction) for beautiful and interesting magazines. Sutton stopped eating meat about 13 years ago after prolonged exposure to old-world European butcher shops while traveling. Her favorite veggie snacks usually involve chocolate, the primary exception being sushi, as she has not yet found an appetizing melding of cocoa beans and seaweed.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi, especially avocado and eggplant rolls.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? I make a crazy-delicious sun-dried tomato and mushroom risotto.

Hilary Pollack

Assistant Editor

Hilary came to VegNews with a background in fine art and music writing and a long-time interest in animals and vegetarianism. At 16, she made the decision to go veg after reading up on food production and contemplating her Golden Retriever. She earned her BA in Practice of Art from UC Berkeley with a focus on illustration, and her writing and photography have previously been featured in publications like Thrasher and 7x7.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? The Gourmet Seaweed Salad from Happy Bamboo in San Jose. With a side of their Veggie Drum Sticks, please.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? I have dazzled veg-heads and meat-eaters alike in the past with my (vegan) renditions of banana coconut chocolate chip cookies and baked penne primavera.

Jennifer Pickens

Office Manager

Jennifer Pickens has been vegetarian since 1985 and not-so-fondly recalls the "good ole days" when it was impossible to find a restaurant with a veg option that didn't involve iceberg lettuce or having to create an entrée out of the least offensive side orders. With cameras in tow, Jennifer has traveled to all seven continents in search of the most remote temples and ancient ruins, as well as the best vegan meals the world has to offer.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Black bean burritos with guacamole, salsa, and hot sauce.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts baked in coconut oil and sea salt. This dish causes exclamations of surprise every time, despite how simple it sounds. And don't forget the Dr. Cow cheese, sesame crackers, and bottle of vegan wine!

Carol Treacy

Eastern US Sales Manager

Carol is VegNews Eastern US Sales Manager and lives in Petaluma, a mere 35 miles north of San Francisco. A 21-year vegetarian and 2-year vegan, Carol has a long history of working in print media and founded The Write Cause, a letter-writing service for animal and environmental rights. Carol feels that working for VegNews is a great way to promote and increase business for vegan companies. When she's not hiking or practicing Kundalini yoga, Carol is writing a novel and getting ready to adopt a kitten to keep Rita (a Manx) company.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Steamed veggies covered in extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? The vegan creme brulée I got from the VegNews Recipe Club. Amazing!

Colleen Holland

Associate Publisher

Passionate about publishing and business, Associate Publisher Colleen Holland is the co-creator of VegNews. From their humble beginnings in 2000, she and Joseph grew the publication from a 28-page newspaper tabloid to an award-winning, full-color glossy magazine. A graduate of UCLA and the Natural Gourmet Institute, her background in food, marketing, and brand-building has helped to create a savvy, internationally renowned media company. Colleen has traveled around the world and enjoys yoga, cooking, urban hikes, and dining out at veg restaurants.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? An oversized, steaming bowl of laksa soup, a Malaysian specialty with tofu, rice noodles, greens, and cilantro in a fragrant coconut broth.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? I've had a great response to my Thai yellow curry with potatoes, tofu, carrots, and broccoli over Jasmine rice.

Jennifer Chen

Senior Editor

Jenn's love for animals and magazines makes her job at VegNews a perfect fit. A magazine writer, crafter, and young adult author, Jennifer has lived in some of the best veg-cities: New York, Los Angeles, and now San Francisco. She went to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts studying dramatic writing and eating her way through NYC. When she’s not cooking, writing, or reading, she can be found hanging out with her husband, adorable yellow lab, and three-legged black cat.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hands down, buffalo unchicken wings from Kate’s Joint in New York City.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? I make a mean chocolate mousse pie from the Candle Café cookbook that always surprises people that it’s vegan.

Tommy Dean

Editorial Assistant

Tommy first developed an affinity for cruelty-free fare and the written word during his enrollment at Emerson College in Boston, where he studied interactive media and publishing. After graduating, Tommy worked on a vegetarian food truck and was a content writer in downtown Boston. His writing has been published in The Weekly Dig, Dirty Water News, and Pet Gazette. During his off-time, Tommy frequents coffee shops, where he updates his blog and attempts to pen fiction.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Clover Food Lab's Chickpea Fritter, which has falafel, pickled veggies, tahini, and a tomato cucumber salad inside a whole wheat pita.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Vegan pizza with tomato sauce, Daiya cheese, Tofurky sausage, fresh bell peppers, and more cheese.

Laura Beck

Editor-at-Large

Laura loves all things vegan and food. In addition to being VegNews editor-at-large (best job ever, btw), she's a founding editor of Vegansaurus.com and the webmistress at VegWeb.com. She can also be found contributing colorful commentary and real talk to magazines, websites, and blogs. She resides in Oakland with her cartoonist boyfriend and their pit bull, Hazel Hazelton Butterscotch Beck. She lives to eat, and is distrustful of people who don't do the same. Total weirdos.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? I guess I have to go with an Ethiopian feast with tofu tibs, messer wat, gomen, kik alicha, and unlimited fresh injera.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Definitely the Cheesy Lasagna from VegWeb. I’ve created believers with this recipe several times!

Paul Russell

Technology Director

After a long and varied career working in high technology in such diverse fields as offshore oil rigs, counter-espionage, and medicine, Paul felt that he needed more of a challenge. In 2001, he found this challenge when, in an unguarded moment, he accepted the role of technical support guru for VegNews. For those rare technical-support issues which are beyond his capabilities, he calls on his 13-year-old son, Thomas, aka "Mr T." Paul is a loyal British subject and his lifelong ambition is to teach the world the correct spelling of words such as "colour" and "aluminium."

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Baked beans on toast (a British delicacy). When in Santa Cruz, I love the bbq faux rib special at Dharma's, complete with mashed potatoes.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carniverous friend? Mock Peking duck with hoisin sauce.

Elizabeth Castoria

Managing Editor

VN Managing Editor Elizabeth Castoria loves food far too much to taint it with the remnants of torture and murder, and has been a happy, well-fed vegan for most of her adult life. In her pre-VegNews days, she authored the award-winning "Voracious Vegan" food column for Mercury in Newport, RI, and obtained degrees in writing from the University of San Francisco and The New School in New York City. Her fiction has been published on pindeldyboz.com and in 34th Parallel. If she were able to share dinner with anyone in the world, she would invite Arundhati Roy and Gabriel García Márquez.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Potato gnocchi covered in a cashew-cream tomato sauce.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Barbecued faux-chicken fajitas served with Spanish rice, black beans, and fried plantains.

Anna Peraino

Online Editor

Anna is a San Francisco transplant after moving from North Carolina where she worked in finance. The Duke University graduate adopted her vegan ways after watching Food, Inc. and discovering the harmful environmental affects of eating meat and dairy. When Anna isn’t writing about all things VegNews, she spends her time dancing poorly at live concerts, watching college basketball, and cooking Mexican food for her roommates.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Deep-dish pizza with my grandmother’s tomato sauce, caramelized onions, spinach, roasted bell peppers, and dairy-free cheese.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Kale, potato, and cashew cheese enchiladas topped with roasted chile-tomato sauce with black beans, rice, and tortilla chips.

Melissa Nguyen

Editorial Assistant

A Texas native and second-generation Vietnamese-American, Melissa spent her childhood knocking over plates of steak and bowls of pho because she just didn’t like the taste of meat. Glasses of milk were soon to follow after she discovered milk made her sick. A graduate of The University of Texas with degrees in English and Asian American Studies, Melissa was a Publicity Assistant at The New Press before joining VegNews. When she isn’t busy kicking things over, she’s getting into staring contests with her six-year-old golden retriever, Charles.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? The masala dosa at Dosa House in Jersey City or the Five Star (tofu wrapped in seaweed) dish at Veggie Heaven in Austin.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Cupcakes, cupcakes, and more cupcakes.

Lara Bradley

Western US Sales Manager

Lara is VegNews Western US Sales Manager and resides in the ultra-hip vegan capital of the US, Portland, OR. A 20-year vegetarian and 10-year vegan, Lara worked in the escrow industry in Phoenix before heeding the call to help the voiceless, and was the Northwest Director of In Defense of Animals for three years before joining the VegNews staff. She considers VegNews a great way to softly educate the masses on a more gentle, healthy lifestyle. Lara's passions include hiking with her dogs and traveling the globe trying every great (veggie) restaurant she stumbles upon.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tacos filled with rice, black beans, avocado, salsa, lettuce, and onions.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? Tacos! I might also include tortilla chips, guacamole, and margeritas.