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!
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Sutton Long
Art Director
A happy San Francisco transplant originally from Richmond, Virginia, 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 eight 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.
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Liz Miller
Associate Editor
Whether fact-checking an article or editing her grocery list, Liz Miller is seldom found without a pen and steno pad in hand. Born and raised in the landlocked heartland, Liz graduated in 2009 from Webster University with a bachelor's degree in media communications and minors in English and journalism. Since moving out west, she has fallen in love with San Francisco's thriving vegan community—and coastal running paths. For Liz, working at the VNHQ means combining her two greatest passions: writing and veganism. On her days off she enjoys shopping for vintage clothing, reading used books, and listening to vinyl records.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? A plate of rice noodles marinated in garlic Thai peanut sauce, with tomatoes, red bell peppers, and avocado.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? A homemade veggie pizza complete with a thick, garlic crust.
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Lara Bradley
West Coast Ad Rep
Lara is VegNews West Coast Sales Representative and resides in the ultra-hip vegan capital of the US, Portland, Oregon. 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, again! I might also include some tortilla chips, guacamole, and margeritas.
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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.
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Lyndsay Orwig
Office Manager
Former editorial assistant-turned-office manager extraordinaire, Lyndsay Orwig couldn't be happier working with the VN team. Having traveled to many different US locales the past several years, she finally has a place to call home in beautiful San Francisco. This University of Virginia alum wants to keep fighting for animal rights for a long time to come—be it through assisting VN subscribers, law, or activism—and plans to keep moving until she sees the entire world. It's a big agenda, but one that she is very excited about.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? My homemade Better Burger and a side of fresh cut, baked-to-perfection French fries.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? That would be the Enchilada Bake found in PETA's starter kit.
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Gabrielle Pope
Editorial Assistant
Fiction, plays, and children’s literature are just some of the genres Gabrielle has written in, but it’s her combined passions for both veganism and writing that excite her the most. Born in Alberta but having lived on the West Coast of Canada for years, Gabrielle can now be found cycling around San Francisco hunting down the best bookstores and letting her eyes pop out of her head at Rainbow Grocery. Gabrielle is a registered yoga teacher, an aspiring wine aficionado, and the biggest vegan fan of the Vancouver Canucks.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? A Vietnamese feast: tofu summer rolls with peanut sauce, spicy lemongrass tofu, and vermicelli with veggies doused in Sriracha.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? An exceedingly rich baked pasta dish with a nut-based cheese sauce, served with roasted Brussels sprouts. Yes, Brussels sprouts.
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Jill Petzke
East Coast Ad Sales Rep
Advertising Sales Representative Jill Petzke works out of VegNews' eastern region sales offices in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. An avid gardener, Jill enjoys harvesting fresh veggies from her organic garden every summer and loves sharing the bounty of her zucchini crop with neighbors. Jill spends her leisure time biking and skiing, depending on the season, and shares her life with her children, and companion animals. She thinks that taking small steps toward a greener lifestyle is something that everyone can and should strive to achieve.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Mixed greens topped with fresh strawberries, cucumbers, and a kick-ass raspberry vinaigrette.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? My portabello, pecan, and green bean stir-fry, served, of course, on a bed of Wisconsin wild rice, with a glass of Frey wine in hand!
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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.
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Abby Young
Associate Editor
A Midwest native not accustomed to veg-friendly establishments, Associate Editor Abigail Young spends most of her free time sampling the culinary scene of San Francisco and wandering the aisles of Rainbow Grocery. In addition to being an ethical vegan, Abigail is a self-proclaimed bibliophile that would wear the scent of "new book" if it could be bottled. She's currently living the dream, sharing her passion for veganism with the eclectic staff at VegNews.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Falafel wraps (fried, not baked) with extra tahini and a side of tabbouleh.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? A huge brunch so she/he could get the best of sweet and savory. Pancakes, biscuits and gravy, home-style potatoes, and some tempeh bacon should do the trick.
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Brooke Still
Editorial Assistant
For the past 23 years, Brooke has had her adventures in the land called the Midwest—where she got her Bachelor’s at the University of Missouri in journalism. Brooke first discovered her love for animals in the form of a kitten found in a dumpster, whom she named Bailey, and now continues that love for all living things. After she finished her coursework for her Master’s, she packed everything she owned in a U-Haul and headed west with her two faithful companions: boyfriend, Frank, and cat, Oliver. She is so happy to have finally made it to California and now spends her time at the lovely VNHQ.
If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? My mother’s vegan rendition of Lebanese kusasquash stuffed with chickpeas and rice.
What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend? A copy of the Mediterranean tofu scramble from Cafe Berlin.
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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 Magazine. For those rare technical-support issues which are beyond his capabilities, he calls on his 10-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? Crispy Peking mock duck with pancakes and hoisin sauce.
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