SPOTLIGHT
the ‘
sip
a big thanks to this issue’s talented contributors JIM BEAUGEZ | WRITER Jim is a writer, musician and communications professional based in Clinton. After growing up on the Gulf Coast, Jim studied English at Mississippi State University and worked briefly in journalism before shifting to marketing communications and public relations. His work has appeared in such national publications as Guitar Player and Systems Contractor News and various regional publications. He has earned the widely recognized Accredited in Public Relations certification and was named a Senior PR Practitioner by the Southern Public Relations Federation.
LISA LAFONTAINE BYNUM | WRITER Lisa is a freelance writer from Grenada. She is a regular contributor to several publications throughout Mississippi. She is a graduate of Delta State University, where she received a bachelor of arts in marketing, as well as a Master's of Business Administration. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and photography. Lisa currently lives in Brandon with her husband and two sons.
JENNIE EMERSON | WRITER Jennie was born in Portsmouth, Va., and moved every two years throughout her childhood. She works to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, where she has lived for nearly 20 years. She received her bachelor’s in journalism from West Texas A&M University and has written for numerous newspapers. She also worked for a local news station in Amarillo, Texas, and has judged several University Interscholastic League feature writing competitions.
KATE GREGORY | WRITER Kate, who grew up in Forest, is a lecturer of freshman English composition at Mississippi State University and an assistant at the Congressional and Political Research Center at MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library. She has a bachelor of arts in English from Ole Miss and a master's in English from MSU. Kate’s passions are writing, traveling, good food, the Neshoba County Fair and the not-so-fine art of iPhone photography. She has written features and columns for the Starkville Daily News and Town and Gown Magazine. She lives in Starkville with her husband and cat.
SUSAN MARQUEZ | WRITER Susan has been writing professionally for newspapers, magazines, business journals and trade publications from her home in Madison for 13 years. She particularly enjoys writing stories about colorful people, interesting places and fun events in the South, especially when they have anything to do with food. She recently was accepted into the Association of Food Journalists and is passionate about knowing where our food comes from and how it’s prepared. “I see food as a lens through which we can view our region.”
6
Summer 2015