Published and distributed by the Grand Forks Herald, Red River Valley Women Today's mission is to celebrate the spirit of today's woman. Written by women, about women and for women, our articles provide information and local profiles that are upbeat, relevant and reliable.
Each month, Red River Valley Women Today distributes 10,000 free copies in racks at grocery stores, convenience stores and high-traffic businesses throughout Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Crookston.
Red River Valley Women Today features six content categories, family, home, health, money, trends and monthly, that includes an events calendar, recipes, the editor's column (Morning Glories) and the cover story profile.
Kristin Garaas-Johnson, editor, assigns articles to freelancers for each issue, and also writes and edits several articles herself, including the cover story. Garaas-Johnson received her master's in creative writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead and her bachelor's in English education from North Dakota State University. She held various careers in the publication industry before becoming the Red River Valley Women Today editor in May, 2007.
Ann Bailey is the executive editor for the magazine. She assists Kristin in the editorial process by suggesting story ideas and reviewing copy before the magazine goes to print. Bailey has been working for the Grand Forks Herald for nearly 20 years and also writes for other special features publications, including At Home and Prairie Country.
Jen Braaten is the magazine's advertising marketing coordinator. She is the marketing and promotions "idea woman" for Red River Valley Women Today. Braaten is a Kansas City, Mo., native, who moved to North Dakota and started working at the Herald in June 2007. Previously, she worked at the Deere and Company's agricultural marketing headquarters, and a Kansas City radio station. Braaten has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Central Missouri.
Pam Nielsen supports the marketing efforts of Red River Valley Women Today. A Herald employee since 2000, Nielsen has served a number of Herald publications, including Red River Valley Women Today and Prairie Business. Nielsen has a degree in music education and often is singing praises for her family-friendly workplace and supportive co-workers.
Paula Walden is the production manager. Since she graduated from Mayville State University, 15 years ago, Walden has worked at the Herald, most of which she has put her creative efforts in serving the advertising department. Walden was the magazine's first layout designer, until October 2006. Today, she oversees the overall layout and design of the finished product.
Jodi Johnson is Red River Valley Women Today's layout designer. A Minnesota State University Moorhead alumnus Johnson began her graphic arts career working for companies including JobDig, Arctic Cat and Amazon.com before taking her current position in October 2006. Johnson's creativity gives the magazine a stylish, trendy look, enriching the stories.
Kris Wolff designs ads for the magazine. She started working for the Herald in 1989, as a route driver and worked her way up the corporate ladder, by learning from her research in the field and by attending software conferences. Wolff loves to be creative, and has earned awards for her work with the Herald, designing ads for the daily paper.
Julie Schempp also designs ads for the magazine. She first started working for a printing company in 1985 as a graphic designer, where she honed her talent before she joined the Herald in 1997. Schempp's artistic abilities also enhance the style of the publication.
Anna Anderson is responsible for the magazine's manifest, works directly with the printer to ensure quality and handles the distribution of the magazine. Anderson graduated in 2006 from Bemidji State University with a degree in marketing communications and started working for the Herald in August 2007.
Photographer Jackie Lorentz joined the magazine staff in May 2008. Lorentz has served the Grand Forks Herald as a staff photographer for the daily newspaper for more than 26 years. Lorentz received her bachelor's degree in mass communications and photojournalism from St. Cloud State University in 1978. As a professional photographer, she is able to express a story visually to enhance content.
Niche Sales Team Leader Andrea Anderson oversees all advertising sales for the magazine. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, with an associate degree in sales and marketing management, and began working for the Herald as a sales representative in 1995. Anderson enjoys the popularity of the magazine.
Lindsey Enger, Advertising Account Representative, ensures advertisers receive high-quality ads at an affordable price. Enger graduated from UND in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communication and is enthusiastic about the online opportunities for the magazine.
Advertising Account Representative Cyndi Hall Thilbourg also ensures advertisers receive ads that positively promote their business and products. She believes that she only achieves success when her clients do first. A North Carolina native, Hall Thilbourg graduated from Guilford Technical Community College (N.C.) with a degree in commercial art and advertising in 1997.
Pick up your FREE copy at these Grand Cities locations: Grand Forks Herald • Alerus Financial • All Seasons Garden Center • Amazing Grains • American Federal Bank • Anytime Fitness • Big Sioux I-29 • Cenex Demers & I-29 • Center Court • Columbia Mall • Curves • Grand Cities Mall • Grand Forks Public Library • Happy Harry's Bottle Shop • Hugo's • Jo-Ann Fabrics • Loaf 'N Jug • Quilted Rabbit • Riverwalk Center • Select Therapy & Fitness • Super One Foods • UND Memorial Union • University Station • Valley Dairy • Valley Thrift Shoppe • Velkommen • YMCA Crookston locations: Hugo's • RiverView Clinic • Montague's Flower Shop • Nikki's Consignment and Craft Shop
For bimonthly updates, join River Buds, Red River Valley Women Today's e-mail community, by e-mailing the editor at kgaraas-johnson@gfherald.com.
If you have comments, questions or concerns, contact the editor at kgaraas-johnson@gfherald.com.
Each month, Red River Valley Women Today distributes 10,000 free copies in racks at grocery stores, convenience stores and high-traffic businesses throughout Grand Forks, East Grand Forks and Crookston.
Red River Valley Women Today features six content categories, family, home, health, money, trends and monthly, that includes an events calendar, recipes, the editor's column (Morning Glories) and the cover story profile.
EDITORIAL
Kristin Garaas-Johnson, editor, assigns articles to freelancers for each issue, and also writes and edits several articles herself, including the cover story. Garaas-Johnson received her master's in creative writing from Minnesota State University Moorhead and her bachelor's in English education from North Dakota State University. She held various careers in the publication industry before becoming the Red River Valley Women Today editor in May, 2007.
Ann Bailey is the executive editor for the magazine. She assists Kristin in the editorial process by suggesting story ideas and reviewing copy before the magazine goes to print. Bailey has been working for the Grand Forks Herald for nearly 20 years and also writes for other special features publications, including At Home and Prairie Country.
MARKETING
Jen Braaten is the magazine's advertising marketing coordinator. She is the marketing and promotions "idea woman" for Red River Valley Women Today. Braaten is a Kansas City, Mo., native, who moved to North Dakota and started working at the Herald in June 2007. Previously, she worked at the Deere and Company's agricultural marketing headquarters, and a Kansas City radio station. Braaten has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Central Missouri.
Pam Nielsen supports the marketing efforts of Red River Valley Women Today. A Herald employee since 2000, Nielsen has served a number of Herald publications, including Red River Valley Women Today and Prairie Business. Nielsen has a degree in music education and often is singing praises for her family-friendly workplace and supportive co-workers.
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Paula Walden is the production manager. Since she graduated from Mayville State University, 15 years ago, Walden has worked at the Herald, most of which she has put her creative efforts in serving the advertising department. Walden was the magazine's first layout designer, until October 2006. Today, she oversees the overall layout and design of the finished product.
Jodi Johnson is Red River Valley Women Today's layout designer. A Minnesota State University Moorhead alumnus Johnson began her graphic arts career working for companies including JobDig, Arctic Cat and Amazon.com before taking her current position in October 2006. Johnson's creativity gives the magazine a stylish, trendy look, enriching the stories.
Kris Wolff designs ads for the magazine. She started working for the Herald in 1989, as a route driver and worked her way up the corporate ladder, by learning from her research in the field and by attending software conferences. Wolff loves to be creative, and has earned awards for her work with the Herald, designing ads for the daily paper.
Julie Schempp also designs ads for the magazine. She first started working for a printing company in 1985 as a graphic designer, where she honed her talent before she joined the Herald in 1997. Schempp's artistic abilities also enhance the style of the publication.
Anna Anderson is responsible for the magazine's manifest, works directly with the printer to ensure quality and handles the distribution of the magazine. Anderson graduated in 2006 from Bemidji State University with a degree in marketing communications and started working for the Herald in August 2007.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographer Jackie Lorentz joined the magazine staff in May 2008. Lorentz has served the Grand Forks Herald as a staff photographer for the daily newspaper for more than 26 years. Lorentz received her bachelor's degree in mass communications and photojournalism from St. Cloud State University in 1978. As a professional photographer, she is able to express a story visually to enhance content.
ADVERTISING
Niche Sales Team Leader Andrea Anderson oversees all advertising sales for the magazine. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, with an associate degree in sales and marketing management, and began working for the Herald as a sales representative in 1995. Anderson enjoys the popularity of the magazine.
Lindsey Enger, Advertising Account Representative, ensures advertisers receive high-quality ads at an affordable price. Enger graduated from UND in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communication and is enthusiastic about the online opportunities for the magazine.
Advertising Account Representative Cyndi Hall Thilbourg also ensures advertisers receive ads that positively promote their business and products. She believes that she only achieves success when her clients do first. A North Carolina native, Hall Thilbourg graduated from Guilford Technical Community College (N.C.) with a degree in commercial art and advertising in 1997.
Pick up your FREE copy at these Grand Cities locations: Grand Forks Herald • Alerus Financial • All Seasons Garden Center • Amazing Grains • American Federal Bank • Anytime Fitness • Big Sioux I-29 • Cenex Demers & I-29 • Center Court • Columbia Mall • Curves • Grand Cities Mall • Grand Forks Public Library • Happy Harry's Bottle Shop • Hugo's • Jo-Ann Fabrics • Loaf 'N Jug • Quilted Rabbit • Riverwalk Center • Select Therapy & Fitness • Super One Foods • UND Memorial Union • University Station • Valley Dairy • Valley Thrift Shoppe • Velkommen • YMCA Crookston locations: Hugo's • RiverView Clinic • Montague's Flower Shop • Nikki's Consignment and Craft Shop
For bimonthly updates, join River Buds, Red River Valley Women Today's e-mail community, by e-mailing the editor at kgaraas-johnson@gfherald.com.
If you have comments, questions or concerns, contact the editor at kgaraas-johnson@gfherald.com.