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BEACON Senior News

Kevin K. VanGundy | Publisher & Advertising Director

Kevin has been with BEACON Senior News since he took over as publisher in 2008. A Colorado native, Kevin is an entrepreneur with a long-standing career in sales, advertising and marketing and is  current president of the North American Mature Publishers Association.

Kevin believes that just as good storytelling transforms, so should good advertising. He spends most of his time fighting ageism in America and teaching local residents, business owners and elected officials that people over 65 aren’t dead yet. 

One time, Kevin surprised the rest of the BEACON staff when he shaved his head because he lost a bet about losing weight.


Cloie Sandlin | Editor in Chief 
Cloie works to reshape the public's views on aging by showcasing the talents and feats of local seniors via inspiring stories and engaging content in print and online. She leads the BEACON's creative team and has been with the company since 2009.

Cloie is an accomplished writer and journalist and a Colorado Mesa University graduate with degrees in Public Relations, Advertising and Business. She's married to her high school sweetheart and has three dogs.

When she's not working, Cloie is crossing musicians and bands off her live music bucket list. She inherited a small rubber ducky collection a few years ago, which has taken over her desk because visitors think she's obsessed with ducks.


Rhonda Wray | Managing Editor 

Colorado Springs seniors astound Rhonda with their spunky attitudes, and she prizes their stories.

Rhonda has lived in the Springs since 1987 and has worked for BEACON Senior News since 2021. Before that, she completed degrees in English and art, interned at the Kennedy Center and edited books and plays.

Rhonda is a mom to four 20-somethings and two grandchildren. She loves reading and writing, so her work suits her well. Her grandma name is—what else?— “Grammar.” She also enjoys traveling, cooking, singing, swimming, art and theatre. Rhonda has a weakness for “limited edition” grocery items, takes online proofreading tests for fun and owns too many books (and dreads the thought of downsizing them).


Stacey Splude | Customer Service Manager 

Stacey Splude is the friendly person you hear on the phone when you call us. She's been with BEACON Senior News since 2016 and handles our office's day-to-day operations, manages the BEACON's Classifieds section, and is our go-to person for anything and everything! 

When she's not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her three grandkids, traveling with her daughter, and hanging out with friends and family.


B. Bigler | Graphic Designer

Bix has been with BEACON Senior News since 2019. He specializes in the visual structure of a page, working to produce the ideal blend of text, images and space.

When he isn't working, he tries to stay active by riding his bike, tending his garden and learning new things from YouTube and documentaries.


Michael L. Madsen | Graphic Designer 

Mike brings 25+ years of graphic design knowledge and experience to BEACON Senior News. He takes great pride in designing some of the fantastic advertising you see each month, along with the layout and design of the pages you read. 

In his downtime, he likes hanging out with his children and is a total cinephile with a movie collection that could make Netflix blush. He'll also admit he's a total geek/nerd about most tech and all things sci-fi, fantasy or comics related. If it's Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Star War or countless other TV shows and movies like that, you can bet he's into it.


Jil Goebel | Advertising Executive 

Jil joined BEACON Senior News in early 2020. Prior to that, she sold adaptive clothing designed for individuals with limited mobility, which is when she discovered the senior community is where her passion lies.

She is a seasoned professional in marketing, public relations and communications. She earned her MBA and BBA from the University of San Diego and is a long-time Colorado Springs resident.

Jil loves meeting and helping people. She volunteers with numerous nonprofits and is a caregiver to a senior veteran. She is also a community ambassador for Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.


Soni Brinsko | Advertising Executive

Soni has a diverse background that includes selling artisanal soy milk and soy products at farmers markets in Southern California, as well as making entertainment and transportation sales for a national airline. She's delighted to bring her skills to BEACON Senior News, where her love for media and serving seniors all intersect.

Armed with an MFA in Creative Writing, Soni also heads the Papine Writing Collective, an online community for creative writers from the Caribbean.

When she's not crafting stories or advocating for seniors, Soni calls Colorado Springs home, where she resides with her family and her polydactyl cat, Priscilla Purrsley. 


Bethany Gill | Advertising Assistant

Bethany is a Western Slope native with a love for all things local, especially cultivating community. She brings her unique professional background and knack for creating balance in businesses to her position as Advertising Assistant for BEACON Senior News. 

Bethany is obsessed with all things coffee and has been a vegan for 11 years (which makes her relationship with a cattle rancher/hunting guide quite interesting). When she’s not at work, you’ll find her having dance parties and movie nights with her kids or catching up on her daily fix of true crime podcasts.


Andi Falcone | Circulation Supervisor
Andi has lived in Colorado Springs since November 2020 with her husband JJ and their two dogs, Harri and Rocco. She loves the area and enjoys golfing, fishing, going to baseball games, concerts and spending time with family and friends.

She started her illustrious career in publication distribution 18 years ago at the Kansas City Star (Go Chiefs!). She has worked for newspaper and publication companies in Kansas, Texas and Colorado—and it has been the perfect job in many ways.

Bill & Barb Souba | Delivery 

Bio coming soon.


Lyndsey Pitonzo | Delivery 

Bio coming soon. 

 

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