Naples Illustrated

Kathy Becker, Editor
Kathy Becker has been with the magazine since 1999. A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Kathy grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and never pictured herself living in Florida. Her joy comes from working for an excellent company, product and team; and her daughter, son, and patient husband, Shawn, who make the craziness of deadlines, proofs, social events and production tolerable. If pressed, she will confess she has the best job and life on the planet, although working months and months in advance means she never really knows what day or season it is.

Kat Smith, managing editor
A transplanted New Yorker, Kat’s publishing career includes a lengthy stint (don’t ask how long) with The McGraw-Hill Companies in Manhattan. She serendipitously landed her job as managing editor at Naples Illustrated soon after moving to the area in 2005, essentially on a whim, with her husband, Doug.

Reynaldo Martin, art director
Holding a bachelor of fine arts degree from Florida Atlantic University, this Jamaican-born graphic designer joined Palm Beach Media Group as an art director, taking the helm of Tampa Bay Illustrated. After successfully redesigning the magazine, he moved over to Naples Illustrated with the intention of elevating its high standards of excellence and making it look the best it has ever been.

Diana Ramirez, assistant art director
Diana Ramirez is a graphic designer who graduated from the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University in Bogotá, Colombia.  “I have an illustrator growing up inside of me,” she says. “Greg Simkins (a pretty awesome illustrator) is a huge inspiration for me and my work.”

Luis Otero, editorial and style assistant
Luis is a graduate of Barron Collier High School and is completing his bachelor’s degree in Communications at Florida Gulf Coast University in the spring. Luis, who is originally from Burbank, California, enjoys all things entertainment, especially movies, as well as spending time with family and friends, reading and traveling.

Adrienn Bencze, editorial intern
Adrienn was born in Budapest, Hungary. While growing up, she participated in the Hungarian National Alpine Ski Team, worked as a model, and studied abroad in Basel, Switzerland, and Minnesota. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in journalism at the College of Communication and Business in Budapest. In the fall of 2007, she moved to sunny Naples with her boyfriend (who is studying to become a commercial pilot) and joined the team of Naples Illustrated.

Howard Walker, automotive editor
Howard Walker has been covering the automotive beat for more than three decades and currently contributes to more than a dozen publications around the globe. In the United States, he writes a weekly auto column for the St. Petersburg Times and is a regular contributor to Robb Report, DuPont Registry, Car and Driver and Speed TV online. So what does the man who gets to drive some of the world’s most luxurious cars keep in his garages? “I have a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. I’ve owned it for 12 years and still love it with a passion. For me, it’s the ultimate Florida car.”

CONTRIBUTORS

Sarah Coble, writer
Despite having graduated from high school more than 20 years ago and not having practiced piano for nearly eight years, nationally published freelance writer Sarah FK Coble still hasn’t shaken her inner band geek. She still carries around a chipped oboe reed in her wallet along with photos of her two sons: Bear and Wolf. In addition to writing on subjects ranging from art and design, tiaras, the performing arts and horsey subjects for Naples Illustrated, she also writes for Dwell, Pointe, Health, Fit Pregnancy, Young Rider, Equestrian Journal and other publications.

Vanessa Rogers, photographer
Vanessa received her formal training in photography in New York City. She currently involves herself in various genres, specializing in portrait and fashion photography for both local and national editorial clients, as well as advertising commissions. Her clients include Newsweek Budget Travel, Kiplinger’s, and Robb & Stucky Interiors, to name a few (vanessarogers.com).