Meet the Stage of Life Team
Stage of Life® is unique in that it's one of the few websites in the marketplace that is building a community around "life" versus just one niche. Our mission is to make the world a better place, one story at a time. And through that, we have the pleasure of working with a talented team of individuals from many walks of life. From our IT and web teams to our artists (you'll see our original work throughout the site in our various headers, etc.), to our slew of editors to our interns, each individual working with us adds a special perspective and their personal flavor to the diversity that is Stage of Life®.
Eric Thiegs - CEO/Founder
Eric is the Founder of StageofLife.com. The idea of sharing stories is a simple concept...but a powerful mission. All of the contributing users for Stage of Life® add to a multi-generational voice that Eric hopes will help change the world, one story at a time.
Eric's career profile and resume can be found below via the LinkedIn link below. However, on the lighter side of life, he's currently the Theater Director at Red Lion Area Senior High School. He's been directing and producing shows at the high school for the last 10 years working with 70-80 students each season as they pull together the yearly spring musical. During his 20's, Eric played in the local Twin Cities band, Bug Candy, releasing four independent albums and performing in venues across cities ranging from Minneapolis, St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Wilmington, etc.
He currently lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters (and is about to break into his 40's...although he still has over a year to go).
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Eric's Work Profile
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Eric's Blog
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Joseph K. Thiegs - EVP & CFO, Co-Founder
Joe is a Minneapolis attorney employed as the Associate Director of Advancement for the University of Minnesota Law School. He served as a Planned Giving Officer at the University of Minnesota Foundation from June 2005 until September 2009. Prior to leaving private practice and joining the U of M Foundation in 2005, Joe worked for more than five years as a tax, trusts, and estates lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Minneapolis. Joe has been named a “Rising Star” by Minnesota Law & Politics multiple times, most recently for 2009. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning (formerly the National Committee on Planned Giving), and the Minnesota Planned Giving Council, serving on the Governing Council and the Legislation Committee of the MSBA’s Probate and Trust Law Section and the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the MPGC (Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair). Additionally, Joe serves on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Orchestra's Crescendo Project. He is an alumnus of Northwestern University and of the University of Minnesota Law School.
Joe is very excited to be working with Eric—his cousin and one of his best friends—to help develop and grow Stage of Life from Eric’s original seed of an idea into reality and ultimately to its full potential. Joe loves applying his legal and financial insights to a fledgling business which, much like his day job, focuses on making people’s lives better. He lives in Minnesota with his wife (Lisa) and three children.
Rebecca Thiegs - Curriculum Consultant, Co-Founder
Rebecca earned her Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota and has spent the last 14 years teaching high school English, Language Arts, Creative Writing and Public Speaking in a wide range of schools from an urban setting in Minneapolis to an affluent suburb of Philadelphia to a rural, small town in York County, PA. In addition to her high school teaching career, Rebecca was a senior curriculum consultant for McDaniel College as part of the their Summer Enrichment Program through a partnership with the DC Success Foundation, an initiative supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
She's lived in London England, been published (one of her own blog essays from Stage of Life was recently published in Central Penn Parent Magazine), and is the passionate mother of two. Rebecca is available to speak or consult on educational needs and in particular, getting writing out of the classroom.
Megan Colyer - Marketing and PR Coordinator
Megan has worked with Stage of Life since its beta launch in the summer of 2009. She's been an invaluable resource on our team. Currently, Megan is focusing on blogger outreach as she looks for talented writers and bloggers to feature on the site, in addition to her other sundry marketing and PR projects.
If you know of a blogger that's looking for a national venue to promote their blog or writing, have him or her reach out to Megan. She'll personally review the blog and work with the writer on possible feature placement on StageofLife.com.
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Megan's blog
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Megan's Work Profile
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Katie Morris - Partnership Marketing Coordinator
Katie began her work with Stage of Life as an intern summer 2011, where she worked with site outreach programs. She is finishing up college, hurrying to finish so that she can work more. Katie is crazy busy with school, work, and life in general. She now works closely with Audience Rewards marketing their loyalty program, blogger outreach, and numerous other aspects targeting theater lovers of all kinds.
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Katie's blog
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Katie's Work Profile
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Meet Our Editors...
Amanda B. - Editor, High School
I sing, I laugh, I dance…actually, I don't dance, but that's alright. I'm a teenager who has been homeschooled her entire life. Currently, I'm happily attending an online high school. I'm a writer, an artist, a dreamer, and a lover. I write about my crazy life on the farm on my personal blog, Farmgirl Writes. I am an artist in many different ways, through my music, and through my work as a graphic and web designer.
I'm a dreamer because I'm a writer - and am firmly convicted of the belief that the two go hand-in-hand. I am a lover because I am loved by Jesus. Love is contagious, especially when you are blessed to have amazing people in your life.
Amanda P. - Editor, High School
Amanda is a 16 year old artist of many trades and attributes. She has a wide range of interests and talents including art, dance, writing, environmental science, acting, and photography. Her poems and articles have been published online by Stand & Voice, Stage of Life, The Keystone Connection, and in print by Teen Ink. In addition to her magazine publications, Amanda self-published a poetry collection called “Alternative”. Amanda teaches a poetry workshop at Barnes & Noble Fresh Meadows.
Now for the fun part of my bio - I’m a vegetarian, I’m homeschooled, and I take competitive dance classes. I have lots of pets, my room is painted black and turquoise, I like all types of music but particularly indie rock and alternative (aka, stuff most people don’t listen too). I love to read fiction, mythical creatures are awesome. I don’t watch much TV, but I love movies both old and new, especially Tim Burton films. Last but most exciting—I live in New York. For more information you can contact her here.
Keilah - Editor, High School
How's it going, everybody? This is Keilah (pronounced Kayla). Little bit about me: 1) I'm a firm believer in procrastination. It's one of the few beliefs that I practice on a daily basis. 2) Love writing, love reading, loathe math. 3) I am a serious sucker for s'mores. 4) I have a spastic yellow lab mix who WILL eat your cat. 5) I one day intend to have a string of NY Times bestsellers stapled to my pen name (I wish . . . ), but for now I'm sticking with publishing in Teen Ink and various other poetry and essay anthologies, as well as "working" as a Teen Editor here at Stage of Life (it's not work if you're having fun!) - Yup, that pretty much sums up my life.
Meredith - Editor, High School
"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."
~Ray Bradbury.
One of my favorite authors, Bradbury, tells us that writing is an escape from the harshness of the real world. But why should I shut out reality to live in a dream world? Why not just combine them? I write to express the truth. My writing is my reality; one in the same.
McKinzie - Editor, High School
Hey! I'm Mckinzie, a junior in highschool and totally consumed by the responsibilities of it all! I'm always writing something, pulling off all nighters with either a textbook or a group of friends, and riding off to do something that comes to me at a whim. I'm looking to attend college for a major in broadcast journalism and communications, but until then I'm still skirting around my small town and just looking to escape the massive amounts of homework! Aiming to be valedictorian is no easy feat!
Britt - Editor, College
"Each person who was or is or ever will be has a song. It isn't a song that anybody else wrote. It has its own melody, it has its own words. Very few people get to sing their own song. Most of us fear that we cannot do it justice with our voices, or that our words are too foolish or too honest, or too odd." --Neil Gaiman
Megan - Editor, College
Hello :) I’m Megan! I graduated with honors from Red Lion High School, and I was involved in a lot in my four years. I was my senior class president, yearbook editor, varsity softball shortstop, field hockey goalie, and I even sang in chorus for a year. Now I am a freshman at Shippensburg University where I am a secondary education English major. My dorm room is purple, even my Mac Book cover. I love to play softball. It has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been playing since I was five, and it has taught me a lot about everything. I normally don’t wear matching socks. It’s not because I don’t have the other, it’s because that’s just me. I take my camera with me pretty much everywhere because I love pictures. Other than that, I think I’m a pretty fun person. Talk to me, I don’t bite!
Michelle P. - Editor, College & Wedding
Michelle is a junior Professional Writing major at York College of Pennsylvania in York, PA. She enjoys creative writing and has been published about 20 times to date. Perhaps most importantly, she is a huge Harry Potter geek.
Follow Michelle's Tumblr Blog
Raisa- Editor, College
Random ideas Raisa the Writer currently firmly believes in: (1) Only in writing do we have a good grasp on our memories, (2) Reality is created with every moment of life as the work desk, (3) Conflict is progress, (4) Real smiles can save the world, and (5) Happiness is wanting what one already has. Although a clinical psychology student, Raisa is also highly interested in other social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, counseling psychology, and educational psychology, just to name a few fields. There is a lot to observe and learn, but what is life without new experiences to stimulate our senses?
Justina- Editor, College
Justina Tran is a curious whippersnapper who attends Emerson College as a Visual & Media
Arts major with a concentration in Writing for Film and Television. Though originally from California, she decided to denounce Manifest Destiny by moving to the east coast (but she returns to her home during holidays and summertime). She adores olives, Modest Mouse, contemplative silences, movies, and puppies frolicking in water fountains.
I like to think that I have a considerable capacity for empathy (so I’m always open to listening to people’s dilemmas, concerns, and questions). Ultimately, life’s complexities often frustrate me, but beauty in the mundane saves me every time.
Laura - Editor, On My Own
I am living a true “ On My Own” lifestyle; renting a wonderful apartment in Draper, Utah and navigating my way though career, academic, dating, blogging, and social worlds. I graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Political Science, and work full time for Access Development as a Marketing/Account Representative.
I am currently pursing my Master of Arts in Teaching with an ESL endorsement at Westminster College; after I finish, I intend to pursue a Master’ s degree and a Ph.D. in gender and ethnic studies, with an end goal of researching, writing, and teaching in a staff position at a university. My writing and blogging experience began with my blog, LauraJayne, which chronicles my journey to achieve and maintain the 120 pound weight loss journey I began in 2005.
For me, the key to maintaining my weight loss has been the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, and I am constantly learning new ways to achieve that in my own life. Through my blog, academic, and writing pursuits, my goal is to achieve balance in my life; every day can be an adventure, and I intend to experience every aspect of living on my own to its fullest!
Rachel - Editor, On My Own
Rachel Russo is many things. Currently a twenty-something New Yorker, living on her own in the big city, she is a relationship coach, reality dating blogger, speaker, maid of honor, extrovert, vegetarian, connector, daughter, sister, and friend. Mostly, she is a writer. Rachel is currently a self-employed NYC-based Dating, Relationship, & Image Coach
Having kept journals since the age of eleven, Rachel has always regarded writing as a means to seeing the truth. Her strong penchant for understanding what is real has led her to an undergraduate degree in psychology, a master’s in marriage and family therapy, and a career that celebrates an exploration of the human experience in love and life. Rachel believes that we all have stories to tell and has recently agreed to reveal her own—which is essentially a peak into Rachel’s journey of life on her own. As she blogs her way through ninety two dates in one year, Rachel realizes that her purpose is to live an interesting life and write about it--helping others along the way. She commends anyone and everyone who is courageous enough to share their truth through the written word.
Elle - Editor, Wedding
Elle is a 28-year old newlywed living in Hanover, PA. She is a bonafide Jersey girl and is still adapting to her rural surroundings.
Elle graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in English. While there, she wrote for the MountEcho, the University’s newspaper and hosted a radio show. She accepted a job offer in the PA area from an internship she completed while at school. She is currently the Membership Manager at a non-profit preservation organization and enjoys the daily challenges her job brings including writing for the newsletter, solicitation appeals, and countless member correspondence.
Elle met the man of her dreams and that is how she landed in Hanover, PA- his hometown. They are truly a country- mouse- meets -city -mouse pairing. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, gardening, reading, journaling, blogging, spending time with family and friends (which requires bi-monthly trips to Jersey!) and attempting to cook.
Elle just recently planned her wedding and had the time of her life doing it. It wasn’t always easy, but it was more than worth it in the end. She encourages you to share your stories, send her any wedding questions or stresses you have, and have fun!
Cece - Editor, Married Without Kids
I am a perfectionist but I am far from perfect. I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and I am truly my own worst critic. I love horror movies, music, reading and writing. I am frugal not cheap! I have a wonderful man by my side who has made me happier then I've ever been in my life. Our wedding day was July 10th 2010 and it was truly one of the best days of my life.
I wrote in my very first diary at age of 10. It was a Cabbage Patch Kid diary that now sits in a huge 30L Rubbermaid bin alongside numerous diaries and journals that I have filled up since then. For as long as I can remember writing has always been a passion of mine. It's just something I love to do and have continued to do all of these years in one form or another. I am thrilled to be an Editor on Stage of Life. Not only do I get to write about things that matter to me but I have a wonderful opportunity to share it with others. I blog because I love to write. Always have, always will!
Amy - Editor, Home Ownership
Amy Mullis lives with husband, Bill (a computer tech who manages to undo all her technical catastrophes), and two sons (who study college courses she can’t pronounce) in a pinto bean-sized town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in upstate South Carolina, along with a tangle of wayward animals who stopped to smell the bacon and decided to stay.
Besides a full-time career of fighting the kudzu that threatens to overrun the driveway, she is a part-time church secretary and freelance writer. She was excited to win Honorable Mention in the 2010 Erma Bombeck Writing competition. Share some “I hope this never happens to me” moments on her humor blog, Mind Over Mullis or on An Army of Ermas where she is one of a platoon of writers who take time to stop and sniff out a punchline. She has had essays published in Chicken Soup, A Cup of Comfort, and The Christian Science Monitor among other places, but is most creative when thinking of reasons to avoid cooking supper or coercing Bill to rearrange the furniture. Join her in the Home Ownership section of Stage of Life—and make yourself at home!
Jay - Editor, Home Ownership
Jay Remer has been The Etiquette Guy since 2007 and has written columns, taught workshops, and advised thousands of people on matters pertaining to social and business etiquette as well as international protocol. A proud graduate of The Protocol School of Washington, Jay's background includes careers in the worlds of fine arts, dog shows, philanthropy, hospitality and travel.
Hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, Jay now resides in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada; writes a weekly etiquette column for a regional newspaper; produces his own local television show; enjoys working with children of all ages, but especially school students preparing for college and the highly competitive job market. The foundation for Jay's philosophy about etiquette and civility is that respect for others above one's self, compassion for all living things including ourselves, and a good dose of common decency and common sense would go a long way in helping people people make better choices for themselves and for those whom they serve. Being of service to others is the highest calling. Greatly reducing poverty, ensuring civil rights, and eliminating domestic violence are but a few of his greatest passions.
Jason - Editor, Having a Baby
Jason is a husband and father. He met his wife while stationed in North Carolina as a Marine. He’s been to Iraq and Afghanistan and likes to think that he has a better perspective on the world. After getting out of the military, Jason went moved back to Illinois where he grew up and attended Trinity Christian College. During this time he pursued writing. It has always been a cool idea to be a writer, but now he’s actively pursuing the lifestyle of a writer.
The past year has been one of moving back to North Carolina, living with his wife’s family with his wife and their new baby. Taking a break from school, he is hoping to attend college in the spring and finish out a degree in the next three years. Jason also enjoys coffee, his favorite energy drink is Full Throttle, loves Mexican food, and loves watching movies from Red Box or, when they can afford to he likes to go to the movie theater with his wife when the grandparents babysit.
Buffy - Editor, Having a Baby
Buffy is registered nursing working in pediatric nursing for over 20 years. Pediatric nursing is one of those "love it" or "hate it' situations, kinda like asparagus. The hospital environment is her home and that's where shes' been since the start of her career. For 15 years I worked as the nurse manager of the pediatric and pediatric intensive care units at the hospital.
As long as she can remember she's wanted to be a parent. The journey was difficult, and long but after 14 years of struggling with infertility she is the proud mom of a beautiful daughter. Her daughter's story is a special one as she was born via surrogacy. This truly was their last hope to become parents. The surrogacy journey was amazing and shye learned much about myself along the way. As difficult as it was to get to that point, she wouldn't change the fact that surrogacy was how she was meant to become a mom.
When my friends started having babies, they kept asking her to be with them during the process. She also became a certified lactation consultant. Those experiences changed everything about how she looks at a delivery room and what happens there.
When her daughter was born, she stepped down from her manager position so that she could have more focus on her newborn. She feels blessed to make it through the first year of parenting. Any first time parent will tell you this is no small feat! She feels parenting is about staying in the moment, soaking it in and committing it to your heart.
She lives with her partner Jon and works full time with pediatric patients in a day hospital. Jon is a stay at home daddy for their daughter Ántonea. Recently she decided to return to Grad school to get her MBA, which makes her very bright or certifiable!
Lisa - Editor, Raising a Family
Lisa Dewey Wells is the parent of two middle schoolers and taught for nearly 20 years in independent schools in Maryland, New York and Massachusetts. Her passion for teaching includes a commitment to knowing each learner as an individual and creating a classroom community where the social curriculum is interwoven with the academic fabric. She has received training from the Gesell Institute for Child Development and the Gurian Institute on gender differences. She a site leader for the Responsive Classroom Approach and has presented regionally on constructivist learning and research workshop, the Responsive Classroom Approach and reflective teaching practices.
Lisa sustains her passion for teaching by making time to reflect on the practice of teaching and regular writing, including a (mostly) weekly-blog (www.wonderfochiildren.wordpress.com), contributions to the online magazine Independent Teacher and Stage of Life, and time on the water and slopes with her family.
When I’m not teaching or writing, I’m usually outdoors with my family skiing or on the Chesapeake Bay, or recharging my batteries running or practicing yoga.
Sarah - Editor, Raising a Family
Sarah Hamaker spends her days juggling an at-home freelance writing and editing career with raising four children ranging in ages from two to eight. She enjoys talking and writing about parenting issues and the joys of children. Sarah frequently writes on family issues for Crosswalk.com.
She blogs about working from home on her website, www.sarahhamaker.com
Susan - Editor, Grandparenting
I am known as Mom, to my six kids: four boys (yes, I still call them ,"my boys") ages 37, 35 27 and 25; and two girls - ages 20 and 18. And my four grandchildren: ages 5, 2, 17 months and 13 months - call me Oma. To everyone else, I am Sue.
Drawing on my 40 some years of being a grandchild, my almost 38 years of parenting and my six years of grandparenting experience, I hope I can provide some insightful blogs for the Stage of Life readers. Knowledge of the issues - both past and present - will be one of the assets I bring to this job. My mind is always open to new ideas and ways of doing things, yet, I have core beliefs that keep me very grounded. I have been known to admit I am wrong, and will fight for what I believe is right. Most of all, I bring to this arena of discussion and questions about grandparenting, my love of children.
Hopefully, I will hear from many of you about your experiences being grandparents. And I hope I can inspire you, give encouragement and provide a venue where we share our stories. I can't wait to "meet" all of you through your words!
Jane - Editor, Grandparenting
My name is Jane. I was born and raised in central Minnesota, in a small town that boasts the Original Main Street. I now live on the edge of a suburb in the Twin Cities – country and nature – and I love that.
My husband and I have four grown children, two boys and two girls, two daughters-in-law and a son-in-law. I became a Grandma at the age of 48, when our first grandchild - a boy - wormed his way into my heart. He’s been joined by two sisters and a boy cousin.
I love that all four grandchildren live close enough to be part of my life. Each can remind me in an instant of the precious side of life! They’re forgiving and hopeful spirits.
I’m a registered nurse, and have also been a music teacher - though I’m currently doing neither of those. My husband is retired, and we are caregivers in our home for my 92-yr-old mother. I like sharing events with four generations, in spite of the challenges.
I love to read, decorate, write, cook, and sing. As an editor of the Grandparent Stage of Life, I look forward to sharing thoughts and insights with readers.
Greg - Editor, Empty Nest & Retirement
My love for writing has given me the opportunity to be the Editor of the Empty Nest/Retirement section, here on Stage of Life. I live in Alaska with my wife and three beautiful Malamute dogs, where I am self employed as a handyman, as well as a potter with a small pottery business.
Two things I believe in and try to practice daily in my life are simplicity and flow. These two beliefs have been contributing factors in helping me to facilitate the patience and understanding needed in the sometimes difficult and awkward transition into the empty nest status. All of this has also opened up a new awareness of the coming years and the need to prepare for a comfortable retirement.
I have found continuously throughout my years, that the best lessons in life are acquired by listening to, and observing or taking note, others who have gained wisdom by experience. My hope is to nourish a dialogue of thoughts, ideas, and contributions from members and viewers alike, to help us all grow within these stages of life! Whether you have “been there, done that“, are new to this, just wanting to share stories or you are here to obtain advice, we would love to hear from you!
Becky - Editor, Floating
Becky Aud-Jennison, MA, LCPC has been compelled to write her entire life. She has written freelance articles, poetry, essays and fiction and is currently narrowing down on her goal to complete her first novel before she turns fifty~ working title Fool Me Once~ and is finding the experience absolutely exhilarating. Becky is a psychotherapist with a lovely husband and blended family of nine ages 23-6 (his, mine, ours).
Becky has a unique perspective on the various stages of life blending her personal experience with helping her clientele negotiate the terrain of their own stages ~ from youngsters to end of life.
Currently she works with her cardiologist husband in weekly multidisciplinary clinic, runs a study using an integrative/alternative method of treatment, consults and WRITES. Their 2 oldest children have just graduated college and live independently, there are 2 remaining in college, 2 in high school, an 8th grader, a 5th grader and Montessori 1st grader. The last child was her husband’s first experience with natural (non-c-section) childbirth and Becky lived a dream of having a beautiful homebirth. Becky’s life motto: everything happens for a reason.
You can read more about Becky at www.beckoningbalance.blogspot.com or contact her through Stage of Life.
College Internships...
Stage of Life is fortunate to have some talented and dedicated college interns that have helped with the development of our little start-up. Their duties have ranged from help with social networking, graphic design, public relations, guerrilla marketing, blogging, content generation, and much more. We love working with these young and vibrant individuals.
Our interns complete assignments virtually from their assigned colleges and universities. They are given a project for the website and work on it via their own schedule with oversight, feedback and review by our founding staff.
If you are in college and want some hands-on experience working with Stage of Life, please contact the CEO/Founder Eric Thiegs to arrange an interview.
Meet our Interns:
Michelle P. - Writing Intern
Michelle is a junior Professional Writing major at York College of Pennsylvania in York, PA. She enjoys creative writing and has been published about 20 times to date. Perhaps most importantly, she is a huge Harry Potter geek.
Follow Michelle's Intern Tumblr Blog
Luke Shank- Marketing Research Assistant
Luke is the newest addition to the Stage of Life team. He is our go to man for client research, education marketing, and site updates. He will be certified in CSS in 2014. He enjoys rap music, sports, and sharing an office with fellow employees, Katie and Megan.
Naomi Fort- Blogger Outreach Intern
Naomi is a Freshman at York College of Pennsylvania.