A DOWN-TO-EARTH EDIT OF THE NEWS YOU LOVE
IN ORANGE COUNTY AND BEYOND
A thoughtfully curated collection of food, services, products, giving, and people in Orange County
GET TO KNOW TABLEAU
Thank you for visiting our website — we’re so happy you’re here! Whether you prefer to browse the site for stories or want to flip through the virtual pages of our digital magazine, we know you’ll love Tableau. Each issue is full of inspiring people, interesting places, delicious dining, fun shopping, captivating art, and opportunities to give back.
Happy reading,
TEAM TABLEAU
Meet the passionate and talented team that brings Tableau to life
Introducing the
TABLEAU STAFF
Miki Akil
After working as a publicist in Hollywood, Miki found her calling in consumer/lifestyle PR. She is a Houston native (who you’ll always find watching the Astros or Texans) with a proven track record of developing powerful marketing communications campaigns. After moving to the West Coast more than 10 years ago, she now calls Oceanside home and lives with her husband, two kitties and pups.
Carrie Freitas
Carrie hails from a newspaper / journalism family on her mother’s side, and a marketing/ printing family on her father’s — which explains why she is both a published writer and founder of Kitchen Table Marketing. She lives in Newport Beach with her husband and is a proud mom of two, and stepmom of three. Carrie is passionate about giving back to her community and supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
Madi Sutherland
Madi cemented her love for public relations after securing her first post-grad job with the KTM team. Over the years, she’s developed a strong passion for media relations and thrives on amplifying the narratives of our nonprofit clients. A proud OC native, Madi calls Irvine home, where she resides with her boyfriend and Goldendoodle, Rosie. She finds fulfillment is leveraging her skills to empower organizations and bring their impactful stories to the forefront of our community.
Thank you to the Fall 2024 issue's
CONTRIBUTORS
Caitlin Antonios
Caitlin Antonios is an Orange County native and local reporter. She has covered Southern California for the past five years reporting on everything from earthquakes to restaurants and dining.
Allison Emery
Allison Emery is a freelance writer based in Orange County. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University and has written for numerous local magazines, including Laguna Beach Magazine and Newport Beach Magazine, among others. She resides in Dana Point with her husband, two kids and Pomeranian, where they love to spend time at Doheny Beach and watch the surfers hit the waves.
Nancy Gelston Fries
Nancy’s crooked path started in the television newsroom and meandered through marketing communications, advising students on their college application essays and freelance writing for publications like Tableau. The common thread: storytelling. She also serves on the board and volunteers at Save Our Youth (SOY), an after-school program for underserved students in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. In her free time, Nancy avidly enjoys running, skiing, hiking and walking her labradoodle, Emmy.
Allison Hata
A freelance writer based in Southern California, Allison Hata loves telling the stories of people, places and ideas that shape our communities. Her writing has taken her around the world, from Macau to Mexico City. Closer to home, she has covered the latest in social impact news, guided travelers on family-friendly excursions and profiled local luminaries. She holds a journalism degree from Cal State Northridge, and lives in Orange County with her husband and daughter.
Lucas Levine
Lucas Levine is currently a graduate student at Loyola Marymount University, studying to get his MFA in screenwriting. When not watching movies or writing, he enjoys trail running, playing with his 12-year-old pup, Jason, and working on his car. Lucas hopes to one day write feature films in the thriller and horror genres; in particular, he
dreams of having the opportunity to pitch a modern interpretation of Stephen King’s automotive horror novel “Christine.”
Ashley Ryan
Ashley Ryan has been writing her whole life, from short stories as a child to diving headfirst into journalism as a teenager. She has a degree in journalism and anthropology, and loves writing about travel, food, art, nature, people and anything in between. She currently serves as an editor for Firebrand Media and, when not working, she enjoys traveling, live music, hiking, reading, Pilates, swimming, going to the beach, visiting with friends or family and all things Disney.
Amy Senk
Amy is a CDM resident and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked at the Kansas City Times, Kansas City Star, Contra Costa Times, Coast Kids and Coast Magazines, and is a regular contributor to StuNews Newport. A recent empty nester, she spends her free time with her husband and planning elaborate imaginary vacations.
Barbara Shields
Barbara Shields has three children and five grandchildren. Her professional career includes an extensive background in publishing at Harcourt Brace and McGraw-Hill. Her nonprofit experience at Old Westbury Gardens and NYU Langone Long Island encompassed
the world of development, art, public relations and special events. Barbara serves on the board of the Michael Magro Foundation; she has written a weekly column for a Long Island newspaper, and articles for the New York Times. Oil painting is her sanctuary, though the Met
never calls. She is married and lives in Rockville Centre, New York, with her husband and adored mini-poodle, Sophie Wow-Wow.
Paige Wood
Paige is a current student at University of California, Santa Barbara heading into her senior year. She is a communications major and is hoping to enter the advertising or marketing world post-grad but is trying her hand at a little magazine writing! Born and raised in Newport Beach, Paige loves where she lives and loves sharing it with others, making Tableau an amazing fit. In her free time, Paige enjoys exercising, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.
