Model D is a web magazine that creates a new narrative for Detroit -- telling the stories of development, creative people and businesses, vibrant neighborhoods and cool places to live, eat, shop, work and play.
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The Model D Team
Managing Editor: Clare Pfeiffer Ramsey
Raised on the East Side and schooled at Michigan State's J-School, Clare spent several years editing and writing for various Southern newspapers, including business writer and night city editor at The State in Columbia, S.C., and the assistant news editor at the Star-News in Wilmington, N.C. Lured by the call of coneys, Faygo and her family, she's now back home surrounded by pleasant peninsulas, working as a freelance editor writer and film critic. In addition to her work for Model D and Issue Media Group, she contributes to Metro Times, The Grand Rapids Press, and whatever else pops up. She writes about arts, pop culture, former Rustbelt cities, development, business, food, and once, not making this up, Cybill Shepherd's irritable bowels.
Managing Photographer: Marvin Shaouni
Marvin is a first generation American who was born in Highland Park. Shaouni carved out his niche in photography by assisting local and nationally known photographers such as Gregory Heisler and Norman Jean Roy. He earned a fine arts degree from Wayne State University while being mentored by photojournalists Jeffery Sauger (2000 MPOY) and Donna Terek (Detroit News). Shaouni's fondest memories of Detroit were as a child, driving southbound on Woodward Avenue from Highland Park into Downtown. His father was behind the wheel of the family's 1970 red MG hatchback, on his way too pickup Shaouni's mother who worked at Chin Tiki and the Sheraton Cadillac as a cocktail waitress. Through his photographs, Shaouni has made it his mission to document the people and places that give the Detroit its unique and diverse character. Proud of the city's history of innovation, Shaouni looks forward to being a part of Detroit's creative future. Find him at www.marvinshaouniphotography.com.
FilterD/Editor-at-large: Walter Wasacz
Over in Hamtramck is Walter, writer/editor/photographer/blogger/DJ. He writes a club/techno column for the Metro Times, contributes music reviews and features for Urb in L.A. and has published stories and photos in Berlin's De:Bug magazine. Wasacz is also a U.S. correspondent for the Berlin-based web project Berlinista. He does editorial work for the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies, and writes for Hamtramck-based papers The Citizen and Polish Times. He's cofounder of Paris '68, a merry band of graphic artists, musicians, painters, filmmakers, critical theorists, scholars and deejays whose aim is to tilt the world's axis (ever so slightly) via the dance politic.
Development News Editor: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Kelli worked for eight years in community development in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, where she still resides. She serves on the boards of the Greater Corktown Development Corp. and the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy. Kelli moved to Detroit in 1994 to attend the University of Detroit Mercy, from which she graduated with a degree in civil and environmental engineering. She writes a weekly column, Green Space, for metromode and is also a frequent contributor to the Metro Times. She is co-owner of Detrot's bike rental shop, Wheelhouse Detroit.
Model D TV: Tom Hendrickson
Tom Hendrickson is the founder/owner of Hendrickson Video Productions. His cutting edge production company produces innovative and engaging documentary-style films for forward-thinking clients. Clients include Chevy, Dodge, Accounting Aid Society, Campbell-Ewald, Detroit Regional Chamber, Organic, MDCVB, and many Michigan businesses. Tom is mildly allergic to cats. Contact him at (248) 399-6317 and visit www.hendricksonvideo.com.
Buzz and Special Projects Editor: Terry Parris Jr.
Terry is very secretive. The only thing we know about him is that he likes sandwiches with A-1 sauce, speaks German, painted a dot on Tyree Guyton's grandfather's house and lives in Southwest Detroit.
Frequent contributors:
Jennifer Andrews is a digital ad writer based in Detroit. When not writing about cars at work or bars for Model D, she spends her time watching sumo wrestling, searching for places that serve Fukucho saké, and eating garden burgers at the Greenwich Time Pub.
Dennis Archambault is a Detroit-based free-lance writer. He also writes about health, community development and urban affairs, historic preservation, and the arts.
Rodd Monts is a freelance writer who has covered economic development and business issues in the area since 1996. His work has appeared in both major dailies, and a number of local and national magazines and web sites.
Supergay is a mild-mannered reporter by day,
Spandex-clad superblogger by night. A resident of Detroit's near east side, he is a cad and a card and an all-around cool cat. He writes about life in Detroit from a gay perspective for fun and profit.
Additional photography: Dave Krieger
Dave was the founding Model D photographer, is a native Detroiter and Cass Tech grad who learned photography at the DIA. He has worked with Bruce Weber, Annie Liebovitz, David Seidner and Deborah Turbeville , and his work has appeared in Marie Claire, New York Magazine, and ESPN's magazine.
Model D is published by Detroit-based Issue Media Group.
Publishers: Brian J. Boyle and Paul Schutt
Operations and Media Contact: Deepa Ramsinghani
Web Site and E-Newsletter Technology: Matt Lehman and Mark Walz, Fluent Consulting
Web Site and E-Newsletter Design: Patrick Blasio, pblasio&people, inc.
Also check out Issue Media Group's other fine publications: