BUZZ BERTOLERO
Buzz Bertolero is a California Certified Nursery Professional and an enthusiastic backyard hobbyist. He was the Executive Vice President of Navlet’s, then Sloat’s Garden Centers. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com.
MICHAEL COPELAND
Mike is Managing Director at DTZ. He has written lifestyle, personality profile and humor pieces for a variety of publications, including: The San Jose Business Journal, California Real Estate News and Country Music Magazine. You can contact Mike at copeland@aliveeastbay.com.
LESLIE ELMAN
Leslie Elman is a freelance writer and editor specializing in travel, art and generalist subjects. A professional trivia and quiz writer, she contributes questions for pub quiz nights around the U.S. as well as for the annual World Quizzing Championship. Her books include “The Ladies’ Room Reader Quiz Book” and “Weird But True: 200 Astounding, Outrageous and Totally Off the Wall Facts.”
SUSAN ESTRICH
Susan is a contributor to The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and is commentator on CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, CBS and NBC. A best-selling author, Estrich is the Robert Kingsley Professor of Law and Political Science at the University of Southern California Law Center. She serves on the Board of Editorial Contributors for USA Today. After graduating as a Phi Beta Kappa scholar with highest honors from Wellesley College in 1974, Estrich went on to attend Harvard Law School. She was selected president of the Harvard Law Review and received her JD magna cum laude in 1977. Susan Estrich lives in Los Angeles.
JOHN GARDNER
John is a Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Portfolio Manager (CPM®) veteran investment adviser and portfolio manager in Blackhawk. John is the founder of Blackhawk Wealth Advisors. He has managed equity portfolios and provided investment advice to individuals, high net worth families, and businesses for over 35 years. John can be reached at 888-985-PLAN or by email at jg@blackhawkwealthadvisors.com. See more t blackhawkwealthadvisors.com
DAVID L. GOETSCH
Dr. David Goetsch is a Marine veteran and bestselling author of 76 books. He is a longtime college professor with dual credentials in business and political science/history, and a nationally recognized speaker on the subject of leadership and economic development. Goetsch holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, four master’s degrees and a doctorate. He has earned numerous awards, including the Spirit of Freedom Award from Freedom Newspapers and the George Washington Medal of Freedom from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.
CAROLYN HASTINGS
Carolyn has been a San Ramon Valley resident for over 30 years. A Real Estate Broker for longer than that, she enjoys movies, reading and traveling to interesting places. ALIVE is her outlet for writing. She invites your comments and suggestions, 925-648-5363 or carolyn@carolynhastings.com
MARY HUNT
Mary is the creator and editor of Debt-Proof Living, a monthly newsletter that premiered in January 1992. In 2005, Mary joined the editorial team at Woman’s Day magazine, as WD’s money guru and contributing editor. Her column, Your Money, can be found in every issue of the magazine. Mary can be seen every weekday in hundreds of newspapers across the country in her Everyday Cheapskate column. Mary’s column features household tips, money-saving strategies, reader questions and recipes. Mary is the author numerous books, including bestsellers like Debt-Proof Living (DPL Press). Mary is a longtime resident of Southern California.
ELIZABETH KATE
Elizabeth is a freelance writer specializing in Wine and Spirits. She holds the coveted WSET Diploma (DWS) and is the first graduate of the prestigious Los Angeles program. Also a French Wine Scholar and an Italian Wine Specialist, Elizabeth was the In-House Wine Consultant to KSFO Radio’s popular “Edible Escapes” in San Francisco. Elizabeth adores bringing the joys of wine and spirits down to earth for the non-specialist in her podcast on TheTalkPod.com. She authors a monthly Wine & Spirits column in Los Angeles and is delighted to be on the ALIVE Magazine team.
CHUCK NORRIS
Chuck Norris is one of the most enduringly popular actors in the world. He has starred in more than 20 major motion pictures. His television series “Walker, Texas Ranger,” which completed its run in April 2001 after eight full seasons, is the most successful Saturday night series on CBS since “Gunsmoke.” It is seen in more than 80 countries worldwide, ranking as one of the top U.S. shows in both sales and audience. He is a New York Times best-selling author of two books, including the 2004 autobiographical “Against All Odds.” Norris is a renowned teacher of martial arts and six-time undefeated world middleweight karate champion. He and his wife, Gena, have a home in Dallas and a ranch near Houston, where they divide their time.
LT. COL. OLIVER NORTH
Lt. Col. Oliver North is a combat-decorated U.S. Marine, No. 1 bestselling author, founder of a small business and holder of three U.S. patents. For 17 years, he was a syndicated columnist and host of “War Stories” on FOX News Channel. In May 2018, he retired from FOX News to serve as the 66th president of the NRA. He is now the founding CEO of Fidelis Publishing LLC and Fidelis Media LLC. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, North served 22 years as a U.S. Marine. His awards for service in combat include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor, and two Purple Hearts for wounds in action. He has authored 18 bestselling books. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Virginia.
STAR PARKER
Star Parker is the founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), a Washington D.C.-based public policy institute that promotes market-based solutions to fight poverty. Star regularly consults with both federal and state legislators on market-based strategies to fight poverty. In 2017, she joined the White House Opportunity Initiative task force to share ideas on how to fix our nation’s most distressed zip codes. In 2018, she was appointed to the U.S. Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission. Star has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Business from Woodbury University. She has authored several books; is a regular commentator on national television and radio networks including the BBC, EWTN, and FOX News.
ERIC PETERS
Eric Peters has been writing about cars since the ‘90s, and working on them since he was a kid. He’s the author of “Automotive Atrocities: The Cars We Love to Hate,” and “Road Hogs.” He has written for the Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, Investor’s Business Daily, and Celebrated Living. He is a regular guest on radio programs around the country. In addition to test-driving the latest cars, Eric writes about classic cars and motorcycles. He owns a ’76 Pontiac Trans Am that has outlasted his marriage, and a number of weird old bikes, including a ’75 Kawasaki S1 250. He’s a member of the International Motor Press Association and the Washington Automotive Press Association. He graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and lives in the woods of rural southwestern Virginia.
DENNIS PRAGER
Dennis Prager is one of America’s most respected radio talk show hosts. Prager has appeared on numerous TV programs over the years, on CBS, Fox, CSPAN, and many others. He is the author of several best selling books, including “Happiness Is A Serious Problem,” and “Think A Second Time: 44 essays on 44 subjects” (HarperCollins), was described by Bill Bennett as “one of those rare books that can change an intelligent mind.” USA Today columnist and professor of law Susan Estrich called it “Brilliant, a tour de force.” His writings have appeared in national and international publications including, Commentary, The Weekly Standard, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. Mr. Prager was a Fellow at Columbia University’s School of International Affairs. He holds an honorary doctorate of laws from Pepperdine University.
JOHN STOSSEL
John Stossel has been an award-winning news correspondent with Fox Business Network and Fox News, and was the co-anchor of ABC News’s “20/20.” After “20/20” he headed the TV column, “Give Me a Break,” which challenged conventional wisdom. Stossel’s prime-time specials on myths, parenting issues, sex, and trends in pop culture rate among the top news programs on TV. Stossel’s book Give Me a Break, was a New York Times best seller for 11 weeks. His second book, from Hyperion, Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity, made the list for 13 weeks. Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards and has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. Stossel is a graduate of Princeton University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.
DR. ROBERT WALLACE
Dr. Robert Wallace graduated from Knox College with a BA degree, from Northern Illinois University with a MA degree in education, and from Western Colorado University with a Ph.D. in Educational Philosophy. He taught at Hiawatha High School in Kirkland, Ill., Phoenix Union HS in Phoenix, and La Quinta High School in Garden Grove, CA. He served as an assistant principal at Pacifica High School and principal at Garden Grove High School, both in southern California. Wallace is a member of the NEA nd the National Association of High School Administrators. He served on the Board of Trustees at Knox College, the Orange County YMCA Board of Directors, The Galesburg youth Athletic Association, and as a youth counselor at a psychiatric hospital in California.