CONTRIBUTORS

Katherine Tweed

Katherine enjoys capturing the images and ideals of people and community in words, and teaching and coaching writers and editors. An adjunct instructor in the Mass Communications Department at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and an adjunct instructor in the Communication Department at North Dakota State University. Katherine is particularly intrigued by how local news media affect people and events around the world. An active member of the Fargo Lions Club, she is also a board member of Edgewood United Methodist Church. She and her husband, Doug, have one daughter, Kara, and live in Fargo with a great golden retriever, Ava.

Kim Malakowsky Alissa Maier

Alissa grew up on a farm near Barnesville, MN. She attended college at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities and received her B.A. in Communication Studies. While working full time, she began a Master’s program and graduated in 2012 with a M.S. in Strategic Leadership from the University of Mary. She currently holds a position as a Senior Account Manager at Discovery Benefits in Fargo, ND.

In her free time, aside from writing for Area Woman, Alissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves to shop. In the summer time, you can find her at the lake with her family and friends. She loves to travel and has a long wish list of places to visit in the future.

An art lover from an early age, Kim spent the early years of her career as a graphic artist and editorial liaison.

Her work led her to the publishing world where she became Editor-in-Chief of award winning "From House to Home" national magazine. In addition, Kim served as Editor for "Wedding Vow" and "PB&J"—a family publication, as well as Director of Operations for Publication Services of America.

Today, Kim continues to write and edit and is passionate about her work with Friends of Chimbote, traveling to Chimbote, Peru as often as she can, to work at Father Jack’s Mission.