Behind the Scenes
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Lauren Runow Lauren started her design career at Vaca High designing the Vaca High yearbook for three years. After high school she graduated from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco with a bachelors degree in Motion Picture and Television. After living in San Francisco for four years she realized that the big city was not for her and Vacaville is exactly where she wanted to live. Trying to stay in the field of television she worked for both FOX40 and Good Day Sacramento. After a year of both the early days or late nights, Lauren learned that television was not for her. It was then that a graphic design firm in Davis called Studio66 took a chance on her and hired her as their Motion Graphics artist. She received more layout and design training with Studio66 and learned the skills she has today to run this magazine. Though it was a tough decision to leave Studio66, Lauren wanted to be closer to Vacaville. She accepted a position at The Reporter as their new product development (aka - starting new publications). After a year with The Reporter she was offered a position with Solano Bank as their PR and Communications Coordinator. Once Solano Bank got bought out by Umpqua Bank Lauren was laid off and she made the leap to start her own business. It is from here that her dream of starting a local magazine came true with the help of her very supportive husband, Chris, their families and this great community. |
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Chris Runow A native Vacavillian Chris' roots are deep in this community. His Grandparents first called Vacaville home back in the early 1950's and they have been here ever since. Chris graduated Vacaville High in 1998 and a couple years later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After serving his country for four years in Spokane, WA Chris decided to come back home to Vacaville. Not only that but he deeply missed the skiing in Lake Tahoe. After arriving back home Chris studied and passed his Real Estate exam and began working as a Mortgage Broker, most recently for First Northern Bank in Vacaville. After reuniting with Lauren while still in the Air Force in a chance encounter one night while home on leave, the two got to know each other again and a couple years later decided to get married. Shortly after, the housing market started drying up and the young couple decided to go into business for themselves. Thus, the Birth of Vacaville Magazine. In his downtime Chris enjoys watching sports, snow skiing, hiking, and spending time with Lauren and Baby Mason. |
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Amber Kienbaum Bio coming soon! |
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Gigi Warshawsky Gigi Warshawsky graduated from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1981. She has been in the restaurant industry for over 27 years as both Chef and in Management. She currently owns her own company, Food Saftey Specialists, regularly teaches classes at Shallots Cooking School at the Nugget Market in Vacaville, is a contributor to Community Kids publication and is an Ambassador and very actively involved with The Vacaville Chamber of Commerce. She has been a resident of Vacaville for almost 20 years and her family consists of her son, Joshua; partner, Pete and 2 incredibly cute kitties. To contact Gigi; e-mail her at FoodSafetySpec@aol.com and put in subject line “Vacaville Magazine” |
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Cristina Spencer Vacaville native, Cristina Spencer obtained her B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University in addition to a Minor in Business. Cristina founded C. Spencer PR in Vacaville in 2009 after spending several years working in Solano County’s neighboring cities, San Francisco and Sacramento. During her career, she has worked with companies of all sizes, from International corporations to start up firms and has experience in a broad range of industries from enterprise technology and consumer electronics to community banking, real estate and non-profit organizations. She is proud to have founded her own Public Relations and Marketing practice in Vacaville and enjoys helping local businesses meet their marketing goals. Cristina is an active member of her community, serving as an ambassador in the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Fairfield-Suisun Rotary club and as a member of the Board of Directors for Advocates for the Arts (AFTA) and SafeQuest Solano. Cristina can be reached by calling 707-474-7784 or email her at cristina@cspencerpr.com |
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Gary Ricker Gary Ricker started as a mobile party DJ in 1999 with his start up company Loud Entertainment here in Vacaville. A love and passion for music turned hobby and profession. In 2000, Gary took up artist management and booking for local rock group Bullets and Romance (then Gooser) from Vacaville. Loud Entertainment then expanded to capacitate the booking business for other locals and independent touring acts coming through the Sacramento area and added live music production to the company. Through Loud Entertainment Gary handled and directed management and booking for Bullets and Romance. By 2004 Gary turned complete focus to Bullets and Romance to “shop” the group to record labels. He was successful by signing the group to Stereo Pristine Music group in 2005. Gary took a job with the label as intern for booking and management. Shortly after Gary met his wife Rachel and discontinued his internship with the label. Now he Dj’s for special events and weddings on the weekends and is in the process of changing Loud Entertainment into a one stop wedding and event service providing music (dj and live band), catering and event planning. Gary, a Vacaville resident for 20 years, and his wife Rachel gave birth to a very energetic little boy named Bradley in June of 2007. To contact Gary; e-mail him at Loudentertainmentbookings@yahoo.com and put in subject line “Vacaville Magazine”. |
