Meet the Watermark Staff

Name: Tom Dyer
Title: Publisher
What You Need To Know: Tom Dyer is Watermark’s founder, publisher, and off-and-on editor, who still contributes features and news stories. Tom grew up in Maitland and graduated from Winter Park High School, Depauw University and the University of Florida College of Law. He is an attorney, practicing in the area of wills, trusts, estate planning and probate. Tom can’t say no to ice cream and his superpower is an eerily accurate imitation of Skeletor, nemesis to He-Man.
Fun Fact: Tom has climbed Vermont’s highest mountain.  

Name: Rick Claggett
Title: Chief Financial Officer
What You Need To Know: A long-time Orlando resident who graduated from Winter Park High School, Rick Claggett considers Central Florida to be his home. After receiving his B.A. in Theater Arts, Rick worked in New York's entertainment industry. In 2002 Rick joined Watermark as the Admin. Assistant until he was promoted to Business Manager in 2005. Rick’s favorite Orlando hangout is “Sip,” his weakness is Mexican food, and he likes working at Watermark because there’s a sense of doing something positive for local LGBT communities.
Fun Fact: Rick was once Ricki Lake’s personal assistant.

Name: Steve Blanchard
Title: Editor
What You Need To Know: Steve Blanchard hails from Arnold, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. After graduating from the University of Missouri - Columbia, he accepted a job writing sports at the Fulton Sun in Missouri, then as a business writer for the Charlotte Sun in Port Charlotte, FL. After four years, Steve moved with his partner of nine years, Phillip, to St. Petersburg in 2004 where he started working with Watermark. His superpower is faultless listening skills, but he can be disarmed by a single slice of pizza.
Fun Fact: Steve’s favorite aspect of his job is the chance to meet exciting people.

Name: Jamie Hyman
Title: Online Editor
What You Need To Know: Jamie Hyman is a graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University, a degree put to good use as the first-ever News Director for an Upper Florida Keys radio group. After stops in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Jamie settled in Orlando in 2008. Her superpower is the ability to smell desperation in craigslist sellers, and when she’s not at work, she’s reading, surfing or playing rugby.
Fun Fact: Jamie once crashed a restaurant opening just so she could meet Bob Barker.

Name: Jake Stevens
Title: Art Director
What You Need To Know: Jake has been with Watermark since February 2007 and uses his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree to create the signature editorial layouts that Watermark is known for. His previous credits also include Pre-Press Technician for Upper Valley Press of N.H., Art Director for Backstage Pass Magazine in Daytona Beach, the 2007 St. Pete Pride Program, the Come Out With Pride 2007 Program and Play bill (also a few COWP advertisements and flyers). When Jake isn’t at work, he can be found on Facebook, at Paradise’s karaoke nights, or at a hardcore metal show.
Fun Fact: Jake spent seven years working as a cowboy-lifeguard at a Western-themed water park.

Name: Josh Evans
Title: Sales Account Manager - Tampa
What You Need To Know: Born in Michigan, Josh migrated to Central Florida in the late 90s to attend University of Central Florida. He graduated in 2005 with a degree in Communicative Disorders, and decided to make Orlando his permanent home. Josh came to Watermark after a 3-year stay with Hope and Help of Central Florida as a project coordinator for the MuM (Men Uniting Men) group. He is very involved in his community and headed up “Runway For A Cure,” an annual fashion show in honor of World AIDS Day. It’s no surprise that his superpower is the ability to dress people fabulously.
Fun Fact: Josh’s favorite hangout is anywhere his MuM boys are.

Name: Jim Nixon
Title: Sales Account Manager – Tampa
What You Need To Know: Raised in Central North Carolina, Jim joined the Navy, received his BA in Business management, then worked in management and sales all over the south before finding his way back to Florida with his partner in 2002. His favorite Tampa Bay hangouts are Gold’s Gym and George’s Alibi, he loves taking is two dogs to the park, and he can’t turn down chocolate cake and a glass of milk. Jim’s favorite part of working at Watermark is building connections like with the GaYBOR District Coalition and the Tampa Bay Business Guild.
Fun Fact: Jim’s personal superpower is bitchiness.

Name: Don Williams
Title: Sales Account Manager - Orlando
What You Need to Know: Don began his media career as a radio announcer/disc jockey, then after a decade of spinning 45 rpm records, he decided to move into advertising sales. Don has had three careers with Watermark over the past 10 years. He began his third career on June 1, 2009 and is happy to be back. He lives with his partner of eight years, Jeremy, in downtown Orlando. They are owned by two miniature pinschers, Tina & Ike & Cocoa, a cocker spaniel. They also double as a splendid alarm system.
Fun Fact: Don collects vinyl records of all three speeds, CDs and  DVDs of classic movies from the 30s through today, including many of the Disney Treasures series.

Name: Erik Caban
Title: Administrative Assistant / Contributing Writer
What You Need To Know: Erik handles a multitude of duties, including Classified Sales, Event Planning and Distribution. Hailing from Chicago, Ill., Erik majored in journalism at Columbia College. His superpower is a no holds barred attitude, but can be disarmed if he sees a hot pair of Fiesso or Robert Wayne shoes. Erik is the talent behind Watermark’s “Fire Down Below” blog where he talks about dating, love, and yes… sex. Erik resides with his partner, Norm, in downtown Orlando.
Fun Fact: Erik has an almost illicit addiction to Starbucks.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

New York-born Lawrence Ferber juggles several synergistic careers at once: entertainment and travel journalist, film festival programmer/curator and filmmaker. Holding a BA in Film Production from NC State University, his debut feature (as co-writer) is BearCity, a gay romantic comedy set in NYC's bear scene and due for release in 2010. Email Lawrence Ferber.

Stephen J. Miller has been Watermark’s film critic and features writer since October 2007.  He believes art matters more than politics in the long run.  He sees well over a hundred movies a year.  His work includes playwrighting and book reviews. Stephen likes absurdism, as long as it makes sense. Email Stephen Miller.

Anthony Paull is an author, filmmaker, and syndicated columnist of The Dating Diet, which is published in various GLBT publications across the United States. Anthony's web site.

Gregg Shapiro is a 1999 inductee into Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, as well as the recipient  of 2003's Outmusic Award for Outstanding Support. He covers music, film, books and theater for a variety of regional GLBT publications. His book, Protection, was published by Gival Press in 2008.

Brian Feist has been writing for GLBT publications for over ten years. He joined the Watermark staff in 2009 and contributes a recurring column of social and political commentary. Brian grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota, where his family still lives. He has degrees in Music, Education and Nursing, but prefers to think of himself as a student of life.

Mary Meeks is a commercial litigation attorney at Carlton Fields, P.A. in Orlando and  Mary is a gay rights activist who leads a grassroots social justice organization called "OneOrlando.com." She has co-produced two award-winning documentaries on gay rights issues.  Mary writes a periodic column in Watermark called "Living Loud." Email Mary Meeks.

Reverend Phyllis Hunt has a deep passion for people who have been marginalized and disenfranchised by the unjust and unrighteous actions religious authority and beliefs. She is a native Floridian and has served the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa since 1993 offering a progressive Christian message of inclusion. Phyllis writes a period column on spiritual issues called “Abundant Blessings.”

John Chambrone received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcasting while growing up in New York. Shortly after moving to the Tampa area in the late nineties, he began producing a monthly gay and lesbian radio program, 'Out  in the Open,' on WMNF 88.5fm here in Tampa. After a decade and a half of writing for the Gazette in Tampa, John is a proud member of the Watermark family.  John focuses mostly on music and pop culture and has reviewed hundreds of concerts.

John Sullivan has been writing for Watermark for more than ten years. He has covered a variety of topics but his true love is celebrity interviews, and John has talked to everyone from Julie Andrews and Janis Ian to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth. When he is not on the phone with Emmy, Grammy, Tony or Oscar winners he enjoys spending time with his adorable husband of 21 years and going to Disney theme parks.