Meet the People of
BizStarz, Inc.

Scott Smith, president - discovered that most small businesses need and want help promoting themselves to the national news media while he was the owner of a retail business in Sacramento, California. His public relations efforts have generated interviews for himself and his clients with FOX News, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Washington Post, etc. Before striking it out on his own, Scott worked for companies such as Macy's California, Bristol-Myers Squibb, San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Harvey's Resort/Hotel-Lake Tahoe. Scott is a national honors graduate of Behavioral Science from California State University, Chico and was raised in the foothills of central California's Sierra Nevada mountains. e-mail Scott

Laurie Albrecht, executive assistant - is a vital part of the BizStarz team. she oversees multiple tasks, which include maintaining our extensive database of thousands of media contacts and client files and assisting the company president with media tours, interviews, and speaking engagements. Laurie moved to the Sacramento area from Reno, Nevada and she is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno

Teri Nichols, office manager - is responsible for the daily maintenance of BizStarz's finances and operations. Prior to joining the BizStarz team, Teri served in the United States Army and in the spring of 1999 moved to Sacramento. She is currently obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Financial Accounting at California State University, Sacramento.

Jo Chandler, contributing writer - is a seasoned writer and editor. She has worked as an editor for Comstock's business magazine, was the political correspondent for Senior World Newsmagazine, wrote a syndicated advice column and has published numerous articles. In addition to working with BizStarz, Chandler is the editor of a west coast public radio members' magazine and an editor for Sacramento Magazine and Sacramento Bride and Groom magazine. She also does freelance writing for business clients, magazines and newspapers.

Pat Kramer, contributing writer - is listed in the International Who's Who of Professional Management, and has over 20 years of writing experience in broadcast journalism, marketing, sales and public relations. She has worked with major corporations like Walt Disney Studios, Transamerica Asset Management, and Herbalife International as well as hundreds of service providers and product manufacturers in health and beauty, entertainment, medical, and general business. With 500 articles published to date, Pat's credits include Daily Variety, the L.A. Times, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Boxoffice magazine. Her business, Writer For Hire, is a certified Women-Owned Business and works with clients all over the world.





Bridget McCrea, contributing writer - is a freelance business writer who has written hundreds of articles for Florida Trend, Industrial Distribution, Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, ResponseTV and Florida Real Estate Journal. In addition to her work with BizStarz, McCrea writes regularly for Simon & Schuster's Bureau of Business Practice, Inc. Business Resources and Cahners Publishing Co.

Barbara Stahura, contributing writer - is a Tucson-based freelance writer with experience covering issues from high-tech and business to spirituality. Her work has appeared in numerous print and online publications, ranging from Executive Female to Spirituality & Health, from MSNBC.com to American News Service. She is associate editor for The Executive's Magazine, a publication that covers the Internet and e-commerce, and was previously editor of the Indiana Journal of Commerce and Industry. She is also a published poet and radio essayist.


Danielle Starkey, contributing writer - has been a reporter for newspapers and magazines for 13 years. A Los Angeles native, she graduated from UC Berkeley and Northwestern University, and spent one year at Oxford University as a Rotary scholar before returning to California to work for publications including Sunset magazine; The Sacramento Union; The Sacramento Bee and California Journal. She currently is a freelance writer and part-time journalism instructor.

Shelley Swift, contributing writer - is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer who contributes regularly to national publications like American Indian Report and regional publications like Indianapolis Monthly, the Indianapolis Business Journal and the Indianapolis Star. She graduated from Franklin College in Franklin, Ind. with a BA in journalism and sociology, and has been published in numerous newspapers, magazines and newsletters.

Heidi Prescott Wieneke, contributing writer - is a freelance writer who has written articles for Midwest Construction magazine and Indiana Business Magazine. An Erie, PA native, she graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She now works as a business reporter at the South Bend Tribune in South Bend, IN and hopes to soon become a published fiction writer.

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