Name: Bill Anderson
Email: bill@bill-anderson.com
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My fascination with technology began when I obtained my novice class amateur radio license, while I was in the 6th grade. My part-time jobs during college were as a DJ and engineer for two radio stations. This led to four years in the US Air Force as a Communications Officer during the Vietnam War. In 1973, I built an IMSAI 8080, which was my first PC. 1978, I was a programmer on the team that ported Unix V7 to an Onyx Z8000 – the microcomputer to run Unix as an OS. In 1994, I managed a team that converted a massive Gopher site to HTML. In 1996, I got involved with Linux, which led to my involvement with Android. I am still a ham radio operator (WW7BA), a member of the American Legion, and actively involved in Linux and Android devices. Ask me anything about Linux and Android, but not about Windows or Mac.
Name: Jaime Lopez
Email: news@news.co.cr
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Language teacher, translator, and freelance writer with an interest in linguistics and Internet technology. Jaime Lopez is an author who has written content for various print and online publications in English and Spanish, spanning across the world. You can find him at Internet Cafes around San Jose and of course teaching his students about language semantics.
Name: Tom Rosenberger
Email: tom@costaricahomebuilder.com
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Thomas Rosenberger is a highly skilled bi-lingual professional, with 30 years of business experience. He’s a legal, permanent resident and has lived and worked in Costa Rica since 1992; inspecting, building, and remodeling housing. With his 20 years of experience in Costa Rica, Tom knows how to work with local lawyers, engineers, architects, tradesmen and government officials to get things done in Costa Rica. Moreover, he’s able to provide his clients with the knowledge they need in order to make informed decisions when conducting business in Costa Rica.
Name: Bev Lawhead Shafer
Email: bev.ls.2010@hotmail.com
Phone: 8701-1166
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Born and raised in Ohio, Bev lived in the upper Midwest and Wisconsin for many years. A vacation here in Costa Rica with her youngest daughter lead Bev to move here more than six years ago.
It is her love of language and written expression that encouraged her to pursue another career here with The Costa Rica Star. Previously, Bev held several positions in the U.S., some of which lead her to write books on various subjects. She was also a contributing writer for assorted U.S. magazines. After moving to Costa Rica, Bev taught English both in paid and volunteer capacities.
Bev attended college in the U.S. and Europe, majoring in Psychology and Sociology.
Mother to four children and a proud grandmother, Bev currently lives in the Tilaran area with her dog where she continues to write, garden and sew. Bev is also an avid painter and enjoys portraying local tropical scenery.
Name: Solson Scherman
Email: info@foto.cr
Phone: (506) 8862-4422
Business: www.foto.cr
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Solson Scherman is a photographer specializing in lifestyle portrait and event photography, based in Heredia Costa Rica. As a dual citizen (USA & CR) he has split his life between two cultures, accumulating a B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Mary Washington, and experience in a number of industries along the way. Solson was one of the early adopters of social media as a business tool in Costa Rica, and maintains a strong internet presence through a number of outlets as well as his official website, above.
As a self-taught photographer he enjoys sharing anything he’s learned, though he’s likely to admit ignorance and Google the answer.
Name: Nadine Hays Pisani
Email: puravida@happierthanabillionaire.com
Author: Happier Than A Billionaire
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Born and raised in New Jersey, Nadine Hays Pisani is the author of Happier Than A Billionaire: Quitting My Job, Moving to Costa Rica, & Living the Zero Hour Work Week. Although she has fond memories of the New Jersey Turnpike, she now lives full time in Costa Rica. Her typical morning commute consists of pouring a cup of coffee and walking onto her terrace to enjoy the howler monkeys.
When not writing, you can find here on the back of a scooter, playing with her dog, or tossing scorpions out of her bed. You can follow her adventures at happierthanabillionaire.com.
Name: Marissa Bowers
Email: marissa@mbadp.com
Phone: 513-292-4757
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Marissa Bowers fell in love with Costa Rica the moment she flew over the green mountainscapes into San José in August 2011, and wound her way to the Pacific being inspired by the beautiful terrain. Growing up in rural farmland in Ohio in the U.S., green landscapes were something that were familiar to her, but not this kind of green! Her humble beginnings living on farmland in the States ignited a dream for traveling unlike anyone in her family. A dream to see what was behind the miles of fields and pasture. Marissa left Ohio when she graduated from high school for Chicago to study graphic design at the Illinois Institute of Art. After four years in the big city she longed for something green again … and from there she moved to the beautiful hillsides of Nashville, Tennessee. After almost a decade (and a new baby girl) later, she returned to Ohio in 2003 to be close to family again, and to have her growing family know their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Professionally, Marissa’s career path began in graphic design and led to photography, specifically weddings; and it is a path that is as storied as her travels around the states and now the world. Her professional work can be found on her blogsite: mbadp.com, showcasing recent client work and travels, and portfolios of her favorite work that she has designed and photographed.
Name: Aaron Atkey
Email: info@mambosurf.com
Phone: (506) 2640-0256
Business Owner: Mambo Surf
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Canadian born, Costa Rican raised. I was born in Victoria, on Vancouver Island, but never really lived there. My parents being of the wandering sort decided to bring me to Costa Rica when I was just a few months old. I grew up on the beach, isolated from what you would consider “normal” society until I was a bit older. Being bilingual is a great thing, as it gives me unique perspectives into everyday problems here in Costa Rica.
I have a background in ESL, as well as content writing for several different websites over the years. Currently I am running my own company called Mambo Surf, with my brother. We live in Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula, and have been involved in the tourism and hospitality industry for the past 15 years as a family. Being a surfer, fisherman, writer and part time tour guide, I love to help people out. Teaching is something I love, nothing makes me happier than making a positive change in someone’s life. Weather it’s surfing, or cooking or Spanish or English, teaching has been a part of my life for a long time.
Name: Marcel Evans
Email: news@news.co.cr
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Born and raised in Eastern Canada, Marcel Evans now lives in San Jose Costa Rica and works for a technology corporation offering technical support for the in-house production team. His extensive experience with computer programming and University of Toronto science groups, makes him a really well versed writer for technology news here in Costa Rica. His Spanish is a little bit rusty, but he is picking it up quickly and loving the recent transition to Costa Rica. You can find Marcel at any bar in Costa Rica that plays Jazz music and has a good steak and wine selection.
Name: James Marshall Black, PhD
Email: jadanipz@gmail.com
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I am a generalist and always have been. Maybe that’s why I first studied English and then health, because both are pretty broad fields. Freshly armed with my respective BA and MS, the Kansas State Department of Health hired me as Senior Health Educator and I was unimaginably happy working with migrant workers, Indians, senior citizens, urban planning, children, environmental problems, community organization, alcoholism, and drafting laws, writing and traveling all over the state giving presentations at schools, community groups and county fairs. I was given a car and travel budget, and total freedom.
But then an offer I couldn’t refuse: My University (Southern Illinois University) invited me to join a health research project. I earned a PhD in health while there and then went on to become a federal health planner and training consultant. Before I knew it, I was just another bureaucrat, working in an office with coat and tie and hanging by my thumbs.
After visiting friends in Costa Rica and falling in love with the country, I shucked it all to live here, teaching English and computer science at Colegio Lincoln, and then became a radio/TV producer, and translator. I now work as a freelance writer and help persons to relocate and obtain residency. Once again, I am happy. Every day is a new adventure, and I don’t have to wear a coat and tie, either!
Name: Bernardo Montes de Oca
Email: bmontesdeoca@gmail.com
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Born in San José, Costa Rica, the 17th of October 1985. Mechanical engineer by choice, writer by passion, he began writing at the age of fourteen, finishing his first novel by the age of eighteen. His first publication as a journalist came in 2010 and has been writing in the lines of fiction, sports articles, cultural and travel journalism ever since. Always fond of detail and research, he prefers getting into the thick of the situation, whatever it is, to better understand what he is writing about.
Name: Gregory Wilkins
Email: news@news.co.cr
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Gregory Wilkins is currently working in commercial real estate in South Carolina and Virginia. He graduated the University of South Carolina in 2010 with a degree in International Relations. He spends as much time as possible in Costa Rica at his house in Playa Tamarindo which is generally around 2 months a year. This is something that he would like to increase to more months as he grows and his career and expands internationally. Gregory attended high school in Playa Brasilito from 2001-2005 and attributes Costa Rica to helping create the person that he is today. This includes his constant drive to enjoy each and everyday as much as possible, or his love and respect for humanity and positivity in a world where that is becoming much less commonplace.