Betty's Team

Our Story | Co-Founders | Team | Advisory Board

BettyConfidential.com      Desha Productions, Inc. 
750 Third Avenue                         2625 Middlefield Road
Ninth Floor                                      #700
New York, NY 10017                  Palo Alto, CA 94306 
phone: 212.549.1877                   phone: 650.949.9400
fax: 212.519.7439   

EDITORIAL

Myrna Blyth, Editor-in-Chief

For more than 20 years, Myrna Blyth was editor-in-chief and publishing director of Ladies' Home Journal. In that position, she was responsible for both the editorial and business side of the publication, which is one of America's largest and most respected magazines. She was also founding editor-in-chief and publishing director of More magazine, the only magazine aimed specifically at women over 40, which premiered in September 1998. More, one of the most successful launches of the 1990s, currently has a circulation of more than 1 million.

Ms. Blyth is also an author and has written many articles for various publications including New York and The New Yorker, as well as two novels. Her novels were both Literary Guild alternate selections. Her first non-fiction book, Spin Sisters, about the effect media has on American women was published by St. Martin's Press. The book was a selection of the Book-of-the-Month-Club and the Literary Guild and was excerpted in Reader's Digest, Advertising Age and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Favorably reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, The Washington Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer and many other publications, Spin Sisters was on The New York Times' non-fiction best seller list. The paperback edition of Spin Sisters was published in January 2005 Her newest book How to Raise an American was published in March 2007 by Crown Forum. It is a main selection of The American Compass Book Club. Ms. Blyth also now writes a weekly column for the National Review Online and writes as well for National Review, the New York Sun and the New York Post. Ms. Blyth was an official American delegate for the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. She is currently chairman of the President's Commission on White House Fellows. She is also on the Department of Justice's National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women. She was also a delegate from New York State to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging and is on the Leadership Council of the National Council on Aging. To contact Myrna, please e-mail her at myrna@BettyConfidential.com.

Kathy Campbell, Executive Managing Editor

There isn’t much that Kathy Campbell won’t do to get the scoop. Follow a celebrity into the ladies room at the Golden Globe Awards? Check. Go out to dinner with a series of total strangers for a story on internet dating? Check. Slather her face with a concoction made of crushed strawberries and yogurt to test homemade cosmetics? Check. In her long career as a writer, editor and publicist in her native Australia and the U.S., Kathy has been guided by her love of pop culture. After working at Interview, Harper’s Bazaar, In Touch and the New York Post’s PageSix.com and Page Six Magazine, she has arrived at BettyConfidential.com as executive managing editor where she combines her fascination with celebrities with her passion for stories that entertain and inform. To contact Kathy, please email her at kathy.campbell@BettyConfidential.com.

 April Daniels Hussar, Deputy Editor

A California girl transplanted to the wilds of the Big Apple, April's recent history includes: extensive writing and editing, acting off-off-off (OFF) Broadway, and, last but not least, finding Mr. Right and becoming a mummy (slummy or yummy—depends on the day). Most recently April was managing editor of Yuddy.com. April has been a contributing editor at Ocean Style Magazine and has contributed to a variety of online publications including SheFinds.com and the Washington Post/Newsweek Co.'s eco-site Sprig.com.  If you told her, say six years ago, that she'd soon be a bonified member of the pre-school Tricky Tray Committee and number one fan of Whole Foods, she would have laughed merrily in your face before ordering another Cosmopolitan whilst continuing to flirt with the bartender.  Determined not to let life end post-Bambina, April's adventures now often include tickets and tables for three. She's as likely to be found rubbing elbows with fellow fashionistas and gawking at celebs at premiers & events as trolling Target for cheap-chic tees and economy-sized Tide. In sum—she's a modern gal, a true Betty—attempting the great cosmic balancing act of being a woman in the 21st century, with all the inherent contradictions, questions and wide-open opportunity. April blogs about life in suburbia at OnTheVerge.tv. To contact April, please e-mail her at april@BettyConfidential.com.

Jane Farrell, Senior Editor

The quintessential New Yorker, Jane Farrell was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, graduated from college in the Bronx, and went to work in Manhattan. There, she became a local reporter for United Press International, the news agency whose motto was "Deadline Every Minute." (A good preparation for BettyConfidential!) During her time at UPI, Jane covered everything from criminal trials to the St. Patrick's Day Parade (hey, in New York it's a big deal). When she got tired of chasing corrupt politicians as they exited the courthouse, Jane entered the world of women's magazines. She was Articles Editor at Ladies' Home Journal, editing health, relationship and entertainment pieces, and she interviewed Mary Jo Kopechne's parents on the 20th anniversary of Chappaquiddick. As Senior Editor at McCall's, Jane acted as book acquisitions editor and focused on news-related pieces. (Using a pseudonym, she also wrote a very embarrassing relationship piece.) When McCall's became Rosie magazine, as in Rosie O'Donnell, Jane was named Executive Editor and remained there until the publication's untimely, and much regretted, end. She still remembers the cake recipes quite fondly. In her off hours, Jane watches Curb Your Enthusiasm and feeds her four ravenous cats: Lilibet, Sammy, Archie and Judy. To contact Jane, please email her at jane.farrell@BettyConfidential.com.

PJ Gach, Senior Editor

PJ Gach is afraid of big scary bugs and heights, but that’s about it. This New York City based editor has written Op Eds for The New York Post and is proud of the hate mail she received for her efforts. She’s related to the first man who owned a car in New York City, thereby making the streets unsafe for pedestrians, which is why she prefers the subway. As a young child, PJ would steal her mother’s copy of WWD, and that’s how she started her fascination with fashion. Both Tim Gunn and Brandusa Nero have complimented her on her style. PJ began her career in journalism covering the music and entertainment industry. She’s interviewed Yoko Ono, Alicia Keyes, Usher, and a host of other A list celebrities. Some of the publications PJ has written for include Rolling Stone (online and print), EDGE Publications, metro.pop, Ingénue, Gear, Drill and Teen Beat magazines. Her first book, Crazy for Cody: An Unauthorized Biography of Cody Linley was published by Penguin Books in June 2009. To reach PJ, please email pj.gach@BettyConfidential.com.

Carrie Seim, L.A. Correspondent

Carrie covers life, love and getting it on in Hollywood. She has written about Capitol Hill politics, immigration policy reform, saltwater crocodiles and Paris Hilton's panties for Newsday, The Chicago Reporter, National Geographic Television and the Tyra Banks Show. (Not necessarily in that order.) Carrie writes the humorous dating column "Single and Fierce" for TyraTv.com and had a recurring role on the E! Network's "7 Deadly Hollywood Sins." She is a member of the sketch comedy group The Deviants, produced by Maverick Television, and recently performed her original sketch comedy show "Midwestern Wisdom" at the prestigious Comedy Central Stage. She's an alum of the Groundlings Theatre, where she currently teaches improv. Carrie's comedic essay "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" was published in the recently released book Mortified: Love is a Battlefield. She regularly contributes political satire to JibJab.com. To contact Carrie, please e-mail her at carrie@BettyConfidential.com.

Francine Segan, Food+Home Editor

 Francine Segan, noted food writer and culinary historian, is the author of four cookbooks including Shakespeare's Kitchen (Random House, '03) and Opera Lover's Cookbook (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, '06), which was nominated for both James Beard and IACP awards as the best book on entertaining and best cookbook of the year. She is frequently quoted as a food expert for papers such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, L.A. Times and the Chicago Tribune.

 Ms Segan is a regular contributor for the Tribune Media Syndicates, which reaches more than 65 newspapers across the country, and for several magazines, including Food Arts, Gastronomica, and Berkshire Living.

Her many TV appearances include NBC's Today show, CBS's The Early Show, and CBS's Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. In addition she has been featured on many specials for the History and Discovery channels and the Food Network. Ms. Segan is a frequent radio guest and a regular on Martha Stewart Living radio.

Ms. Segan lectures across the country for organizations such as the Smithsonian Museum, the Virginia Fine Arts Museum, Abigail Adams Museum, Norman Rockwell Museum, and Museum of Natural History. She recently moderated a panel for the Tribecca Film Festival on food in film with Isabella Rosellini and Stanley Tucci.

A member of the Culinary Historians of New York, Ms. Segan was inducted last year into the prestigious Les Dames d' Escoffier, an organization of women food professionals.

Faye Brennan, Assistant Editor

Her friends call her "the real life Carrie Bradshaw" thanks to her curly blonde hair and her writer-with-style status, but Faye Brennan prefers to be no one except herself. Hailing from Westchester, NY, Faye was the "intern queen" throughout college, having stints at Westchester Magazine, Jane, Maxim, and Blender. She used her experiences in the magazine world to launch em magazine, a lifestyle magazine she founded for Emerson College. Her work has been published on WomenWorking.com, and she regularly reports on the city's latest trends as the New York Women's Fashion and Style Examiner for Examiner.com. Aside from loving life as assistant editor at BettyConfidential.com, Faye spends her time quoting Will Ferrell movies, giving her girls relationship advice, performing private concerts for her mirror, and trying to achieve the perfectly stocked closet. To contact Faye, please e-mail her at faye.brennan@BettyConfidential.com.

Kathryn H. Cusimano, Assistant Editor

Kathryn is a New York-based writer and editor. She overcame a lifetime of reluctant writing by joining the staff of her college newspaper, where she fell in love with the construction of good stories. She hasn’t stopped writing since. While writing for and editing her campus newspaper, The Observer at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Kathryn held Web internships at Seventeen and New York Magazine, where she wrote about everything from 21-year-old pop stars to 21st Century pirates. She also spent several months living in London, where she became a travel junkie and learned that nothing cures a bone-deep chill like fish ‘n chips and a pint. Beyond having a blast with Betty, she loves exploring New York City, watching movies, reading and creating new projects for herself. Her next project? Overcoming her irrational fear of writing fiction. To contact Kathryn, please e-mail her at kathryn.cusimano@BettyConfidential.com.

Jen most recently was the managing director at Astia- an organization based in Silicon Valley that delivers strategically defined programs to women-led companies and entrepreneurs in high-growth markets by providing access to capital, mentoring and leadership development. As the managing director of Astia, Jen was responsible for Astia's market expansion both internationally and for women-led companies here in the U.S. Her extensive background in marketing and brand building as well as expertise in startup strategies brings valuable insight and business skills to BettyConfidential.com.

Prior to Astia, Jen was the founder of Signature Leadership where she worked with her clients to design business models that scale and accelerated manageable growth, either through entering new markets or increasing revenue with existing markets. Jen has a strong sense of brand equity, in part due to her positions at P3M during the early days of the internet and at Apple Computer.

A graduate of Colorado State University, Jen holds a degree in marketing and business administration. She is a mentor at Adeo Ressi's The Founders Institute, and serves on Astia's Advisory Board. To contact Jen, please e-mail her at jen.shelby@BettyConfidential.com.

 SALES

Jan Studin, VP of Sales

Prior to joining the Betty team in August 2009, Jan Studin was Vice President of Corporate Sales at The Meredith Corporation where she led the team in creating integrated sales platforms for many of the leading advertisers in the United States. Studin began her career at Grey Advertising and joined Woman’s Day Magazine as a Account Manger rising up through the ranks and was named the Vice President/Publisher of Woman’s Day Magazine in 1996. She was then name Vice President /Publisher of G+J The Parents Media Group in January 2002 and then chosen to be the Vice President/Publisher of Better Homes & Gardens in March 2006. A graduate of Ithaca College, Studin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

To contact Jan, please e-mail her at jan.studin@BettyConfidential.com.