A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO OZARKS
About Us
Get to know a little about our staff and what makes us want to spread the word about Connection Magazine.
STAFF
Lisa Craft
Lisa is a life-long resident of Monett. She began her media career in August 1989. She has carried numerous titles including lifestyles editor, news editor, advertising manager, business manager, publisher, and now general manager. Some of those titles she has held twice. She has always looked forward to serving the community in this line of work.
Kyle Troutman
Editor
Kyle Troutman has been the editor of the Cassville Democrat and The Monett Times since 2014, and the editor of Connection Magazine since 2015. In 2017, he was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers.
Melonie Roberts
Writer
Melonie Roberts began her journalism career when she was 18 years-old at the Branson Beacon. She continued gathering experience at the Lawrence County Record, The Miller Press, The Greenfield Vedette, The Pierce City Leader-Journal and The Sarcoxie Journal. She currently holds the title of news editor at The Monett Times Newspaper and also writes for the Connection Magazine.
"I believe community journalism is an important part of today's information highway," she said. "News that happens in larger municipalities has little to do with the events that occur locally, with our hometown business leaders and our neighbors. Some of the most interesting people in the world live right here in southwest Missouri, and I am honored they trust me to tell their stories." Her hobbies include photography and travel.
Jordan Troutman
Writer
Jordan Troutman is a native of southwest Missouri and has been a journalist and magazine writer since 2018. She enjoys writing human interest pieces and telling people's stories to the world, especially those that are emotional, spread joy or positively motivate readers.
Annie Lisenby Smith
Writer
An Ozark's native, Annie Lisenby Smith has been a freelance writer for Connection Magazine since October 2019. She has also been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul. When not writing and teaching theatre, Annie can be found reading and exploring nature with her husband and two children. Her first novel, a young adult romantic adventure, will be published in August 2021.
Mike Gervais
Writer
Mike Gervais is a life-long journalist with more than 15 years of experience at daily and weekly newspapers in California. He moved to Monett in August of 2020 and began work as a news reporter with The Monett Times in December of 2020. He enjoys writing for Connection Magazine and working with the community to promote area events and tell the unique and interesting stories to be found in southwest Missouri.
ADVERTISING
Marion Chrysler
Senior Marketing Executive
Marion Chrysler is a United States Navy Veteran and proudly served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. She keeps herself very busy with numerous hobbies that include building and renovating numerous items, camping, and kayaking. In addition to being a senior marketing executive, she is also a foster parent. She takes pride in her ability to provide businesses with an advertising campaign to fit their budget and help their business grow!
Vicky Abraham
Marketing Executive
A native Texan, Vicky Abraham, was raised in her family's grocery store in a small southeast Texas town. She studied communications and journalism in college until her father's death. At that time, Vicky returned to sales and retail management until she got the opportunity to work for a small town newspaper and county shopper in Kansas. After spending more than a decade in the Coffey County Assessors Office, Vicky was overjoyed to return to the newspaper business. As a new transplant to Missouri, Vicky is excited to be back in the tall timber of the beautiful Ozark Mountains and looks forward to learning more about this area, her community and its residents.