FEBRUARY 2007

meet the chaldean news team
Vanessa Denha-
Garmo, Co-founder
and Editor in Chief
Vanessa has nearly 15 years
of experience in communications.
She worked at WJR
760 AM for eight years as a
reporter and talk show host.
An award winning jouranlist,
she continues as the producer
and host of the Public
Service Announcement show
for 96.3, WDVD, 93.1 Doug
FM and Radio Disney. She is
author of the book, “I Knew I
Was a Woman When...” She
has produced and voiced
several mini documentaries
and commercials. She has
spent the past four years
with the Wayne County
Executive’s office, currently
serving as Executive Robert
Ficano’s Press Secretary.
Renée Antoon,
Director of
Operations
Renée is a veteran marketing
professional with years
of experience in a variety of
management positions for
Budco, Carlson Marketing
Group and ASG
Renaissance. The owner
and president of Mainly
Marketing, she holds a
bachelor of arts degree in
public relations from Wayne
State University. Renée is
fluent in both Arabic and
Chaldean and is an active
member of the Chaldean
American Ladies of Charity
and the Chaldean
Federation of America.
Joyce Wiswell,
Managing Editor
Joyce has been with the
Chaldean News nearly
three years, and was
recently promoted to managing
editor. She graduated
with a B.A. in mass communications,
magna cum
laude, from Quinnipiac
University in Hamden,
Connecticut. She has lived
in New York City and Santa
Barbara, California, where
she worked on a number of
newspapers and magazines.
Locally, Joyce has
been published in the
Detroit Free Press,
Women’s HealthStyle,
Mirror Newspapers, Metro
Parent, Best of Times,
Signature, Strut, Home +
Design, Vital, and others.
Sandra Denha
Jolagh, Senior Sales
Executive
Sandra is proud to have
been with the Chaldean
News since its inception.
The mother of four attended
Oakland University and has
worked for Farmington
Public Schools and in the
mortgage business.
Lisy Starr,
Sales Associate
Lisy holds a degree in
psychology from Michigan
State University. She has
an extensive background
in the mortgage business
and returns to the workforce
after eight years as
a stay-at-home mom to
two children.
Sonia Alton
Hanakachel, Intern
Sonia Alton Hanakachel is
the Chaldean News’ intern.
She lives in Troy, attends
Oakland University and
plans to graduate with her
bachelors in communications
and advertisement in
2010. She also would like
to get into event planning.
Pat Dostine, Writer
Pat is a program manager
in Wayne County’s
Department of Economic
Development and
Neighborhood Preservation.
He has been writing professionally
since 2001. His
varied career has included
stints as an adjunct college
instructor, a rough carpenter,
a substitute teacher and
a truck driver manager.
Jeremy Hull, Writer
For the past seven years
Jeremy has worked as a
professional writer in newspapers,
magazines, video
training and public relations.
He was most recently
a writer with the Michigan
Department of Civil Rights.
Jeremy recently received
his secondary teaching certification
from Wayne State
University for English and
history, and is a candidate
for a master of arts in
teaching from WSU.
Paul Isso, Writer
Paul is a full-time journalism
student at Wayne State
University, where he is a
member of the Chaldean
American Student
Association (CASA). He
plans on earning a bachelor’s
degree in journalism
with a minor in political science,
then attending law
school.
Christina Gappy,
Writer
Christina is a student in
pharmacy school at Wayne
State’s College of
Pharmacy. She will graduate
with a doctorate of
pharmacy in the year 2010.
Christina completed her
undergraduate studies at
Wayne State University with
a major in English. Her hobbies
are to read, write and
interact within the Chaldean
community.
Jovan Kassab,
Writer
Jovan earned a degree in
journalism from Wayne
State University in 2005.
Her portfolio includes Style,
the Detroit Free Press,
Metro Exposure, Real
Detroit, 6 Degrees and Fox
2 News. When she is not
writing, she works at 6
Salon in Royal Oak. Her
passion is traveling, especially
to San Diego.
Jennifer T. Korail,
Writer
Jenn is an account coordinator
for Airfoil Public
Relations. She graduated
from the University of
Michigan Ann Arbor with a
bachelor’s degree in communications
and a minor in
global media studies.
Throughout her college
career she was an executive
officer of the Michigan
Association of
Communications Studies,
publicity board member of
the University of Michigan
research forum, and an
active member of the
Chaldean American
Student Association.
14 CHALDEAN NEWS FEBRUARY 2007