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Born in 1951, I was the first-born child of John Leo Peter Martinelli and Shirley Mae Fernandez. We lived in a two story, brick building, purchased and owned by my fraternal grandparents, Joseph and Anna Martinelli in the 1940’s. Grandpa Joe, immigrated to the United States in 1919 and was employed as a brick layer and then had scullery duties in a well-known restaurant in downtown Chicago restaurant, The Blackhawk, across the street from Marshall Field’s (their Wabash entrance). Eventually my grandfather observed other cooks (or chefs depending on their mood) and taught himself how to grill meats, sauté fish, and prepare simple, but tasty sauces to accompany said meats and fish… he became a cook … AND … he loved the opera.

Ed is a retired school teacher who taught special and elementary education in Fort Madison and Keokuk, Iowa. He has a B.S. in Elementary and Special Education from the State University of New York at Geneseo (1977) and Master's in Learning Disabilities from Truman State University (1985). Ed was a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica (1979 - 81). He retired from teaching fourth grade in Keokuk for twenty-two years in 2011.

Pam Marolla is a longtime fan of public radio. She serves as pastor at First Lutheran Church in Galesburg and loves to be able to share the wonderful acoustics with the wider community.

I am a Burlington resident and a retired restauranteur who loved every day at The Ivy, and like everyone else, I miss the food. In my retirement, I am enjoying being active with my 10 grandchildren, traveling, and doing needlepoint. I am very active in the United Church of Christ denomination, serving in my local church as well as on the Iowa Conference Board of Directors. In March of this year, I welcomed a refugee family from Ukraine, and will add another at the end of this month. I am co-president of The League of Women Voters of Southeast Iowa, as well as a member in three book clubs.

As a native of Minnesota, Jill's first introduction to public radio was through Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home weekly broadcast. Her repertoire of public radio consumption has expanded since then to include The Splendid Table, Ovation, All Things Considered, Hidden Brain, Ted Radio Hour, Snap Judgement to name just a few regular companions during her years (and many traveling miles) as a college recruiter for universities in Texas, Minnesota, and Illinois and still today during the drive to work, gardening, and creating stained glass pieces.

Courtney is a professional life and leadership coach, formerly a music business professor. She is passionate about empowering women to overcome limiting beliefs and adopt healthier mindsets.

William “Will” Buss is an alumnus and an associate professor in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University. Prior to working at the university, Will was a print journalist in the greater St. Louis area. He has since been a contributing broadcaster at TSPR since 2016 and joined the Tri States Public Radio Friends Board in 2019.

Reverend Doctor Monica Corsaro is the Settled Senior Pastor of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa. Her career combines traditional ministry and political activism, serving diverse communities in Washington State, Illinois, Colorado, and Southern California.