About Us

Coast, a monthly regional lifestyle magazine, has had the same goal for over 20 years: provide readers with provocative features and slices of Orange County life in a distinctive style they cannot find in any other publication.

Our editorial staff is always searching for the colorful and the sophisticated, the overlooked and incomparable treasures that define the area as one of the most sought after addresses in the nation.

We're always trying to get to know our readers a little better, but here's a chance to get to know us...

Erin Zilis
VP/Publisher
Also Responds To: The line at my door
Official Duties: Ensuring that our readers and advertisers get the most from all of our products and that our team is happy to come to work every day
Additional Duties: I dream about work from midnight to 6 a.m. Does that count?
Guilty Pleasures: '80s music, celeb rags, cosmopolitans, Mastro's butter cake, "Project Runway"
Turn-Offs: Prejudice and cockiness
Superhero Alter Ego: I'm not a superhero?
Theme Song: "Got to be Real" by Cheryl Lynn or "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai

Justine Amodeo
Editor-in-Chief
Also Responds To: Are you on the phone? Mom, Control Freak, tears
Official Duties: Managing editors, writers, photographers and designers, picking covers, choosing content
Additional Duties: Offering meditative insight in the midst of continuous drama
Guilty Pleasures: National Enquirer, Bugles, anything to do with vampires
Turn-Offs: Divisiveness and cruelty
Superhero Alter Ego: Sarasvati
Theme Song: "Time Rag" by Joan Baez

Jessica Peralta
Online Editor
Also Responds To: JP, The Other Jessica, Who does the website?, blank stares
Official Duties: Web posting, editing, writing about beauty, spas and music, assisting with the magazine production process
Additional Duties: Sitting in a corner, with my head hidden behind my giant flat screen monitor, avoiding human contact, while listening to my iPod Shuffle and occasionally dancing in my chair
Guilty Pleasures: Zombies, Slurpees, Doritos, '80s teen romance flicks, wearing scary monster makeup, "The Hills"
Turn-Offs: Dishonesty and killer clowns
Superhero Alter Ego: Trinity (The Matrix)
Theme Song: "Aphrodisiac" by Bow Wow Wow

Jessica Forsyth
Managing Editor
Also Responds To: The Other Jessica, What's the command key for ñ?, heads popping out from behind monitors
Official Duties: Writing, editing, interviewing, magazine production, research
Additional Duties: Keeping my Peace Lily alive and ranting about the universe's injustices
Guilty Pleasures: "Law & Order SVU" marathons; boy bands; too much butter; dessert every night; staying in my pajamas all day on Sunday to watch football and eat guacamole
Turn-Offs: Willful ignorance; MySpace, Facebook, etc.
Superhero Alter Ego: Barack Obama
Theme Song: "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan

Lisa Liddane
Editor At Large
Also Responds To: Want some chocolate?
Official Duties: Editing, writing, assisting with magazine production, producing the home section
Additional Duties: Helping to keep the happy meter working in editorial
Guilty Pleasures: Chocolate without nuts, "Grey's Anatomy," chocolate, "Heroes," chocolate, "Lipstick Jungle," and did I say chocolate?
Turn-Offs: War, violence, cruelty, unkindness
Superhero Alter Ego: Elastigirl
Theme Song: "Rise Above It" by Afro Celt Sound System

Donna Bunce
Executive Editor
Also Responds To: Donna B, Donna Jean, Birthday Mama
Official Duties: Writing society and fashion columns; organizing fashion shoots; and attending charity events and parties representing the magazine
Additional Duties: Office birthday party planner
Guilty Pleasures: Chocolate, Diet Pepsi, Dubble Bubble, Stoli martini straight up with two olives, vintage movies, The History Channel, "Mad Men," historical fiction, singing, stylish clothes and jewelry
Turn-Offs: Drivers who cut in, complainers
Superhero Alter Ego: Audrey Hepburn
Theme Song: "Donna" by Ritchie Valens

Lee Offenhauer
Advertising Art Director
Also Responds To: Uh-oh, why won't this work?, What am I doing wrong?, Leeeeeee!!!
Official Duties: Designer, production go-to guy
Additional Duties: In-house IT representative, unofficial office green cop
Guilty Pleasures: Lakers basketball
Turn-Offs: SUVs, Hummers, greed
Superhero Alter Ego: The Green Lantern
Theme Song: "Catch the Wind" by Donovan

Scott McPherson
Art Director
Also Responds To: Senderista
Official Duties: Editor wrangler
Additional Duties: That's enough.
Guilty Pleasures: iPhone Apps
Turn-Offs: Insufferable fools
Superhero Alter Ego: Kid Colt
Theme Song: Sweet's version of "Ballroom Blitz"

Susan Segal
Calendar Editor/Contributing Writer
Also Responds To: Your Majesty
Official Duties: Writing the monthly events calendar and occasional articles
Additional Duties: Looking up unnecessary and arcane facts, demanding attention
Guilty Pleasures: Wii Lego Star Wars
Turn-Offs: Self-importance
Superhero Alter Ego: Wonder Woman
Theme Song: "Are You Alright?" by Lucinda Williams

Ralph Palumbo
Photographer
Also Responds To: Dad
Official Duties: To photograph anything Coast asks me to
Additional Duties: To have it in before deadline
Guilty Pleasures: Old jazz records, P.F. Chang's, trying to play guitar, art shows, Amoeba on Sunset
Turn-Offs: Superficial people (having a blast here in Orange County)
Superhero Alter Ego: Underdog
Theme Song: "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra