Susan Dickenson, editor, The Jamestowner; founder, Jamestowner Inc. Susan’s writing career began at High Point Central High School where she was editor of the school newspaper, and ended in 2020 when she retired as editor in chief of Home Accents Today, part of the Gannett-owned Furniture Today family of brands. In the years between, she graduated with a business degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, spent the 1980s and 90s in Washington and Northern Virginia, worked on K Street in the public relations and lobbying arena, moved to the government sector as a consultant for the Minority Business Development Agency, then enjoyed several years at Perot Systems, owned by the late H. Ross Perot, early tech billionaire and 1992 presidential candidate. While at Perot Systems, she dabbled in early internet technologies including a project with AOL search engine pioneer Brewster Kahle, and attended “world wide web” demos of early water mapping systems at the U.S. Geological Survey in Northern Virginia. Susan’s recent dive into water, air and local news reporting resulted from her concerns and unanswered questions about the potential effects of aggressive fast-track development on floodplains and downstream communities, including her own.
Katie Gumerson, Advisory Board Member, Jamestowner Inc.; founder, Jamestown United. Katie is a seasoned furniture designer, product developer and merchandiser whose creations have graced the showrooms of KidKraft, HFI Brands, Restoration Hardware, Frontgate and A.R.T. Furniture, where she is vice president of merchandising for the Jonathan Charles Furniture brand. In the spring of 2020, Katie founded citizens advocacy and volunteer group Jamestown United as an online forum where residents could discuss their concerns about a massive proposed development in Jamestown’s protected water supply watershed. Jamestown United has endured as a virtual community center, strengthening community bonds and raising awareness about zoning, elections, environmental, taxation and transparency issues in the local and state governments. Under Katie’s leadership, Jamestown United’s active volunteer network supports neighbors in need; maintains two miles of Jamestown roadway in the state’s “Adopt a Highway” program; has assembled and delivered hundreds of winter care packages to unsheltered individuals; and provided thanksgiving dinners, filled pantries, and purchased gifts for families during the past three holiday seasons. Katie is a graduate of the University of Idaho and the Savannah College of Art and Design, and she brings a colorful range of design, creativity, organizational and planning skills to The Jamestowner.
Robert Frederick, Advisory Board Member, Jamestowner Inc. Robert has two decades of experience in science journalism (including roles as columnist, editor, producer, and podcaster) and, most recently, was the inaugural Chief Content Officer of the Global Virus Network. His formal education includes a year-long fellowship at Harvard University researching trust in science and journalism. Robert holds a masters in applied mathematics from the University of Michigan, and a triple major in mathematics, philosophy, and statistics from The University of Chicago. Robert was the first digital managing editor of American Scientist; online editor and, later, web editor for Science magazine; and St. Louis Public Radio’s first science reporter (contributing to AP and NPR national broadcasts). He is an AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow, and was a Fellow with the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, where he taught in the university’s journalism program. Robert is The Jamestowner‘s go-to details expert, an exemplary diplomat, our voice of reason, and a valued contributor. In his spare time, he runs, sings, does yoga, and finds things like county tax errors that result in a nice $110,000 check for the Town of Jamestown. (Yes, that really happened)