About Kateri

I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. I grew up in a loving yet conservative home with just my mom, dad and a poodle. In the Midwest, you’re taught to work hard at everything and everyone in your life.

I first visited Los Angeles in 2008 and I decided that I would one day become a Californian. In August 2010, one month after turning 30, I finally made the big move. It’s been a journey that I cherish daily and only the strong will survive. I have had the opportunity to live in the Los Angeles/Pasadena (current location), Orange County and the Ventura County areas since living here, each having unique things to offer.

I am an award-winning journalist, I started my career when I was 9-years-old. I have a background in TV, radio, digital and print news, technical writing, public relations, social media, marketing, graphics, and event planning and execution. I love my career and all of the creative aspects it has to offer, I can’t picture myself doing anything else. You can always check out my LinkedIn page to see what publications I have written for or to network! I also graduated with an M.A. in Communication from Arizona State University in 2022, something I am very proud of!

When I’m not shufflin’ everything, in my spare time I like to write, volunteer, go wine/beer tasting, attend live concerts, hike, try new restaurants, travel and spend time with friends and family. I’m pretty simple!

15 Unique Things To Know About Me

1. I was a state champion in piano when I was 13-years-old.

2. I lettered in wrestling in high school – I was the videographer.

3. I make a mean Chocolate Chip Cookie.

4. My first published piece was when I was 7-years-old in a “Precious Moments” newsletter.

5. I didn’t really learn to cook until I was 35-years-old.

6. I love to drive. I feel so free when I do it.

7. I have a huge porcelain doll collection.

8. I love cottage cheese and applesauce. Trust me, it tastes good!

9. I love poodles.

10. I’ve been in a hot air balloon.

11. Wintertime is my favorite season in SoCal. I still like throwing on a cozy sweater!

12. My favorite concert I have ever been to would have to be Stevie Wonder. I have seen him 3 times!

13. I’ve covered about 60% of my lifetime travel bucket list. I think it’s more important to have experiences than have material possessions in life.

14. Destinations outside and within the SoCal area that I have traveled to include:

  • Arizona (Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon Horseshoe Bend, Sedona, Phoenix and Flagstaff)
  • California Central Coast (Santa Barbara, Monterey, Big Sur and Santa Cruz)
  • California Central Valley (Sacramento, Yosemite and Sequoias)
  • Canada (Ontario, Vancouver, Calgary and Banff)
  • Colorado (Denver, Aspen, Vail, Leadville, Glenwood Springs, Frisco, Breckenridge)
  • England (London and Liverpool)
  • All over Florida except the Keys
  • France (Paris and Reims)
  • Georgia (Savannah, St. Mary’s)
  • Hawaii (Maui and Kauai)
  • Iceland
  • Idaho (Idaho Falls)
  • Illinois (Chicago)
  • Indiana (Gary and Notre Dame)
  • Ireland (Dublin and Cork)
  • Louisiana (New Orleans)
  • Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo and Mazatlan)
  • Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Duluth, Red Wing, Rochester)
  • Montana (Big Sky and Bozeman)
  • Nevada (Las Vegas, Pahrump, Reno and Hoover Dam)
  • New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont)
  • New Mexico (Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos)
  • New York City
  • Northern California (Napa, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Redwoods, Lassen/Mt. Shasta/Redding and Lake Tahoe)
  • North Dakota (Fargo and Devil’s Lake)
  • Ohio (Cleveland)
  • Oregon (Portland, Bend and Redmond)
  • Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh)
  • Scotland (Edinburgh and Highlands)
  • Southern California (Orange County, San Diego, Palm Springs, Death Valley, Channel Islands, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Julian, Salton Sea)
  • South Carolina (Charleston)
  • South Dakota (Mount Rushmore and Sturgis)
  • Utah (Park City, Zion, Bryce Canyon)
  • Washington State (Seattle, Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks, Eastern Washington/Walla Walla)
  • Wyoming (Devil’s Tower, Grand Teton and Yellowstone)
  • Wisconsin (Madison, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Hudson)

15. Places I really want to visit are:

  • Anchorage/Denali National Park
  • Eastern Europe: Zurich, Geneva, Salzburg, Vienna, Krakow, Munich
  • Finland: Lapland/Helsinki
  • Florida: Key West
  • Greece: Santorini, Mykonos, Athens
  • Hawaii: Big Island
  • All over Italy
  • Nevada: Great Basin National Park
  • Oregon: remainder of the coast and Crater Lake National Park
  • Southern New Mexico
  • Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Turkey: Cappadocia
  • Upstate New York
  • Utah: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Moab
  • Washington D.C.