Fine Life Media is comprised of the industry’s most experienced and expert group of businesspeople and journalists. With more than 100 years of combined experience, the FLM team has built International Watch and Stylus into world-class publications with national and international reporting on the most cutting edge news, trends, topics and events in their industries. Meet the leaders of our Fine Life Media team:
Danny Govberg
President, Fine Life Media
Fine Life Media president, Danny Govberg is a magnate in the world of jewelry and watches. With an intense entrepreneurial spirit and an inherent interest in fine watches, Danny constantly works to expand the watch category through brand and retail relations and consumer education. His passion for the industry led him to purchase Fine Life Media in 2000, growing the business through suggestions of expanded editorial coverage and building brand and retail relationships to offer a greater potential for growth at the company. Danny also founded North America’s Leading Watch Retailers, an exclusive group of U.S. and Canadian retailers who are awarded membership based on their salesmanship, industry expertise and brand offerings.
Gary George Girdvainis
Group Publisher, Fine Life Media
Editor in Chief, International Watch
A five-year stint at the Robb Report in the mid-end of the 1980’s immersed in advertising sales was the perfect training venue to develop both client relationships and negotiation skills for Gary Girdvainis, a raw but willing recruit. The dynamic and open office environment also added a general magazine-publishing knowledge that would come in handy in the next chapter of his working life at PMG Inc., publishers of Ferrari World magazine, Italian Cars, Sports & Classic, as well as hardcover books on similar exotic automotive themes.
In February of 1990, after an initial orientation period of only a few months, the owner of PMG tossed Girdvainis a copy of a newly minted magazine he planned to import and distribute in the USA called International Wristwatch.
This new watch magazine became an area of development and focus¬—not only for ad sales, but also to develop an initial plan to bring out an independent North American edition—and International Wristwatch USA was born. Years and several business-model and logo changes later, the magazine Girdvainis originally founded as a bi-monthly with around 80 pages per issue—now known simply as iW—has grown into the only monthly magazine covering watches, with page counts ranging from 160-256 per issue.
When not working at the office or on various business travels, Girdvainis enjoys time spent with his wife, his 4-year-old son, Gary Jr., and 1-year-old daughter, Jessica. If there is any spare time left after that, you might find him on a golf course five or six times a year and on the ski slopes about half that often. Tennis, ice hockey, biking, bowhunting, fishing, camping, and hiking are also favorite activities whenever time and season permit.
Nancy Olson
Associate Publisher, Fine Life Media
Editor, Stylus
Nancy Olson has been involved in the writing instrument industry for the past seventeen years with a mission to bring greater awareness to fine writing instruments worldwide. She has worked firsthand with virtually all the major pen manufacturers and pen specialist retailers, helping to promote their products and services to a global audience. Nancy is currently associate publisher of Fine Life Media and editor of Stylus magazine—the internationally acclaimed bi-monthly publication devoted to pens, accessories and the art of writing.
Nancy has traveled to the world’s finest writing instrument manufacturers, writing more than 250 articles about writing instruments, watches and jewelry. Her articles have been published in various luxury magazines including the Robb Report and Canadian Jewellery Business. She has interviewed more than her share of artisans, corporate principals and luxury retailers, and as a keynote speaker at tradeshows held throughout the U.S., Nancy educates both retailers and consumers about the opportunities fine pens offer.
Michael Thompson
Editor, International Watch
Michael Thompson brings more than 19 years of high-level editorial experience to the offices of iW. His background spans several high-quality industry publications including Jewelers’ Circular-Keystone (JCK) and Professional Jeweler, as senior editor and senior New York editor, respectively. Michael has traveled to the Swiss watch shows since the early 1990s, covering stories for these publications in addition to reporting for numerous other industry publications, including Basel magazine and Status for Cellini, and contributing to several websites. Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
George Mayer
Web Editor, International Watch
A native of Pennsylvania, George Mayer just recently graduated from Middlebury College with a Political Science degree in 2007. George comes to International Watch magazine looking to build on his innate interest in watches and journalism. George has worked with a variety of different periodicals throughout his college career and possesses a strong level of interest in the finest brands of the watch industry. George is able to offer watch enthusiasts expert advice and information on a variety of different timepieces.
Jonathan Bues
Managing Editor, International Watch
Jonathan Bues joined International Watch magazine in 2005 as a copy editor and writer. Exceptionally interested in the technical side of watches, Jonathan enjoys writing in a way that makes complicated horology accessible to readers and consumers. In addition to composing many features, Jonathan compiles a monthly “Guide” section in which watches are grouped together by type and presented to readers in search of a specific kind of timepiece. Past topics explored include tourbillons, diver watches, retrograde watches, and mechanical timepieces priced under $1,000.
While his interests generally hew to the haute horology segment of mechanical watchmaking, Jonathan also has a deep appreciation for firms that meld technology with competitive pricing, and often advocates for them in his articles. He enjoys discussing trends and tastes with collectors, retailers and, when possible, watchmakers. What appeals most to Jonathan about watches is the interchange of information the subject allows, and that he can be teacher or student, depending on the company he’s in.
In his free time, Jonathan enjoys attending concerts and sporting events, reading books and spending time with friends and family.
A Connecticut native, Jonathan earned his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Joseph’s University, in Philadelphia, in 2004.
Jon Messer
Associate Publisher & Technical Editor, Stylus
As an avid pen collector his entire life, Jon Messer’s technical know-how and passion for pens makes him an invaluable component to Stylus and Fine Life Media. Trained in political science and business and public administration, Jon worked several years in government before parlaying his experience into a career in business development consulting, building sales and marketing development teams and recruiting consultancies for internationally renowned private sector clientele. Among his clients were brokerage and securities firms, and international and merchant banking companies including Oppenheimer & Co., Morgan Stanley, UBS, Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, Fidelity, Citibank and Chase. In addition, he worked with luxury product brands, including Montblanc, Cartier, Caran d'Ache, Omas and Visconti.
As his work with luxury brands progressed, Jon developed a strong enthusiasm for the industry of fine writing instruments, and came to Stylus as its inaugural editor in 2003. Currently serving as the Associate Publisher and Technical Editor, he dedicates his energies to marketing and working globally with manufacturers, designers, and distributors of fine writing instruments to source Stylus’ global reach.
A lifelong East coast resident, Jon resides with his wife, two children, two cats, and his extensive collection of pens and pencils.
Carol Besler
Contributing editor, International Watch
Carol Besler, a contributing editor of International Watch since 2001, has written about watches, jewellery, gems and diamonds for 16 years, with pieces appearing in Worth, The Robb Report, Fashion Magazine, Canadian Diamonds and World One. She is the former editor and publisher of Canadian Jeweller magazine, and the author of Birks: Celebrating 125 Years, the history of Henry Birks & Sons.
Elizabeth Doerr
German Correspondant, International Watch
Elizabeth Doerr has dedicated most of her waking hours to mechanical watches since 1991. She is a regular contributor to International Watch, DuPont Registry, and other U.S. publications as well as international magazines such as World One, Mexico’s Tiempo de Relojes, Australia’s Luxe, and Holland’s Watch. Doerr is also senior editor of Wristwatch Annual, a yearly 432-page overview of high-end mechanical watches.
This native of Petoskey, Michigan, specializes in complicated, high-end mechanical watches and technical articles such as factory reviews. Her friendly, long-standing relations to the European watchmaking scene make her a valuable member of the International Watch team.
Doerr moved to Bonn, Germany, in 1988 to pursue graduate studies in German language and literature after graduating from Kalamazoo College with a degree in German and European Studies. She now lives and works in Karlsruhe, on the northern edge of Germany’s Black Forest, with her husband and two children, though Switzerland and Glashütte feel much like her adopted second homes.
Roberta Naas
Writer, International Watch
For the past 23 years, Roberta Naas has written extensively on watches for a variety of different publications. During the most recent 15 years, Naas has covered the luxury side of watches and jewelry, writing business, information and trend articles regularly for prestigious consumer magazines.
Throughout the past 12 years, Naas has written three books on timepieces that can be found at Rizzoli and Barnes & Nobles stores, published by BW Publishing: Great Timepieces of the World; Master Wristwatches; Masters of the Millennium. For seven years in a row, Naas also serves as the U.S. editor and writer of the 500+-page annual watch catalog, Watches International, wherein she researches and compiles the histories and current product collections of the world’s top watchmakers.
Naas has been writing for IW almost since its inception, as well.
As a veteran in the watch and jewelry industries, Naas has an intimate knowledge of the behind-the-scenes workings of these fields. She travels internationally to attend exhibitions and to meet with manufacturers and designers so she can bring the newest information to our readers.
Naas has a Master of Arts Degree in Newspaper Journalism, which she earned from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Journalism in 1980. She is renowned in America in the luxury fields she covers for her editorial integrity and her high ethical standards. Naas is a member of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists. She lives in New Jersey with her family, which includes her husband, two children and two Labrador retrievers.
Rhonda Foster
Contributing Writer, Stylus
Rhonda Foster practiced Juvenile Law for over ten years. During this time she attracted attention for always having a pen that matched her suit, and thus inspired various judges and attorneys to vary their own repertoire of writing instruments.
Rhonda has been writing for most of her life, receiving recognition in the academic setting and in a variety of contests for both poetry and prose. Growing up in Southern California, she was never without a journal to record exciting and extraordinary life events. She served as the editor of Gesture, the creative writing publication of Ohio Dominican College, from which she graduated as valedictorian. She also wrote media releases as part of a public relations internship with the Ohio State Fair, prior to attending the Ohio State University College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. She now writes full time, and is sporadically working on her first novel.
She was recently mentioned in The Writer magazine for her internet research techniques.Her poetry and articles have appeared in The Pennant, the publication of the Pen Collectors' Association, the Journal of the Writing Equipment Society in the United Kingdom, and in Stylus. She is currently Managing Editor of the Stylus Annual.
Gregory Clark
Writer, Stylus
Gregory Clark, retired Chiropractor, disorganized pen collector and certifiable ink nut! I became interested in fountain pens while in college and taking way too many class notes; became addicted to fountain pen inks in the early 1990s.
In about 1995 my research into modern fountain pen inks led me to making and publishing, “Fountain Pen Inks – A Sampler” which sold several thousand copies over its production life of about 11 years. The book featured actual swatches of many hundreds of inks along with data on their acidity and durability.
My current interests involve collecting modern (and some vintage) inks and writing about them for Stylus Magazine. My present ink collection exceeds 600 bottles and is rising weekly. At the request of my family, I'm starting the Twelve Step Ink Addicts Withdrawal Program soon.
Mel Strohminger
Staff writer, Stylus
Mel Strohminger is a staff writer for Stylus. Mr. Strohminger is a longtime collector of writing instruments, particularly fountain pens, and has written extensively about their design, evolution, and manufacture. At present, in addition to special assignments, he is involved in producing the "Road Test" and "Pen in Hand" columns for the magazine.
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