Strike Gainesville Alumni Spotlight Article

Strike Magazine GNV has been home to many talented individuals who have contributed to its success over the years. From the early days of launching the magazine in Gainesville to its growth and impact on the community, these alumni have left their mark with their creativity, passion and hard work. Let's take a closer look at some of the remarkable individuals who have been part of Strike Magazine's journey and where they are now.

Hanna Gibson

Hanna Gibson was one of the co-founders of Strike Magazine GNV and served as the Editor-in-Chief during her time on the team. She contributed to the first four issues of Strike and fondly remembers the early days of launching the magazine in Gainesville. From painting Norman tunnel to handing out flyers on campus and hosting staff interviews at Starbucks, she recalls the excitement and pride of building a team from scratch and seeing Strike take off so quickly. 

Hanna currently works in influencer marketing in the beauty industry in New York City, having previously worked at Coty and currently serving as the North America Influencer Manager at Bondi Sands.

Ashley West

Ashley West was another co-founder of Strike Magazine GNV and served as the Creative Director during her time on the team. She contributed to the first four issues of Strike and recalls the impact the magazine had on campus, with the application numbers nearly tripling since the first issue. 

Ashley currently works in Marketing Operations for American Express on the Amazon Partner Marketing Team in New York City.

Annie Ortega

Annie Ortega served as the Editor-in-Chief and Director of External Affairs during her time on Strike Magazine. She contributed to the first six issues of the magazine and has many fond memories of the early days of Strike, including the first staff meeting where the team realized the privilege of creating a magazine from scratch and the growth and success that followed. 

Annie is currently pursuing law school at Notre Dame.

Maddy Whalen

Maddy Whalen served as the External Affairs Director during her time on Strike Magazine. She contributed to six issues of the magazine and is grateful for the creative outlet and lifelong friendships she made during her time on the team.

She is currently working for a PR agency in celebrity and influencer relations in New York City.

Matt Hamburg

Matt Hamburg served as the Creative Director during his time on Strike Magazine. He contributed to seven issues of the magazine and has cherished memories of shoot days and launch parties, where the team came together as a family to create and celebrate their work. 

Matt currently lives and works in New York City at a creative advertising agency, FCBNewYork.

Brynn Fantuzzi 

Brynn Fantuzzi was part of Strike Magazine GNV from Issue 03 to Issue 08. Her roles varied from PR Assistant to PR Director, and later as Assistant to the Director of External Affairs and eventually as Director of External Affairs for two issues. Brynn's favorite memory of her time at Strike Magazine was the successful execution of various projects and events, such as launch parties, Part B projects and photoshoots. She recalls the joy of seeing their ideas come to life with the help of a talented, creative and motivated team, making it the highlight of her college career.

Brynn currently works in New York City for AZIONE, a PR agency, where she supports the Digital + VIP division. Her work involves collaborating with influencers and celebrities on a daily basis, managing lifestyle, fashion and beauty accounts. 

Kaureen Randhawa 

Kaureen Randhawa was part of Strike Magazine GNV from its first issue all the way to Issue 06. She served as the Director of Content for three years, and later as the Director of Merchandise for one year, contributing immensely to the magazine's growth and success. Kaureen's fondest memory of her time at Strike Magazine was the collaborative process of bringing visual elements to life during photoshoots, working closely with various teams to create captivating content.

Kaureen has pursued a successful career in the finance industry. She currently works for Finastra, a fintech company based in Austin, Texas. 

Emily Patton

Emily Patton served as the Social Media Director and Marketing Director during her time on Strike Magazine. She contributed to the first five issues of the magazine and cherishes the memories of watching her fellow team members grow and develop their passions and strengths.

Emily currently works in marketing at L'Oreal Lancôme Makeup.

Hanner Shelton

Hanner Shelton was Blog Director and later Assistant Editor-in-Chief for Strike Magazine. She was an integral part of staff from Issue 05 to Issue 08. With a plethora of cherished memories, Hanner recalls the excitement of planning Part B "For the Sake of Creating: The Runway," a fashion show that celebrated local Gainesville artists and designers. 

Currently, Hanner works at a global health public relations firm as an Account Associate, supporting healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in creating core communications materials. With plans to graduate with a Master's in PR from UF and a move to Chicago on the horizon, Hanner is eager to continue her career in a new location.

Sarah Sheerer

Sarah Sheerer made her mark in various roles including Social Media Director, Social Media Assistant, Brand Ambassador, and most recently, Assistant External Affairs Editor. Among her cherished memories, Sarah fondly recalls the highlight of her college experience - organizing "For the Sake of Creating: The Runway" alongside her best friends Nikki Poplewko and Hanner Shelton, with the support of the amazing Strike staff. This event brought the Gainesville community together through creativity, music, fashion and friendship.

Currently, Sarah works on the marketing team at Colliers in Arizona, an international commercial real estate firm. Her role involves managing social media platforms, creating and designing marketing materials, and collaborating with colleagues to represent the Colliers brand and its properties.

The legacy of Strike thrives through the achievements of its staff. Strike Magazine GNV alumni not only excel at making their mark in their respective industries, but they also continue to inspire and empower the next generation of creatives.