Meet the GEV Team

Kaye Cloutman

Founder / Editor in Chief

Kaye has twelve years of experience in media, including writing for TV, radio and print, and working on the technical side of film, video editing, graphic design and digital art. Kaye is a self-confessed bookworm who practically grew up in a library. Her extensive knowledge of literature has allowed her to innately recognize a great story and understand how one is told. Though somewhat shy as a child,  her closest friends were growing up to become media celebrities and stars in Asia, so Kaye gained valuable experience both in seeing great stories translated to the big screen, as well as the symbiotic relationship between the media and the stars who relied on it for their livelihood.  Polishing her writing and editorial skills first at Philippine Graphic Publications, she then came to America and continued her support of Filipino talent here by creating a Blurb book, The Modern Balikbayan Bride,  to serve as a valuable resource to brides planning their weddings abroad in The Philippines.   Kaye has written for and done graphic layout work on a variety of magazines. During her tenure at a popular monthly book review, she established herself as a sought-after author interviewer, where she had the pleasure of speaking with a wide range of authors, from Jimmy Carter to Roseanne Barr, Jane Fonda, Sheryl Crow, Sammy Hagar, George RR Martin,  Justin Cronin, Ashley Judd, and others.  Also at this time, Kaye, being a “foodie” at heart, had the opportunity to meet and interview such culinary notables as Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Cat Cora, Tyler Florence, Guy Fieri, Michael Chiarello, Roland Passot, Marcus Samuelsson, Bobby Flay, Bradley Ogden, Alice Waters, Duff Goldman, Rick Bayless and others.  This fueled her passion for writing about and promoting the culinary arts and she has never looked back since. Kaye is a member of the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals).

A strong supporter of women’s issues, Kaye has been a speaker for the Women’s Power Strategy conference, and received awards from the Philippines Department of Health. Keeping current with a far-flung roster of family, friends and business relationships has meant adapting to and mastering the latest trends in social networking and technology. In her networking with publishers, authors, media outlets and entrepreneurs, Kaye has established herself as a woman gifted with a rare talent for creating innovative new media properties and successful strategic partnerships. You can reach her at kaye@gevmag.com.

Follow Kaye on Twitter as @Cloutwoman

Beverly Zeiss

Fashion Director

Beverly started her professional career in San Diego in the medical field as a cardiac nurse. After raising her two children, Erin and Troy, she switched gears completely, moved to the Bay area and worked as a professional model and actor in commercials, TV and film. She moved to Orange County and created her own business, Savvy Productions, a network for the performing arts and then started venturing into fashion and special event production.

Through twists and turns along the way, she moved back to San Diego, and became the Fashion/PR Director for Saks Fifth Ave. as well as the director of the Fifth Avenue Club, a prestigious personal shopping service.

Beverly then became the Fashion Director for the high-end Paladion shopping center in San Diego, implementing events for retailers including Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nina Ricci, Gianni Versace, Alfred Dunhill, Baracci and more. From there, she moved back to Saks Fifth Ave., this time in South Coast Plaza, as their Fashion/PR/Marketing and Fifth Avenue Club Director.

With years of knowledge and incredible experience under her belt, she formed Red Haute & Co. and currently is contracted by Santana Row as Fashion/Consultant Director. Her company produces several other events, including social, fundraisers and charitable organizations throughout the year, in both Southern and Northern California and beyond. You can reach her at beverly@gevmag.com.

Visit her website

Marilyn LaRocque

Food and Wine Editor

Food, wine, and travel writer/editor Marilyn LaRocque has visited the seven continents, experiencing not only sights and sounds but also foods and wines. In Paris in May, she was named Vice Chargée de Presse Nationale, Des Etats Unis, of the international food and wine society Les Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

She was Senior Food & Wine Editor for LUXURY Las Vegas magazine for nearly 10 years and immersed herself in the cuisine scene in this over-the-top city. She has reported dining trends not only in Las Vegas but throughout the world, has written extensively about wines and spirits, and dined at globally celebrated restaurants such as Taillevent (Paris), Noma (Copenhagen), Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Dinner with Heston Blumenthal (London), Per Se (New York), and French Laundry (Yountville). She has judged culinary competitions, been guest lecturer at Le Cordon Bleu, Las Vegas, and served as PR consultant for the 2012 UNLVino wine weekend.

While a public relations executive in the Napa Valley wine industry, she worked with prestige wineries such as Jarvis, Freemark Abbey, Chimney Rock, and Cakebread Cellars. In 1995, she began writing feature articles for the Napa Valley Register and was also performing arts writer and reviewer. After moving to Las Vegas in 1999, she covered performing arts for the Las Vegas SUN for two years prior to joining LUXURY Las Vegas magazine.

Her 30-year public relations and marketing career encompassed corporate, agency, and non-profit work and, as president of her own firm, she handled clients from Japan to Germany. A New Jersey native, LaRocque earned her BA cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, and a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley. Her biography has appeared in various editions of Who’s Who since 1972. You can reach her at ladolcevita@gevmag.com.

Geraldine Solon

Managing Editor

Vincent Gotti

Director of Photography

This premier photographer is the founder of The Candy Factory Studio and has received numerous awards and accolades for his work around the Bay Area. With more than 20 years experience in the fashion and lifestyle photography industry, it is no wonder why his works are constantly featured in major publications. His studio is a top choice for many talented stylists, makeup artists, designers and models for both portfolio development and creative services. Vincent is not only gifted with a good eye but an uncanny ability to bring out the inner Gods/Goddesses in his subjects. He also freely shares his gift, mentoring aspiring photographers and in so doing, showing everyone who comes in contact with him an elevated standard for excellence in the business. He spawns an atmosphere and environment which is not only conducive to maximum creativity on the parts of all involved, but is fun, lively, spirited, and results in a memorable experience for everyone. You can reach him at vincent@gevmag.com.

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Cocoy Ventura

Director of Business Development

Based on the peninsula, Cocoy is the owner and operator of Cocoy Ventura Culinary Services (CVCS), providing restaurant consulting, accounting, personnel training and specialized in-home and corporate catering services. With more than 10 years of business and food service experience, he has trained and worked with a virtual who’s who of California’s wine country and culinary professionals in Las Vegas and New York. Cocoy is instrumental in the Philippine cuisine movement in mainstream America as he works side by side with his fellow Filipino chefs and gourmands in the promotion of their native cuisine. His vibrant, energetic personality and style, and superior strategic business instincts have made him an invaluable asset to all who have had the pleasure of working with him. He presently serves as the estate chef of Dado & Maria Banatao. You can reach him at cocoy@gevmag.com.

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Christina Dunham

Contributing Lifestyle Editor

Christina Dunham is a food & wine fanatic, dromomaniac, bibliophile and sociaholic on a perpetual quest for knowledge (or the next best happy hour deal, whichever comes first). She doesn’t just savor life, she devours it with manic passion, indulging a limitless appetite for adventure and new experiences.

She satisfies her right-brain/creative side through writing, performing, and martial arts. Christina has authored numerous articles on food, lifestyle and entertainment for local and national publications, in addition to having produced, written and hosted dance shows and news & entertainment programs on television. Currently the lead singer for an SF-based cover band, Christina can be found rocking venues including the Fillmore, Hard Rock and AT&T Park.

Her day-job as VP of Marketing & Business Development for Froomz (an online venue marketplace), where she is responsible for nurturing relationships with customers and partners in the event, entertainment, hospitality and tech community, continues to challenge her strategic/analytical side.

Long suffering from wanderlust, she has visited 16 countries in the last 20 years, and fully intends to eat her way through the seven continents. Follow her on Twitter @XtinaDunham. You can reach her at christina@gevmag.com.