Meet our Team
Publisher
Dana Boulanger
Dana, publisher of the Natural Awakenings Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess edition, is a native of northern Westchester. She now enjoys living in Pawling, New York, with her loving family. November 2022 marked the 15th year of successfully publishing the magazine with the late Marilee Burrell, who recently passed. Boulanger shares that she would never have imagined how becoming a publisher of this healthy lifestyle magazine would transform her life.
She learned the art of customer service early from several of her family's businesses. As a young mother, Boulanger returned to night school for a degree in marketing, but discovered juggling a part-time job, children and night school was an even bigger challenge than running a business.
When her young son was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD, Boulanger shifted gears and took a part-time office position at a graphics art and print shop in Mount Kisco, where she stayed for 20 years, working her way up to be vice-president. This on-the-job training served her well as a publisher.
In 2000, Boulanger was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Another huge life lesson for her: health and wellness are a priority. Conquered cancer harnessed her inner power, and she realized that living a healthier and happier life was her personal mission. With the love of nature, hiking, gardening, healthier foods, writing and living with compassion and kindness, she gathered a support team that included a nutritionist, energy worker and the services of Support Connection, a local nonprofit organization that supports women and their families suffering from breast and ovarian cancer. She learned to meditate and dabbled in the practice of yoga, journaling and celebrating life. When the chance to invest in her own publishing business with Natural Awakenings she seized the opportunity.
Boulanger still enjoys daily time in nature, meditation, journaling, cooking nutritious foods and sharing loving times with family and friends. She has a passion for helping and supporting wellness businesses and individuals that offer holistic wellness products and services. Natural Awakenings magazine, along with its advertising partners, play an important role in the health and wellness of their community and, “That feels so good,” says Boulanger.
Contact Boulanger at 845-593-0065 or [email protected]. For more information about Natural Awakenings magazine visit WakeUpNaturally.com.
Editorial Team
Sara Gurgen
Over the last 15 years, Sara has been applying her eagle eye and gift of polishing prose to myriad Natural Awakenings (NA) magazines. She currently edits/writes for six NA editions. We were lucky enough to snag her last spring, and she quickly became an integral part of our team.
The North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, resident has a master’s degree in mass communication and has written for a variety of publications in addition to Natural Awakenings magazines, including a music magazine, an entertainment weekly, a business newspaper, an investment newsletter, a real estate newsletter and her local newspaper, The Sun News.
“For several years, I wrote health and fitness articles for The Sun News, which I loved doing since I believe in the importance of taking care of the body, mind and soul. So when I was asked to edit for our local NA magazine in 2008, it seemed like a perfect fit. It wasn’t long before I was approached by other NA publishers to work for them,” shares Sara, who is conscious of what she eats and spends her free time in the great outdoors, where she gets plenty of exercise and peace of mind. In addition to her freelance editing and writing work, Sara owns a pet-sitting service and is a commissioned pet portrait artist.
Randy Kambic
Randy, a freelance editor, writer and proofreader based in Fort Myers, Florida, has been providing professional services for the Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation national editorial content and local franchise publications nationwide for nearly 15 years. He recently began proofreading the Westchester-Putnam-Dutchess edition, which he’s especially pleased to do because he grew up in Yorktown Heights, New York.
Combining his lifelong advocacy for environmental protection and conservation as well as a love of nature and wildlife, he works with a strong passion for helping to spread meaningful information on healthy living to the public. He is an avid tennis player, hiker and skier, and a proponent of all forms of exercising and enjoying the outdoors.
Erin Lehn
Erin is a Portland Oregon-based writer and editor who began her adventures in natural living in 1996 while residing on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Since then, she’s been an avid enthusiast of health and wellness lifestyles. In addition to being the former co-publisher of the Portland edition of Natural Awakenings (NA) magazine, she has been a freelance writer and editor for numerous NA editions for almost two decades. She loves being a part of the NA family because the publishers and other staff members are always so dedicated to their mission. She also enjoys promoting those in our community who dedicate their time and energy to make our world a healthier, happier place to live.Design and Production
Patrick Floresca
Patrick is an Oregon-based designer and the former publisher of the Portland edition of Natural Awakenings (NA) magazine. He has been the lead graphic designer for numerous publications for more than 18 years, specializing in magazine layout and ad design. He has assisted in the operations of more than 25 NA markets across the country and helped numerous wellness practitioners with print ads, brochures, flyers and campaigns.
In his spare time, Patrick enjoys and finds inspiration in photography, surfing, hiking and many outdoor adventures. “I’m very excited to be a part of the Westchester-Putnam-Dutchess edition and be connected to the local healthy-living community,” he says.
Operations
Carolyn Coogan
Assistant to Publisher
Carolyn’s early career has roots in health and wellness, and soon after graduating from Westfield State University, she began working in operations for a corporate fitness and wellness company in the Northeast. She has managed several businesses in various industries, including a short stint as owner and operator of her own small New Age gift shop. She also owned and published an edition of Natural Awakenings (NA) magazine from 2013 until 2020 in New York state.
Carolyn shares more than 20 years’ experience as a creative leader in business management, communications and design with us, as well as with 10 other NA editions across the country. Her support for our corporate mission, combined with an eye for detail and a prowess for the ongoing operational systems of publishing, make her a vital part of our team.
Planet Watch Contributor
Pamela Cucinell
Pamela is an astrologer and tarot card expert who writes Planet Watch in this magazine. “These arts provide accurate information on how to work with the present and prepare for the future,” she explains. “My interpretations are influenced by observation of the heavens juxtaposed with historical dates, mythology and the work of Carl Jung.” Through skilled use of these metaphysical tools, Pamela validates a person’s spiritual journey and life purpose. She received her certification as a consulting astrologer through the rigorous National Council for Geocosmic Research program.
A New York native who keeps her eye on astrological timing, Pamela is also an artist and former business owner. She moved to Mexico in 2019 and now works via InsightOasis.com and posts a weekly podcast available at InsightNow.Podbean.com. “Our world is vibrant with symbolic messages in nature, dreams and the synchronicity of events,” she adds.
