About Us
AW Media, Inc was founded in 2002 with the launch of Austin Woman magazine. Since its inception, Austin Woman has celebrated thousands of women in Austin and given thousands more great inspiration through its profiles of women and stories about all things Austin. It has grown to become Austin’s premier resource for and about women, not only through this flagship publication, but also its events and the celebrated Pink Pages directory of women-owned businesses, now in its seventh year of publication.
In June 2011, AW Media launched ATXMAN—Austin Man magazine to rave reviews from a great constituency of Austin men. Both Austin Woman and ATXMAN are committed to national quality editorial and design, for EVERY Austin woman and EVERY Austin man. We are also the most technologically advanced local publications with free apps for both magazines and Pink Pages, separate, yet integrated websites for all our products and events and digital editions for each print publication we offer. Any way our reader chooses to connect with us, we have it covered!
AW MEDIA is proud to show its commitment to the community by supporting and sponsoring numerous events and non-profit organizations serving all of Austin and the surrounding area. Among many others, those organizations include: Susan G. Komen, Wonders and Worries, Ballet Austin, Center for Child Protection, Junior League of Austin, Young Men’s Business League, Texas Women in Business, Mamma Jamma Ride, NOCC Austin, Girl Scouts, Marathon Kids, Brian Jones Golf Classic, Austin Children’s Shelter and the American Heart Association.
Melinda Garvey, Co-founder and Publisher Garvey grew up in Indianapolis, is a graduate of DePauw University and holds a Masters in International Management from the University of Maryland. When she’s not working on the magazines or out and about in the community, she enjoys spending time with her wonderful New Zealander husband and son, Beckom. Garvey is currently serving as Entrepreneur In Residence for The McCombs Business School at the University of Texas.
Christopher Garvey, Publisher and Vice President, was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and grew up in Auckland where he studied Business Management and Finance. He moved to the USA in 1996, living in Houston, and California before landing permanently in Austin. He and Melinda met when he advertised during first year of the magazine. After running restaurants and working in Real Estate, he decided to join AW Media full time in January 2011, where he has led the development and launch of ATXMAN.
Deborah has been in love with words her entire life. A published writer for more than three decades, she began writing for Austin Woman from the first year of publication. Her career as an editor began three years ago. It came full circle to AW Media in 2011 with the launch of Austin Man in June, 2011 and the new editorial design for Austin Woman in September, 2011. She arrived in Austin- the city of her heart- nineteen years ago and hopes never to leave. Ms Hamilton-Lynne is also a produced playwright and author. She is active in the arts and non-profit communities.
Joelle Pearson enjoys being on bicycles, especially if in another country. She majored in rhetoric and women’s studies but still manages to enjoy John Updike. She does not enjoy heat, fajitas or the absence of an oxford comma.
Katie Lesnick is a Midwestern native from Monroe, Michigan. She attended Central Michigan University with a concentration in Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts. Two years later, her mother landed a job in Austin and Katie too made the decision to leave the Great Lake State. A free spirit at heart, and a love of the arts, Katie decided to pursue her dream of moving to Los Angeles where she studied Vital Acting at The Joanne Baron/D.W Brown Studio, worked three jobs and was dedicated to an internship with Interscope Records. Upon returning to Austin, Katie began her first career with Kendra Scott Jewelry in customer service, shipping and logistics which introduced her to many Austinites within the media industry and eventually led her to AW Media. In her spare time Katie enjoys singing, writing and you may see her on the mat at Black Swan Yoga.
Arielle Levy was born and raised in Waco, Texas. After moving to Austin to pursue a Business degree from UT’s McCombs School of Business, she fell in love with the city and all it stands for. Ari is a nature-loving, fun-seeking, adventurous young woman thrilled to have the opportunity to work and learn at AW Media.
Collette Mengden is excited to be back in the magazine industry as an ad designer, having previously interned with multiple magazines around Austin and San Antonio. She graduated from Texas State University with a BA in both Communication Design and Studio Art, and enjoys drawing in her studio in her spare time. Collette has a passion for art and music and loves taking her husky, Railor, out and about to explore the city. Since she just moved, she is looking forward to experiencing all that Austin has to offer.
Lindsey Stuart, Account Executive
Kimberly Sanderson has a passion for helping companies increase sales as an advertising and marketing consultant. She has worked within the industry for over 7 years. Kimberly has a Bachelor of Science in Information Management Systems aka Database Design. Three daughters keep Kimberly very busy but she loves to go to parks, museums, concerts, opera, shopping and playing some golf. Kimberly has several inventions and is working on patents to bring them to the market. She aspires to write a book.
Having recently moved back to her hometown of Austin, Victoria Millner is excited to be driving the new, vibrant look of Austin Woman. After graduating from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Victoria served as the art director at ALIVE Magazine in St. Louis. She’s sad to part with the snow, but moving to Austin was a great opportunity to be near family and in a city she loves. “I’m thrilled to be able to work creatively in a town filled with so many talented photographers and designers.”
Dustin Woodhead, Director of Marketing & Operations, was born and raised in Anchorage, AK. Having grown up in the cold, he always knew that an escape to warmer weather was in his plan which eventually brought him and his wife to Austin in 2007. Dustin graduated from Gonzaga University where he earned both his MBA and BA in Entrepreneurial Leadership. In his free time, Dustin loves talking Zags basketball and is an avid adult recreational sport fan playing in leagues for basketball, softball, indoor soccer and his favorite-kickball!
Sadie, a twentysomething lover of Dove Chocolate products and an immaculate iTunes library, is not only a newcomer to the adult world- she’s a newcomer to the evidently wonderful city of Austin. On top of reveling in her new hometown, she landed a new career by joining the AW Media team as the Marketing and Operations Associate not but a week upon moving here. Passionate about literacy and advertising creativity, Sadie plans to sink her (black suede) heels into the magazine industry with every intention to absorb and contribute every way she can. So, please, welcome and encourage Sadie into this exciting new chapter of her life by donating Dove’s bag of dark chocolate covered almonds. In bulk.
