Back to Home--->About Us--->CREATIVE TEAM Our Creative Team:   Debra Usher, President & Editor-in-Chief Debra is an accomplished Senior Management Executive with a 25 year record of success driving and supporting growth, expansion and sustainability of entrepreneurial businesses in changing, competitive economic environments. She is also an accomplished visual artist working in watercolours, acrylics and oils, and has a passion for architecture, landscaping and gardening. As Founder and Creative Editor-in-Chief, she combines her talents to set the overall business and artistic vision for the magazine. For Debra, Arabella is like a painting – it is a piece of art that every three months goes out to be seen by hundreds of thousands of people. For that very reason she wants people to have a wonderful time; to be transported, entertained and informed. Her background spans publishing, oil and gas, fine art jewellery, painting, fine art woodworking, foodservice, furniture design and manufacturing. She is originally from Calgary and has lived and worked in many interesting places, including Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. E-Mail:   Brian Usher, CEO & Publisher As CEO and Publisher, Brian has executive responsibility for marketing strategy, finance, business development, distribution and communications. He is committed to helping regional arts; architecture; and design businesses expand and grow through strategic branding and creative marketing. As an experienced business leader and his interests in innovation and entrepreneurship, he is focused on supporting and nurturing aspiring, achieving and accomplished Canadian artistic and creative talent by providing them with significant and widely distributed platforms for displaying their works, while providing art consumers with an in-depth visual and editorial experience upon which to appreciate and collect art. Brian has served in senior executive roles in several national and international management consulting organizations and is well versed in the challenges of start-up operations, creating sustainable businesses and market growth. He often contributes photography to the development of editorial features of the magazine and when he can find time, he enjoys oil painting for personal amusement and satisfaction. E-Mail:   David Di Benedetto, Creative Director David Di Benedetto, designer, illustration artist & our Creative Director has had many of his compelling works and illustrations showcased in various publications and exhibits. With a diverse background in the design industry, urbanZENstudios, David’s creative design boutique, which has a strong focus on environmentally conscious design, has a flourishing and diverse client base. In partnership with A Stroke Of Art in Vaughan, David also directs and facilitates specialty art workshops & classes, mentors youth, and co-organizes a youth art exhibit called Orange. E-Mail:   Kylie Serebrin, Assistant Editor Kylie Serebrin is a Toronto-based art historian with a penchant for soaking in the creative inspiration of Canada’s magnificent galleries. Kylie specializes in the study of modern and contemporary art with a concentration on Surrealist photography, film, painting and literature from the 1920s and ‘30s. She received her Honours Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Literature and Fine Art History from the University of Western Ontario, and has undertaken PhD research at the University of Toronto. At home, Kylie indulges her creativity with gourmet cooking and finds happiness in the stimulating conversations that flow at her dinner parties. Also an operatically trained vocalist, lover of the performing arts, and travel enthusiast, Kylie delights in opportunities to tour, nationally and abroad, sharing her knowledge and passion for the coalescence of superb art, architecture, music, food and wine with friends and family. E-Mail:   Rob Cowley, Art Historian, Appraiser & Auctioneer Rob, a specialist in Canadian Art, is Vice President of the Joyner™ division of Waddington’s. He is responsible for collecting consignments of important works for inclusion in the Spring and Fall Auctions, as well as overseeing the day-to-day administration and operations of Joyner™. Rob is a University of Ottawa graduate and a member of the International Society of Appraisers, an organization which serves the public by producing highly qualified and ethical appraisers who are recognized authorities in professional personal property appraising. He regularly donates his expert services as auctioneer to various fundraising events including Kids Help Phone, the Fred Victor Centre in Toronto and Wildlife Preservation Canada. E-Mail:   Shannon Kyles, Historical Architecture Shannon Kyles has been obsessed with architecture for most of her life. She has visited 71 countries photographing buildings for a book on the History of Western Architecture. Her educational website: www.ontarioarchitecture.com is dedicated to Ontario architecture and receives almost one million hits per month. Shannon has a Masters degree in History, a BA in History of Architecture, and two Computer Design diplomas. She teaches Architecture at Mohawk College and runs two Distance Education courses on architecture. Her latest book is AutoCAD for Architects and Engineers, published by Blackwell Publishing. Her least favorite phrase is "Let's just gut it." E-Mail:   Christopher George, Writer & Art Critic Recently retired after 33 years of teaching mathematics in both the public and private school systems, Christopher now has the time to dedicate to his abiding interest in Canadian art. An enthusiastic collector and painter himself, he is also a professional calligrapher making and inscribing gold-leafed name plates for works of art for over 25 years. writing about artists and their paintings, both historical and contemporary, has been a surprising, but highly enjoyable calling. Learning about the times and circumstances of our best artists has deepened Christopher's appreication of their talent and their accomplishments. Sharing this knowledge through his articles is a natural extension of his desire to educate and inspire others. E-Mail:   Lorie Lee Steiner, Contributing Editor An accomplished writer and editor, Lorie believes writing is an art and loves to paint pictures with her words. With more than three dozen magazine publishing credits, mostly focusing on Canadian built heritage, her stories go beyond bricks and mortar to relate how the lives of past inhabitants create a timeless fabric within our aging architecture. She is also a member of Crime Writers of Canada and pens mystery fiction from the idyllic country home she shares with hubby, Jeff, and their adorable collie-cross, Tobe. Lorie brings to Arabella the expertise of an editor and the passion of a storyteller, and looks forward to sharing with readers every entertaining and beautiful page. E-Mail:   Cynthia Reyes, Writer Cynthia Reyes writes stories about people, the buildings and places that attract them, and the chance encounters that change their lives. A former editor and television executive producer, she has written, directed and produced many different kinds of stories. Cynthia has worked and travelled in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, the United States and the Caribbean. Having worked in one territory and every province of Canada, she is passionate about the country and its history. E-Mail:   Nancy Silcox, Writer Calling herself a "late bloomer" to writing, Nancy is a former secondary school teacher and university counsellor. Over the past twenty years, she's made up for lost time--writing a regular education column for the Waterloo Region Record and as a contributor to several Kitchener-Waterloo and area magazines. She is the author of four books, including a biography of Food That Really Schmecks author Edna Staebler. Nancy has two books being published in the fall. One is a biography of midwife pioneering legend Elsie Cressman. Nancy's writing passions are history, Canadian art, biography and oh! la! la! vintage clothing. E-Mail:   Michael Dumas, Artist & Writer Michael Dumas is an internationally recognized artist, whose paintings and drawings have been displayed in such notable venues as The McMichael Canadian Collection, The Suntory Museum of Art - Japan, and Nature in Art: The International Museum of Art Inspired by Nature – England. His artwork has appeared on Canadian postage stamps, and Canadian coins, and he is an ardent naturalist who has been influential in raising millions of dollars for conservation worldwide. Michael is a passionate writer on the topics of art, conservation, and his experiences in the natural world, and has been published in Canada, the United States, England, and Japan. He resides with his wife Ellen in their studio-home in the Kawartha Lakes district of Ontario. E-Mail:   Zara Ahmad, Assistant Accountant Zara joined Arabella as assistant accountant in September 2011. She is currently completing an Advanced Accounting Diploma Program at Niagara College. She has a knack for numbers and has always been an outstanding student. Born into a military family, Zara was exposed to many cultures and languages while growing up. During her career she has worked with reputable firms such as Standard Chartered Bank and Ernst & Young. Her hobbies include traveling, cooking, photography and listening to music. She loves spending time with her husband and 4 year old son Ryan. E-Mail:   Pat McGoey, Senior VP, Integrated Marketing Pat is an industry-recognized leader in strategic design and deployment of high growth marketing programs. As a senior executive in database marketing, loyalty marketing, printing and publishing industries, Pat led implementations of flagship loyalty programs for retail, financial, gas and coalition loyalty companies such as Aeroplan, Esso Extra and Air Miles. Pat developed the loyalty & prepaid strategies for major retailers such as Loblaw and Bell to launch their gift card programs. He developed many data-driven marketing programs for grocery, gas and retail stores. This one-to-one marketing experience enables his work today in customer centric social media programs and community management. Pat is also a landscape painter and has developed social media sites for various art groups including Springbank Artists. E-Mail:   Veronica Redgrave, Montreal Editor A member of the Canadian Association of Journalists, Veronica Redgrave (Honours Art History BA) is a Montreal-based journalist and blogger. She had a weekly society column in The Montreal Gazette for 4 years, and was editor (art) at YU magazine, as well as The Montreal Daily News, where she directed the Style Section. She currently writes art reviews for vie des arts and Tourism Montreal’s Montreal Buzz. Her mother (RCA) and sister are artists. Her grandfather, Sir Cyril Fox, director of the National Museum of Wales, was knighted by King George V for his work as an archaeologist. (‘’So I guess I have art in my veins!’’) Veronica loves everything Italian. Recently, after a 2 week trip in Florence to study Italian, she tried to plant cypress trees in her garden, revealing her soul as a dreamer. E-Mail:   James Godbold, HLT.,CLP. James Godbold grew up surrounded and influenced by the natural beauty of the hills of Mulmur Township. It is no wonder that he has been in the landscape design and construction business for 20 years. This appreciation for nature and everything it has to offer has been the catalyst for how Hill’N Dale Landscaping creates their projects. As owner and operator of this company for the past sixteen years, he sees working with clients as a long-term commitment. He has been fortunate to be working with some of the same clients for over fourteen years. Developing long term relationships not only creates respect and trust for one another, but both James and his clients have a true appreciation for what the property has to offer and are able to create the ultimate get away. E-Mail:   Randy Tumber, APLD, CLD, CHT Randy has been in business for 32 years in the landscape design / build industry. Tumber & Associates are widely known for their excellence in the design and installation of mature, native landscapes. Some of their areas of expertise include: native habitat restoration; project and site planning; working with natural stone & creating natural-looking water features. Randy's work is often acknowledged in the media and connected trades, including over 95 awards. These include an unprecedented 2 international Masters of Design awards in the same year (2008) from Pool & Spa News and 2 out of 11 possible Aqua Choice Awards. Randy quite purposely steers away from current trends in the landscape industry. His designs are built to reflect a statement of permanence and timeless elegance. E-Mail:   Roger Butt, Proof Editor Semi-retired, Roger is now a manufacturers’ agent supplying services from a select group of metal fabricators and machine shops. His real-job experience, spanning almost thirty years in mechanical and electro-mechanical drafting as well as purchasing machinery and heavy equipment, has provided a solid foundation for this endeavour. He has a keen interest in automobiles ranging from the earliest forms of transportation to the latest super cars, but especially General Motors products from the 1970s. E-Mail:   Ryan & Leslie Moffat, Photography After working 10 years in marketing, advertising and fundraising, Ryan shifted direction to pursue a career doing what he loves to do best – taking photos. Together with his wife Leslie, Ryan launched Riverstone Photography in 2005 and there’s been no looking back. What started as a hobby-turned weekend money-maker has become a thriving business. Ryan focuses his energy behind the camera and Leslie assists on location shoots. Although running their own company keeps them both very busy, they find plenty of time to update and restore their Second Empire home in Paris, Ontario, travel to their northern getaway in Haliburton, and shower lots of love and affection on their sons William and Benjamin and golden retriever Grissom. E-Mail:   David Cummings, Photography As an accomplished marketing professional, David has worked with large corporations both in North America and Europe. He is a proficient and passionate photographer who has moved from the corporate world to open his own businesses, Big Eye Studios and Manata Communications. His background spans all aspects of marketing from branding and creative development to commercial photography. He loves to spend his spare time with his wife Kathleen and beautiful 3 year old daughter, Ainsley, who guides him everyday into a world of wonder and amazement. E-Mail:   Donald Ziraldo Fuelled by a passion for this exceptional wine style, and a pursuit of excellence, Donald has been a tireless global ambassador for Canadian Icewine, and built Icewine into a world renowned, luxury brand. Donald Ziraldo continues his impact on the Canadian wine industry to this day; he is the Founding Chairman of the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) and is the author of Icewine: Extreme Winemaking and Anatomy of a Winery. No one has done more to turn Icewine into Canada’s signature wine around the world than the co-founder of Inniskillin. Donald has recently launched two new Icewine websites: www.equiferaicewine.com and www.ziraldo.ca. Donald received the Order of Canada, as well as an honorary Doctorate of Law from Brock University and was named one of the top twenty-five Canadian CEOs of the century in National Post Magazine. In 2008 he was awarded the Premio Masi by his peers in Verona, Italy. A passionate skier and collector of Art Deco, Donald lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada where he presides over his organic Riesling vineyard. E-Mail:   Catherine O'Donnell Catherine has travelled the world to keep current with trends of Pastry art. Studied at George Brown College, Calbeaut College in Belgium and The French Pastry School in Chicago. She has a strong commitment to young Pastry Chefs that are up and coming. Heavily involved in the community with most local charity events and the donation of the yearly Canada cake that feeds 2000 people. E-Mail:   Frank Mazzuca Photographer and graphic designer Frank Mazzuca loves nothing more than a good meal. The photo/foodie has been documenting Feast of Fields for several years now, where he’s captured a festival of locally produced eats through a gastronomical lens. “Feast is more than a field full of great local cuisine,” he says. “It’s a feast for the eyes, palate and senses that celebrates chefs, farmers and suppliers raising awareness on environmental issues, sustainable agriculture and the importance of the organic food movement.” Mazzuca lives in Kleinburg with his wife and two children, extending his adventures in cuisine through creative projects and global experiences that can be viewed on his YouTube Food Channel (YouMazzTube1207), his Flickr site or at mazzuca-dpi.com. E-Mail:   Ron Garant A Toronto native, Ron’s devotion to the pursuit of arts and entertainment began at a young age, from music and photography to graphics, writing and publishing. Prior to moving to the U.S. to publish several music magazines, he won a Juno Award for producing and performing under the Best Children’s Album category. He enjoys walks with his Golden Retriever/Spaniel mix Dakota, playing bass and spending time with family. He loves trying out new recipes in the kitchen and is a fervent Maple Leaf fan. He loves a good comedy or murder mystery, and is a forever student of life in the digital age. E-Mail: