Triangle TRACKers

Triangle TRACKS would like to introduce you to our team of TRACKers, who will blog about children's education, health, food, sports, trends, technology, traveling and parenting in general on a regular basis. We may add additional TRACKers as time goes on. You can learn more about our TRACKers below. Feel free to contact them with blog ideas that fit into their areas of expertise.

Tricia Cotton Dean, aka "Cotton the Clown"
Tip TRACKer
Tricia Cotton Dean, aka "Cotton the Clown," has been featured as artist-in-residence for Artsplosure, performing at Artsplosure and First Night Raleigh. Due to her success there, she was later appointed to direct the whole of Moore Square’s Kidsplosure. Cotton began providing face painting services for events, and soon realized a costume would land her more work. Thus, “Cotton the Clown” was born.
Cotton introduced the venue of live children’s music concerts in coffee shops and book stores in 1992. A Fine Arts grad of N.C. School of the Arts, Cotton's main ambition in life was fulfilled as a married, stay-at-home mother until 1991, when her return to the workforce became necessary. With her youngest still only 2 years old, she was determined to find or make employment that would allow her to remain available to raise and be with her children. One thing led to another, and Cotton found success as a visual artist through her company, “Signs of the Times,” primarily offering large, wooden stork baby announcements, but client requests have included a variety of other signage as well.
The list of area preschools installing Cotton’s music programs is too numerous to list, along with many wonderful stories of extensive career opportunities, with which she has been blessed. Cotton adores children and grandchildren, and if she had her choice to be anywhere in the world, it would be with them. Look for her first Tip TRACKer post soon. Read Cotton's Tip TRACKer blog posts here, visit Cotton's website here, and send her a blog idea or comment at this link.

AYLIN REGULSKI
Book TRACKer
Aylin lives in Apex with her dear husband, 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. Her background is in science and law, so this blog is clearly a deviation from her prior writing experience. She does, however, have a passion for reading, as do her husband and children.  Sometimes she tries to sneak in reading during the day but just as often ends up taking her book out for a ride and some fresh air while watching her children at their many arts and sports activities and talking with other parents (some who are also airing their books or doggedly trying to read the same page for an hour). Sometimes the discussion turns to the books they aren’t reading.  However, bedtime reading is an unwavering ritual. Her family enjoys many activities the Triangle has to offer, including hiking the local greenways and trails, visiting the museums and zoo, and attending outdoor events. Aylin and her husband also help teach church school at their church and do their best to squeeze in an occasional date night together. Send Aylin a blog idea here and read her blog here.

JANE WHITTEN
Tech TRACKer
Jane Whitten lives in Apex with her husband Dave and their uber-cool boys Jack and Nathan. She recently left the corporate world in order to spend more time with her three guys, who now keep her as busy as she ever was when working as an e-learning developer. When she isn't traveling or biking local trails with her family, Jane can often be found cooking up something wholesome or planning a party, doing research on nutrition or health care, or possibly even taking apart the family washing machine just to see if she can make it work a little bit better. Jane's a fun mix of practical and outrageous with a hefty dose of curiosity! She looks forward to investigating the fun side of high-tech and sharing her discoveries with you. Send Jane a blog idea here and visit her Tech TRACKer blog here.

ANNE WOODMAN
Education TRACKer
Anne Woodman, our Education TRACKer, is a freelance writer and mother of two elementary schoolers. She lives and writes in Morrisville, and has a background in education and healthcare public relations. In addition to writing for local publications The Cary News and magazines Wake Living and Fifteen 501, she works on short stories and a novel-long-in-progress. You can find more information about her writing at www.agwoodman.com. View Anne's Education TRACKer blog here. You can send Anne a blog idea here.

JANEL BUNTEN
Trend TRACKer
Janel Bunten is a local stay at home mom who doesn’t seem to stay at home much. She lives in Holly Springs with her husband and two kids: a second grader who wants to rule the world and a preschooler who wants to grow up to be a superhero. A couple of years ago she started to blog as a way to clear her very cluttered mommy brain. She is still clearing her mind on a daily basis at Dandelion Dayz and her journey in writing has just begun. Janel is active in several leadership roles at her church and finds great joy in coaching other leaders. An extrovert through and through, she enjoys staying connected to and volunteering in her community. Click here to read Janel's Trend TRACKer blog. You can send Janel a blog idea here.

TYLER WRIGHT
Food TRACKer

Tyler Wright lives in Apex with his wife and four children, who range in age from 2 to 9 and are homeschooled. With such a large family, Tyler is always looking for a good bargain when dining out and wants to share his findings with you. He has never blogged before, but is giving it a shot for us! Read Tyler's Food TRACKer blog here and send him a blog idea here.

KURT DUSTERBERG
Sports TRACKer

Kurt Dusterberg is a writer and father of two: a 9-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son. He has spent most of his career involved with sports as a writer and television sportscaster. He recently published his first book, "Journeymen: 24 Bittersweet Tales of Short Major League Sports Careers." He is eager to see if his own children develop a love for sports in the coming years. Kurt has coached his daughter's soccer team for three seasons and claims he has learned more about the kids than he taught them about soccer! Read Kurt's Sports TRACKer blog here, and send Kurt a blog idea here.

JENNIFER GOODALL
Health TRACKer

Jennifer Goodall is a mom to two little girls: 2-year-old Dylan and 4-year-old Kennedy. She works as a program manager for a networking company in RTP and is an active board member of le Tour de Femme, which is a charitable all-women bicycling event that takes place in Cary. She enjoys running and is hoping to get back into triathlons in 2009. Jennifer has a special interest in health issues due to the fact that her oldest daughter had quite a few health problems during the first few years of her life. Although those years were painful, she learned a lot and is hoping to share her knowledge with other parents in the Triangle area. Read Jen's Health TRACKer blog here and send her your health blog ideas here.

JANICE JONES
Travel TRACKer
I am Janice Jones. After nearly 15 years in the TV News biz as a Chief Meteorologist, I decided it was time to come home to my boys. I am still passionate about the weather and I love that I truly get to enjoy it now, from home. Now, my job has taken on even more importance- to be present with my family. I have two young boys and a very talented and busy husband. I relish creating a balanced and uplifted life for the four of us. Truth is, I want that for others too.  I constantly overwhelm myself thinking about all the great things there are to do and places to see.  Life can be so enriching when you allow yourself to enjoy it.

My dad says I could pack 4 years worth of fun into 4 days. My husband constantly asks me what we're up to next.  My boys are very, very well-traveled. Who says you can't go roller skating on a Tuesday? And why can't you just take off on a spontaneous weekend trip? What's wrong with driving 45 minutes for a really good ice cream cone? These are the real ways to "Get Rich." :) Find more ways to be enriched at www.JanAboutTown.com. Read Janice's Travel TRACKer blog at this link and send her your travel blog ideas at this link.

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