Meet the Team

858Teen Mentors

Martie Meyer is The Carmel Valley Life’s 858Teen Founder & Director.  She is a Carmel Valley resident, mother to a wonderful family, former Art Director for a National Magazine, and a former radio personality. Additionally, she has published and designed several books.  In the past, she mentored teens with the San Diego Children’s Coalition and is now bringing her expertise and experience to The Carmel Valley Life.  Martie Meyer, and a group of local Carmel Valley San Diego parents, are spearheading our mentoring program for our young editors.  Martie and her team are responsible for being accessible to the teens should they need any help fulfilling their duties as “858Teen Editors.”

 

Rich Mino, a financial advisor with Del Mar Financial Partners, Inc., works closely with families and small businesses in the Carmel Valley area. He is passionate about making a difference in his community through financial literacy programs, and focuses on building strong relationships with all of his clients so that he can be a resource to them where needed most. An active member of the Del Mar Kiwanis, Rich supports his Carmel Valley community through local service projects, and by sponsoring the Builders Club and Key Club leadership programs at Carmel Valley Middle and Torrey Pines High Schools. In 2012, he is working to implement a financial literacy educational program to help prepare and educate kids with the challenges that they will face as they begin and graduate from college. He is a registered representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities dealer and registered investment advisor. Del Mar Financial Partners, Inc. is independently owned and operated. 12526 High Bluff Drive, Suite 280, San Diego, CA 92130. 438300 DOFU 01/2012

 

Tami Walsh, M.A. is President of the San Diego based teen and family empowerment company, Teen Wisdom™ Inc. Tami started the first life coaching company for teen girls in the U.S.A. and is committed to impacting millions of girls worldwide with the message, “because knowing and honoring yourself is true wisdom.”  Tami has appeared on several local and national radio and television stations including: KUSI, San Diego 6, TLC, Fox and NBC.  Currently Tami can be seen in the feature film, “The Compass” with other world renowned speakers and authors including Joe Vitale and Brian Tracy. Tami is a graduate of UCLA and received her Master’s Degree from Loyola Marymount University.

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Name: Santiago Benito

School: Carmel Valley Middle School

Dream: Santiago hopes to one day become a documentary film director and producer.  He also hopes to write and make Hollywood films.

Interests:  He enjoys reading almost as much as he enjoys writing; my favorite book is The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.  Santiago have had an interest in the art of cinema ever since he could remember.  From an early age, Santiago has been mesmerized by the beauty of the lines said and the actors on the big screen.  While many kids have a hard time trying to figure out what they want to do after they get out of school, Santiago knew right off the bat that he wanted to be involved in the world of cinema somehow.  Aside from that, he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with family and friends.  In addition, Santiago is very interested in being involved in things much larger than himself.  For example, he is a part of many non-profit organizations whose goals are to help people and communities all over the world (i.e. Japan, Africa, and the Untied States).

Journey: He was born in San Diego on August 14, 1998 and has had a wonderful life growing up in the Carmel Valley area.

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Name:  Layla Mazdyasni, 858Teen Contributor and Outside the Lens Youth Councilor

School:  Sophomore at Torrey Pines High School (following in the footsteps of my older brother and sister)

Dream:  I want to spend the rest of my life surrounded by happiness and kind hearted people. I love the sunshine and the pouring rain; everyday is just as beautiful as the one before and the one to follow. My dream is to travel the world, learning about new cultures and cuisines.  Some day, I hope to teach underprivileged children how to ice skate. I want to share my passion with kids who may not otherwise have the opportunity to do so.

Favorites:  My favorite days are those jam packed with different activities, different places to visit, and different people to see.

Interests:  From a young age, I found interest in documenting my adventures with a camera. I was amazed at how you could click a simple button, and capture a lifetime’s worth of memories. Crazy, isn’t it? Before my passion for photography came my passion for figure skating.

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Name:  Jordan Friedman, Junior Sports Editor and 858Teen Contributor

School:  Carmel Valley Middle School

Journey:  Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of four, he and his family moved to Carmel Valley San Diego.  Surprisingly, even after  living in Florida and San Diego, he is still not much of a beach person.  Jordan currently plays water polo at CCHS.  Every year, Jordan goes to a “sleep away” camp in Minnesota where he goes a full month without technology.  Jordan hopes to attend Standford for college.

Favorites:  Jordan is a huge New York Yankees, Raiders and San Francisco Giants fan.  His favorite book is Lone Survivor.  He admires his Dad and Derek Jeter.

Interests:  He loves to play and watch all kinds of sports.  Additionally, he enjoys reading, playing fantasy sports, and collecting old baseball cards.  Jordan loves to travel, and New York is my favorite vacation spot.

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Name: Skylar Park, 858Teen Contributor and Outside the Lens Youth Councilor

School:  Senior at La Jolla High School

Dream:  I hope to one day, through the power of film and journalism, change the way people view the world.

Favorites:  Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated with the power of words. Through writing, one is able to create a magical world that the reader can step into. The whimsical words and imagery have the power to pull us into the story. At first glance, the page is filled with a maze of random words that make no coherent sense, but once the reader delves into the carefully shaped sentences, he or she becomes a part of the story. This expands our thoughts and ideas, creating new passions or opinions.

Interests: When I was in middle school, I learned about the world of photography and film production, forming a new passion.  Writing, videography and photography are similar in that they can create an emotion or moment and make it seem as if it is alive.  I now find myself writing scripts, editing film, and taking pictures hours on end and I love every minute of it.  avid figure skater.

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Name: Skyel Rainey, 858Teen Contributor and Outside the Lens Youth Councilor

School:  Senior at Carlsbad High School

Dream:  I am constantly making new goals and challenges for myself, but my main goal is to use my artwork to make an impact on the world.  Next year I will be attending UCSC studding photography, and after that I hope to get a job as a staff photographer for a prestigious magazine.

Favorites:  I love going to concerts, although I wish that I were musically talented myself: I am currently struggling to learn how to play the guitar.

Interests:  My life is honestly dominated by art music and literature.  I spend the majority of my free time sketching writing and taking photographs.

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Name: Morgan Chen, 858Teen Contributor and Member of Outside the Lens

School: The Bishop’s School in La Jolla

Fun Facts: She has written two articles for literary magazine, Teen Ink, and has published some poems in youth anthologies. She describes herself as a “storyteller” because she loves creating and telling stories.

Favorites: She loves books and is a die-hard fan of Harry Potter (she is the head of the Harry Potter Club at her school).  Her favorite band is Panic! At the Disco and she loves watching Glee.  She’s a theatre geek as well, and she hopes to one day see all of her favorite actors on Broadway.

Interests: Besides writing and reading, Morgan enjoys music and plays the piano and the guitar. Her favorite band is Panic! At the Disco and she loves watching Glee. She’s a theatre geek as well, and . In her spare time she likes to learn photography.