Meet The Team
John Sinkevics
Publisher
Keeping the spotlight on talented West Michigan bands and the burgeoning regional concert scene: That’s been a mission of John’s since becoming a lead music critic and entertainment writer for The Grand Rapids Press 15 years ago. As publisher of Local Spins, that’s continued with news updates on Grand Rapids-area musical happenings, guest columns, photo galleries, concert reviews and weekly features on different artists who appear on radio on Local Spins Live.
John holds an honors degree in journalism from the University of Michigan and is co-founder of The Honeytones, once described as “the deans of Grand Rapids’ pop-rock scene” and a band that stages an annual Feedback concert to benefit Access of West Michigan’s food pantries for the needy. He’s also a diehard fan of the Detroit Tigers and, especially, the Detroit Lions, proudly wearing a “Rebuilding Since ’57” T-shirt which, sadly, has proven to be the case year in and year out for this underachieving NFL franchise.
Tricia Woolfenden
Contributor
Tricia is a music lover and long-time professional writer, having worked previously at The Grand Rapids Press as an entertainment reporter, often covering West Michigan’s music scene. Her work has appeared in regional magazines, alt weeklies, and a number of online and print publications. She co-hosts a specialty music show, New Standards, on WYCE-FM (88.1) from 6-8 p.m. Sundays.
Troy Reimink
Contributor
Troy is a veteran writer and musician. He is a member of the Grand Rapids band Ghost Heart, a music/video librarian for AMI Jukeboxes and a counter duty guy at Vertigo Music. He has worked for the Detroit Free Press and the Grand Rapids Press as a music writer, web producer and editor, and is cofounder of the Pyne Lodge, a podcast devoted to local music history. He co-hosts a specialty music show, New Standards, on WYCE-FM (88.1) from 6-8 p.m. Sundays.
Anna Sinkevics
Photographer
Anna is a Grand Rapids-based artist, photographer, and graphic designer, with a passion for music.
Anthony Norkus
Photographer
Anthony is a photographer and lifelong resident of Grand Rapids. He received his BS in Photography from Grand Valley State University in 2000. Tony specializes in concert photography, and can often be sighted at Grand Rapids music venues; he’s the tall guy with the hat, the camera, and the press pass up front at many local shows.
More info at www.norkusa.com.
Eric Stoike
Photographer
Eric is a Holland, Michigan native that hasn’t ventured far and currently resides in Allendale, Michigan. He is a die hard Michigander that will probably always live in West Michigan (although the Upper Peninsula is quite appealing). Outside of photography, he enjoys doing basically anything outside, hanging out with friends, occasionally moonlights as a web developer (to remember the old days) and follows GVSU Football anywhere they go each fall.
More info at www.ontherunphoto.com.
Ricky Olmos
Contributor
A Grand Rapids transplant from Jackson, Ricky has written for Mlive Media Group, provided freelance content for clients regionally and nationally, and currently is creating multimedia content for local artists and small businesses through Furniture City Media. A musician, he plays keyboards with Watching for Foxes, singer-songwriter Jonny Carroll, is half of the Jackson-based folk duo, The River House, and is working on a solo EP.
Matt Marn
Contributor
Returning to his native Michigan recently after four years in Arizona, Matt Marn has written for online music and arts magazines, including YabYum Music and Arts and AZCulture.com. Marn also wrote for Benevilla, a local nonprofit organization, helping spotlight volunteers and programs for the organization. A guitarist who holds a journalism degree from Grand Valley State University, Marn focuses on the stories of artists and venues along Lake Michigan.
Ross Boissoneau
Ross Boissoneau has covered the music and cultural scene in Northern Michigan for more than 25 years. He’s also written for national music magazines and for various publications in the Grand Rapids and Muskegon areas.
