Administrative Staff

RICHARD TINGEN
PUBLISHER
Chapala Realty was founded on May 3 of 1976. We have grown with the times and from a small one room office we have mushroomed and now have a branch in Ajijic as well as a main office in Chapala. I also founded in 1983 the "El Ojo del Lago", Mexico's leading English language monthly publication. Over the past 24 years Chapala has grown tremendously. We now have a expatriate population of 8000 on a year basis, and we at Chapala Realty and " El Ojo del Lago " are very proud of the service we provide.


DAVID TINGEN
GENERAL MANAGER
“El Ojo del Lago” welcomes you to the world’s best climate. We believe once you know the area you won’t want to leave. I’ve been working for the paper over 2 years and have found it not only challenging but exciting too.


SHELLY BURGER
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Hello! My name is Shelly Burger. I’ve lived here in Mexico for over 20 years. It’s really a great place to live and raise children. This is my seventh year as advertising manager for El Ojo del Lago. I hope you enjoy it.






IRMA CASTELLANOS
MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
Hi, I’m Irma Castellanos B. I was born in Chapala, Jalisco. I work in “El Ojo del Lago”; a newspaper that’s been around for 15 years. I love the nice and warm environment that the group has created.








MEAGAN TINGEN
DISTRIBUTION
“Once the dust of Mexico has settled in your heart, no other place will give you peace.” How true that saying is for me. After living in Mexico for 24 years and traveling to other countries, no other country calmed my heart like Mexico.



ROBERTO C. ROJAS
OJO DEL LAGO'S DESIGNER & WEB DESIGNER
I'm in charge of designing "El Ojo del Lago's" newspaper, "Chapala.com", "Chapala Realty’s" and "El Ojo del Lago" website. I create and update the site always considering our clients needs. Please let me know how our site can be better.






Editorial Staff

 



ALEJANDRO GRATTAN
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Alejandro Grattan Dominguez is our first Mexican-American Editor-in-Chief. A former screenwriter and film director, he is the author of five critically-acclaimed novels, The Dark Side of the Dream, Breaking Even, Only Once in a Lifetime, The Stuff of Dreams and Hollywood & Vine. His feature film, Only Once in a Lifetime, was chosen as an Official Entry at the Deauville Film Festival in France. His novel The Dark Side of the Dream has been optioned by the Wolper Organization, which plan to make it into a four-hour mini-series. Two of Grattan's recent screenplays have won top honors at the Ajijic Film Festival. His aim as editor is to find and publish the best writers living in Mexico.




ILSE HOFFMAN
STAFF WRITER
Ilse Hoffmann has written newspaper articles in Spanish since 1975 in Torreón, Coah., La Opinion and Noticias newspapers, El Informador and Ocho Columnas in Guadalajara. Presently writes for “El Ojo del Lago” the column "The Other Eve." She has published two books and currently is working in her first novel in Spanish: "Contra el Viento" (Against the Wind). She works as a tourist guide and enjoys showing newcomers and future retirees the way of life in the lakeside area and Guadalajara.

 

 


MAGGIE VAN OSTRAND
STAFF WRITER
Maggie Van Ostrand started "A Balloon in Cactus" for us back in 1995.
Subsequently, other publications picked up her column, which is now syndicated. In addition, she's a regular contributor to The Chicago Tribune and her articles have appeared in The Boston Globe, The Sun-Sentinel, and other major newspapers and magazines.
She is now wealthy beyond her wildest dreams. We feel, since we're responsible for that success, we shouldn't have to pay her.

 


ED LUSCH
STAFF WRITER
Ed Lusch earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon, and later wrote hundreds of articles on natural history for various newspapers and outdoor magazines. He is the author/art director of "North America's Endangered Species," an endeavor sponsored by the United Nations. The book, costing several hundred dollars when first published, is today considered a classic in its field. Ed also founded Windsor Publications, later the largest company in the U.S. which specialized in wildlife art. Ed's column, "One Man's Stew," has been an Ojo mainstay for several years.


 


MARLENE ROBERTSON
STAFF WRITER
Marlene Robertson has done everything from writing commercials for radio in Canada to serving as Advertising Director for We-Publish, a local publishing company. She has lived at Lakeside for six years. Prior to settling here permanently , she was deeply involved in Focus on Mexico, an organization which was responsible for introducing hundreds of Canadians to the Lake Chapala area. Just recently, her column "To Earth With Love" made its highly successful debut in our pages.

 


CINDY PAUL
STAFF WRITER
Cindy Paul began writing her monthly play-reviewing column, "Front Row Center," during the 2002 theater season, as well as the color centerfold called "Lakeside Living." A lifelong writer, actor, musician and artist, she's well suited for these jobs. She and her husband, Lonny Riddle, are long-time Lakeside residents and together won awards at the Ajijic International Film Festival for Best Screenplay and for "They Call Me Vida," the documentary that endures as a passionate portrait of our beloved Lake Chapala.

 


BOB HARWOOD
STAFF WRITER
Bob Harwood, holds degrees in Economics and English from UBC. He served as President of the National Federation of Canadian University Students. During his career he marketed major appliances throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. The Harwoods have been seasonal residents of Lakeside since 1990. In addition to articles for national and local Canadian publications Bob has authored two books. Seeking COMMON GROUND in a troubled world was published in 2004. Under the umbrella title This World of Ours Bob writes on world affairs and social issues for El Ojo del Lago.