About Us: Executive Team

Chris Neklason

California Local Co-founder, Director of Product Development

Chris has over four decades of experience as a full stack developer. As co-founder of Cruzio in 1989, one of the first local independent Internet Service Providers on the planet, he's accumulated three decades of experience as a manager and corporate executive. As a home owner and business owner in a small town, he's developed a keen appreciation of the local civic fabric and a passion to promote local journalism as a means of getting citizens more active in their communities.

Transparency: Chris is co-owner of Cruzio Internet in Santa Cruz which provides Internet service on the California Central Coast. His wife Peggy Dolgenos sits on various boards as an appointed commissioner.

Eric Johnson

California Local Co-founder, Editorial Director

A proud alumni of Cabrillo Community College in Santa Cruz County and the University of Montana, Eric has been involved in local journalism since 1991, when he co-founded the Missoula Independent. He returned to California in 1997 and has served in senior editorial and management positions at a number news organizations including Metro Silicon Valley, the Monterey County Weekly, and Boulevard’s New Media, a national network of city guides. He co-founded Hilltromper, “The nature-worshipping, fun-loving everyday adventure guide.”

Sharan Street

California Local Managing Editor

Sharan Street majored in journalism at UC Santa Cruz, spending as much time at the student newspaper as she did in class. She has written and edited for alternative newsweeklies, community newspapers, trade publications and websites, including Metro in San Jose and the LA Weekly. A California local herself, Sharan cherishes her home state’s natural beauty and is excited to work on a platform that celebrates it.

Michael Gelbman

California Local Publisher

Mike is an award-winning sales and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience. Throughout that time he has mentored and managed account managers and other senior executives. As general manager and group publisher for the Bay Area News Group, he oversaw 161 employees, and $23M operating budget. He also directed the daily operations (sales, editorial, production, and distribution) for 12 newspapers.  He is passionate about serving the communities where he works, as he did as publisher at the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza/Sierra Sun, where he co-created the Give Back Tahoe program with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation.