About

Connection Publishing
North Ogden, UT 84414

801-624-9652
ryan@connectionpub.com
facebook.com/connectionpublishing

Ryan and Melissa Spelts with family.

Connection Publishing is a community magazine company. We started with a goal to create more connection in our own community in 2016. Today we help other cities create that same connection with our official city magazines. We specialize in partnerships with small to medium sized city’s and replace their fold up newsletter with one of our professional magazines. These magazines contain city news, local stories, history, students of the month, positive community stories, business and restaurant spotlights as well as recipes. We include stories by and about each community we serve so that they receive a customized magazine just for their community. The advertisers found within your magazine are how these publications are possible. We would love to hear your story ideas and we accept guest authors. We avoid politics and focus on the lifestyle in each community we serve. Thank you for joining us in helping foster the connection we all crave in our lives.

Ryan Spelts - CEO - I have spent 25 years selling various products and building sales teams. With a varied background from selling Cutco Kitchen Knives to animated scriptures DVDs, I have learned to only sell things I love. I have always wanted to have my own company and build something from scratch. When Melissa and I were in transition in 2016, we decided now was the time to venture out and create a company. After pondering many things, and trying some things that didn't work for us, we had the idea to create a magazine for our community. We did and it worked, so when other surrounding cities started approaching us to make magazines for them, we have done so and our company continues to grow. We are excited to see what the future holds for us.

Melissa Spelts - Chief Content Officer - When Ryan and I were first married, we both decided that I would stay home and raise our children and so I spent 16 years doing so and Ryan worked to provide financially for our family. When Ryan came to me with the idea to start Connection Publishing, I told him it would be a great idea and thought I would just cheer him on as I had done in all of his other careers. About a week before the first magazine was due in 2016, I realized he was still out selling advertising and the content wasn't getting completed. I dove in and helped pull everything together. Since that day, I have helped curate and gather the content we love creating every month. I also love photography and work hard to make sure our covers are beautiful and draw in our readers.

Connection Publishing Creative, and Design Team

Kristina Case
Magazine Layout and Design

My name is Kristina and there are many things in life I love: my husband of many years, my two amazing kids, books, cooking/baking, a good Chai tea, morning coffee, learning calligraphy, and writing. I especially enjoy beautiful design through any medium: photography, paintings, books, magazines, typography, color, packaging...the list is long. I appreciate the color and beauty in things all around me. I am always learning. Everyday.

I am a native Idahoan, although I did leave for awhile to see my options, but here I am happily back in my home state again. I graduated from the Art Institute of Seattle sometime in the late 90’s with an art degree and readiness to find my place in the design world. Slowly but surely I have found print design to be my passion and what I enjoy doing everyday. I am extremely blessed to work from a home office that enables me to balance work and family life.

Robert Dodd
Magazine Layout and Design
Ad Design

Fresh out of high school, a complete stranger at the time, who became a close friend over the years, introduced me to my first career ambition in radio broadcasting. I married my wonderful wife a few years later. We have now been married for 30 years but a few years after getting married, I watched my wife's brother designing things on a computer using graphic design software. I became increasingly obsessed with computer graphic design. The only previous design I knew were of the true "cut and paste days" with actual scissors and paste when I helped with our school newspaper and yearbook.
I have self-taught most of the design software but also attended college courses in graphic design. Most of the classes teachers would turn to me asking for help with software because I knew it better than them. I have always wanted to become as successful a designer as much as I hoped to prosper in broadcasting.
Almost twenty five years later, I continue to build on the skill and talent of graphic design. I often receive praise for my designs and I derive strength from those accolades. My passion for the work drives me to create both beautiful and effective designs.

I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Ryan and Melissa and all the other great people here at Connection Publishing. There is vigorous feeling of fulfillment that emanates with a project that becomes productive for any of our clients. It reinforces my determination and preserves the focus of the goals I have set as a successful designer.

Hailey Minton
Writer/ Editor

Multimedia Journalist
At the beginning of 2017 I was at a media conference as I was wrapping up my internship at the BYU-Hawaii campus magazine. I graduated the year previous with a degree in business management with a focus in marketing and returned to my passion of interviewing people and writing their stories. A man at this conference had his own hyperlocal news outlet and everything he talked about resonated deeply with me. Upon returning to Utah I met Ryan and immediately knew I could use my craft to help people feel more connected with their community through his magazines. I love getting to know the people who are willing to share their stories with me. It is my goal to first understand the person or people as best I can and then to pass that understanding on to everyone who reads my work. I absolutely love what I do.

Jenny Goldsberry
Writer

I was lucky enough to graduate from Brigham Young University in the middle of a global pandemic. Connections Publishing just happened to be hiring at that time, and I jumped at the chance to work as a writer. Previously, I had been a reporter for various newsrooms across Utah, (The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Universe and KUER to name a few) and while I loved interviewing people I have since loved interviewing people about their personal history more.

I am from Murray, Utah, but I’ve lived in Provo, Tokyo, Sienna, and D.C. My favorite thing to do is try new foods for the first time, whether I’m cooking at home or going out on the town. I’ve loved trying the recipes we often feature in our magazines.

Brittany Carroll
Copy Editor / Proofreader

Brittany was raised right here in Weber County, Utah, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Although she left Utah after high school, she couldn’t wait to get back to her roots in 2017. Surrounded by majestically beautiful mountains, heavenly colors of sunsets, rugged charm of the deserts, fantastic hiking and biking trails, and the best snow on earth, Brittany feels there isn’t a better place in the whole country in which she and her loved ones could live. Add her better half, Michael, and her kids to the mix, and she has found heaven on earth!

Brittany is honored to be an English teacher for grades 11 and 12 and hopes to instill a love of literature and writing in her students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing and, in June, will hold a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She hopes to be a student until she reaches the age of 99.

Brittany may have been holding a book when she entered this world. There’s a running joke in her family that she was reading while still in her mother’s womb. Brittany has an extreme love for words; she feels as if words can be art, just as paintings, sculptures, or music can be. To read the thoughts and feelings of people close to home warms her heart. For Brittany, it is a privilege to work for a company dedicated to giving members of a community an avenue through which each person, business, school, etc. can have a voice, and each city can keep lines of communication open for all.

Abigail Rigby
Graphic Design

After spending her entire childhood in Japan as a US Navy brat, Abigail traveled along both coasts of the US before finally setting roots in her new hometown of North Ogden, Utah. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, dabbling in digital painting and never turns down a Venti Green Tea Frappucino.

Crystal Rappleye
Graphic Design

My name is Crystal. I'm married to the love of my life. I like dance parties in the kitchen with my 2 boys. I love creating through design, crafts, painting & upcycling. I like reading nonfiction, napping, spray paint and chocolate. I like learning new things as long as I'm good at it. I love sitting around the table laughing and playing games as a family. I am cheerful and like to be around happy people. Oh and Oreos, can't forget that! I love oreos.

Kim Crook
Media Manager

After receiving her Associates Degree from Utah State University in the Art Education program, Kim put her education on hold so she could work to put her husband through school. She got a job in customer service, which lead to promotion into Management and Marketing roles. She found she loved customer interaction, problem solving, and utilizing technology to help a company grow.

After Kim's husband graduated, they moved to Weber County. Kim joined the Connection Publishing team, where she manages the magazine's websites and social media.

When she's not working, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband, playing with their dog, drawing, painting, playing the piano, and baking. Her favorites treats to make are beautiful cakes and intricate royal icing sugar cookies.

Connection Publishing Sales and Organization Team

Rhett Long
Chief Commercial Officer

I had many goals in my life and was driven by ambition and fear of failing. After accomplishing every goal, I have started my life of trying to give back.

Vy Trinh
Sales Operations Manager

Vy is responsible for the marketing, communication and business development efforts at Connection Publishing. She attended Weber State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Marketing. Before joining Connection Publishing, through full-time roles and consulting work, Vy has created content, produced events, driven social media strategy, and built communities for everything from small businesses to national brands. Her passion is about how storytelling and targeted message create changing content.
When she isn’t working, Vy enjoys skiing, rock climbing and vintage shopping.

Melinda Hortin
Advertising Sales - North Ogden Connection

My name is Melinda Hortin. I come from a large family. I was raised by two sweet and very patient parents. I am smack dab in the middle of 10 amazing siblings who I consider my best friends. I am happily married to an incredible man named Jake. We have 3 beautiful spunky kids who definitely aren’t afraid of anything. As a family we enjoy, rock climbing, hiking, camping and riding motorcycles. My personal hobbies include singing, playing guitar and sewing. I’m a big fan of personal development and continually growing and stretching into the best version of me. I love taking Sunday naps and my favorite color is yellow.

Ann Park
Advertising Sales - Ogden Connection
Writer

Ann Park is a long time resident of Northern Utah. She loves the outdoors, especially the mountain peaks. She loves adventure, hiking, and mountain climbing. She is deeply committed to creativity, loves writing, and is a published author. She loves the spirit of entrepreneurship, and loves to see great business concepts launch and fly. Working with people is always one of her favorite things.

"I love discovering amazing businesses right here in the city, and I love meeting the people who run them. I learn so much every day. I've been a huge fan of Connection Publishing since they started. I have written for them for years just because I loved to share and hoped to bring the community closer together. I have thought about working for Ryan Spelts for a long time, but as he was preparing to launch the Ogden Connection, the timing was right. I'm excited for this new creation to go out to everyone, and the more new people come on board, the more amazing it will be."

Scott Jones
Sales - Syracuse Connection and Roy Connection

Scott has been in sales for 35 years. Ranging experience from owning his own vinyl fencing business for 8 years to working in media sales. For the last 12 years he sold advertisement for the Standard Examiner Newspaper in Ogden, UT.

Scott was ready to make a change in his career but wanted to stay in the advertising industry and stay in touch with the many advertisers he has developed relationships with over the years. He really likes the magazines we create and wanted to be part of our growing company.

Kendal Jensen
Advertising Sales - Weber Connection

Kendal is a former state and national rodeo queen who has worked in sales for 15 years and in publishing for 4 years. She has previously created a popular western lifestyle magazine and has a passion for creating content that celebrates the community. She resides in Farr West with her husband Zach, their seven busy kids and stable full of horses and 4H animals. In her spare time she enjoys helping her kids pursue their rodeo dreams and rodeoing and roping with her husband and family.

David Newman
Advertising Sales

I started my career as a marking manager for a major air conditioning company. Out of six offices maintained the top office in California. A good friend of mine offered me a job in Oklahoma which started my advertising career and I enjoyed it and have been in advertising for 38 years. It has been a great learning experience with changing times. I always enjoyed working with businesses to develop creative and effective ads. I enjoy working with Connection Publishing with friendly people, effective advertising with good ethics.