About the Estero Bay News and its Staff

Dean Sullivan, Publisher

Dean is the founder and owner, and serves as publisher, sales director, production manager and any other job that is needed.

He joined the publishing world in the early 80s working for a small magazine, before the use of desktop computers, in the days of paste-up and darkrooms. In 1989, he started the original Bay News with his friend and partner Cliff Marshall. Cliff stepped away from publishing in 1994, and Dean continued the paper as The Bay Breeze. David Weyrich purchased that paper in 2000 and created a series of papers including The Beach Gazette. That period is now known amongst us as “The Weyrich Nightmare.” When that publication’s controversy caused its demise, Dean resurrected The Bay News with his partner and wife, Shari.

In 2001, Dean and Shari started a sister publication, The Coast News in the South County, with Theresa-Marie Wilson, managing editor. New partners joined the publication and Dean (temporarily) retired from publishing. Dean also had a hand in starting The SLO City News in 2006 with Chris and Mary Gardner.

When Simply Clear Marketing, formerly Tolosa Press, ceased publishing The Bay News effective January 1, 2019, the community response made it clear that the closure left a void. Dean, Shari and Theresa-Marie, “T” to most, made the decision to launch the Estero Bay News to continue the strong tradition of community news within the Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos area.

Theresa-Marie, “T”, Wilson, Executive Editor

T was integral to the launch of The Coast News and continued as that paper’s editor for most of the past 15 years before becoming the executive editor and content strategist for the company and its many publications. Over the last few years, she also handled content creation for social media, and other content marketing needs for local businesses. In her free time, she runs a blog (CatNoirCC.com) dedicating to increasing awareness and adoption rates for black cats.

Neil Farrell, Reporter

Neil has been a journalist covering the Estero Bay Area for over 27 years. He’s won numerous journalism awards in several different categories over his career.

Shari Sullivan, Digital Media and Marketing

Shari backed into publishing in 1998 as a graphic designer for a classified ad publication. Since then she has served publications in every capacity other than sales– administration, billing, tech support, production and design, reporting, editing, outreach and community relations.

Most recently, she spent the last six years handling marketing strategy and implementation for Cal Poly’s marketing department.

She’s also been involved with an array of California nonprofit organizations (as board member or staff) including The Ink People Center for the Arts, the San Luis Obispo Symphony, the Morro Bay National Estuary Program, Central Coast State Parks Association, and the Redwood Discovery Museum to name just a few.

A classically trained artist, Shari’s a metalsmith and mixed media artist with a 30-year fascination with herbalism. She recently gained certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, is pursuing her yoga teaching certification and is methodically furthering her herbalism studies.