This is the last of a four-part “meet the Estes Valley Voice team of writers, editors, and creatives.” We are a merry band of journalists and news junkies who believe in the role of the media in sharing the community story and holding power to account. We are committed to in-depth news coverage of the Estes Valley.
We invite you to get to know our writers. Our stories are not behind a paywall because we believe that the news should be accessible to the people of a community. We also believe that if we produce a high-quality news product, the public will choose to support us. If you are not a paid subscriber, we invite you to consider becoming one. On a monthly basis, a subscription is about the price of a cup of coffee.
Emily Payne, Managing Editor
Emily is a journalist covering the intersection of food, agriculture, health, and climate. Her work has appeared in Inside Climate News, Edible Magazines, Colorado Public Radio, Headwaters Magazine, and more.
She has served as editor of the global nonprofit Food Tank since 2015 and as freelance managing editor at Estes Valley Voice since 2025. She is an expert at Associated Press style, a terrific copy editor, and skilled in the often-complicated world of the WordPress publishing platform.
Emily previously led communications for a range of food system nonprofits and startup tech companies. She attended Boston University and has lived in Denver since 2020.
Elizabeth Sherwin, Book Reviews, Allenspark Beat
Elisabeth Sherwin was born on Christmas Day and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. She attended college in Ohio and later returned to the Chicago area for graduate school, earning a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
She spent her career working for daily newspapers, large and small, in California. She worked at the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Sacramento Bee, but spent most of her working years at the Davis Enterprise in Davis, Calif.
She was a copy editor, features editor, general assignment reporter, and book columnist for many years. After she retired, she returned to Allenspark, where her grandparents had lived for many years, first as summer residents and then as year-rounders.
“I spent many happy summers in Allenspark and Estes Park,” she said. But California offered more opportunities for a career in journalism.
“Journalism has changed a great deal over the years,” she said. “But the fundamentals remain and should always be the goal. I am pleased to be a part of the Estes Valley Voice.”
Visit Elisabeth’s webpage at www.sherwinontheweb.com.
Toni Tresca, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Toni Tresca is a Colorado-based writer, editor, and arts journalist. Originally from Mineola, Texas, he relocated to Colorado in 2022 to pursue an MBA and an MA in Theatre at the University of Colorado Boulder. After graduation, he decided to stay in the Front Range because of its vibrant arts and culture scene.
As the A&E editor for the Estes Valley Voice, Toni curates the weekly roundup of arts and culture events for the upcoming weekend, which is published every Thursday, and writes feature stories that highlight the people, ideas, and creative work that shape Estes Park.
While much of his reporting focuses on the arts, Toni also ventures beyond that beat when the story calls for it, covering everything from local business shifts to the evolving landscape of hospital mergers.
Regardless of the topic, Toni’s goal is always the same: to uncover stories that matter to residents and provide readers with a textured, accessible understanding of the forces shaping life in the valley.
Beyond the Estes Valley Voice, Toni serves as the managing editor of Bucket List Community Cafe, co-hosts the OnStage Colorado Podcast, recently named Feedspot’s #1 Colorado arts podcast, and freelances for Denver Westword. His writing is motivated by a strong belief in the power of local storytelling to strengthen a community. Whether interviewing a young artist, profiling a long-standing business, or previewing a new performance, his work is guided by curiosity and a desire to connect people through a shared understanding of what’s going on in the community.
Brett Wilson, Podcast and Audio Director
Brett Wilson is a writer, musician, music, podcast, and audiobook producer, and host of various shows, including “Ridin’ for the Brand” at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, the Akhil Autism Foundation podcast, and the Rocky Mountain Channel podcast, along with his own “Mountain Zen Den” podcast where he has had the privilege of interviewing some of the most fascinating people on the planet.
In the 1990s, Brett managed Sound Revolutions, a bustling studio in Nashville, where he learned the ins and outs of the music industry and recording business. As the owner and creative director of SkyDance Mountain, he produces world-class podcasts and audiobooks in his Colorado studio.
“The thing I love most about what I do is meeting new people and finding and telling a good story. Apparently, I was born with a natural curiosity. I find great joy in getting to know the folks I meet and interview on a deeper level. The story within the story, if you will. The one that makes people sit up and take notice. The one that brings a little more hope, inspiration, imagination, and especially transformation,” said Brett.
He enjoys being in conversation with God the Creator, spending time with his family, hiking, and hearing the sound of horse hooves on the trail, as well as anything that has to do with nature and time outdoors.
Visit his webpage at www.skydancemountainaudiobooks.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.