The team

This Is Reno has been the greater Reno area’s award-winning independent news source since 2009. In that time we have been fortunate to have experienced, seasoned reporters, volunteers and student journalists providing relevant, fact-based news and information for the greater Reno area. Meet the current team below.

Mary Claire Boucher

Mary Claire Boucher

Director of Marketing

Mary Claire Bouchér is an independent consultant for This Is Reno. Mary Claire was born and raised in Carson City. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University. She has enjoyed a diverse professional career in dynamic environments including hospitality, entrepreneurship, nonprofit and marketing. Mary Claire is the founder and principal of MCBCreative, Inc. She is a hiking enthusiast, alpine skier, nature lover and proud mom to two grown daughters. Read her work.


Bob Conrad

Bob Conrad

Publisher, editor, reporter

Bob Conrad is publisher, editor and co-founder of This Is Reno. He has served in communications positions for various state agencies and earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2011. He is also a part time instructor at UNR. Read his reports.


Kristen Hackbarth

Kristen Hackbarth

Editor

Kristen Hackbarth is a freelance editor and communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing, public relations and communications in northern Nevada. Kristen graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in photography and minor in journalism and has a Master of Science in Management and Leadership. She also serves as director of communications for Nevada Cancer Coalition, a statewide nonprofit. Though she now lives in Atlanta, she is a Nevadan for life and uses her three-hour time advantage to get a jump on the morning’s news. Read her reports.


Darcy Lenardson

Newsletter editor

Darcy Lenardson is an editor and actor who has enjoyed living in the Reno area since 1995.  She previously worked in public relations and marketing as Special Projects Manager/Head Newsletter Editor for the Nevada Mining Association for over 13 years.  Darcy is a proud graduate of the University of Arizona where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Her passion for acting goes back to her childhood and for the past 13 years she has acted at many local theaters as well as in short films, staged readings and as a movie extra. She is currently a board member of Reno Little Theater and enjoys volunteering with anything that supports our local arts community.


cesar lopez headshot photograph
Cesar Lopez

Cesar Lopez

Photojournalist

Cesar Lopez is from Reno and is an award-winning street photographer. He is also a co-host for the podcast and radio show, Up in the Mix. He gets his inspiration from his travels and his love of music. See his work.


Eric Marks, Reno photographer

Eric Marks

Reporter & photojournalist

Born in 1971, Eric marks was fortunate enough to grow up in a time and family where photography and literature were normal parts of his life. Eric majored at the University of Nevada, Reno in English and Art, graduating with English and Photography degrees in 2013, and again with an Art degree in 2018. He teaches all genres of photography at Truckee Meadows Community College, is a freelance photojournalist for several publications and he offers private photography instruction. Read his reports.


Nick McCabe

Nick McCabe

Photojournalist

Nick McCabe is a Reno-based photojournalist and musician. He’s been shooting concerts in the Reno-Tahoe area since 2006 and writing articles and reviews since 2012, as well as doing interviews on occasion. His music education and playing experience goes back to 1967. He is a founding member of the Reno Tahoe Forte’ Awards, and he still plays music locally for enjoyment. First concert: Jimi Hendrix. Last concert: we’ll see. Read his reports.


Kelsey Penrose

Kelsey Penrose

School and government reporter

Kelsey Penrose is a proud Native Nevadan whose work in journalism and publishing can be found throughout the Sierra region. She received degrees in English Literature and Anthropology from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Creative Writing with the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe. She is an avid supporter of high desert agriculture and rescue dogs. Read her reports.


Nora Tarte

Food writer

Nora Heston Tarte is a long-time Reno resident living on the southside of town. In addition to food, her hobbies include wine, hiking, yoga and travel. She is also the managing editor of a regional, lifestyle publication and freelances for other publications most frequently in the travel space. Nora received her bachelor’s in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento before graduating from University of Nebraska, Lincoln with a master’s in Professional Journalism. You can follow her travel adventures, and local exploits, on her Instagram account, @wanderlust_n_wineRead her stories.