This Is Reno has been a Reno news media source since that. 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.
Bob Conrad
Publisher & Editor
Bob Conrad is publisher, editor, and co-founder of This Is Reno. He’s been a Reno resident since 1990. He has served in communications positions for various state agencies and earned a doctorate from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2011, where he completed his dissertation on social media, journalism and crisis communications. In addition to managing This Is Reno, he holds a part-time appointment for the Mineral County University of Nevada Extension office.
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.
Mark Hernandez
Reporter
Mark was born in Mexico, grew up in Carson City, and has recently returned to Reno to continue to explore and get to know the city again. He got his journalism degree in 2018 and wants to continue learning photography for both business and pleasure. Languages and history are topics he likes to discuss as well as deplete any coffee reservoirs in close proximity.
Darcy Lenardson
Newsletter Writer & Editor
Darcy Lenardson has loved living in Reno since 1995. She worked as editor and special projects manager with the Nevada Mining Association for 13 years and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Arizona. She is an actor who has performed with many local theaters including Reno Little Theater, Good Luck Macbeth and Brüka Theater of the Sierras. Darcy loves reading, hiking with her husband, Jeff, and their three dogs and being an empty nest mom to her three college students.
Eric Marks
Reporter and 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. His parents were always supportive of his photography as a child and encouraged him to read and write as much as possible. From 2005 to 2012 he owned an award-winning, international, high-definition video production company, and has produced video and photography in over 14 different countries on four continents. 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.
Nick McCabe
Writer & Photographer
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.
Kelsey Penrose
School & City 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.
Michael Smyth
Writer & Photographer
Michael Smyth is a writer and photographer who moved to Reno from the Bay Area in 2007. Michael retired from a corporate road-warrior sales career in 2017 where he wrote freelance small-venue music reviews on the side to keep his sanity on the road. When he isn’t covering a concert or sporting event he might be found concocting a salsa recipe, throwing barbless flies in search of trout, or recapturing the skip-and-stop wedge shot of his youth.
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_wine.