Our Team

Ms. Beth L. Nightingale – Founder/Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Nightingale is the visionary that initially brought the concept of community magazines to the Greater Katy area; first with the inception of Katy Magazine, and later with the creation of the absolutely! Magazines brand. With fifteen years experience in design, printing, book publishing, branding and marketing, Ms. Nightingale has created a product that is unique and poised to expand both vertically and horizontally.
 
Ms. Nightingale holds several civic leadership roles in the West Houston community. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and holds the office of Secretary on the Executive Board.  Ms. Nightingale is a 1981 graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, holding a combined degree in Business and Law.

Mr. Roger E. Marksberry – President/Chief Operations Officer

Mr. Roger Marksberry draws on an extensive Fortune 300 and small business ownership background in production management, engineering management, systems innovation, marketing and executive general management. He has successfully played both direct sales and sales managerial roles for the past 20 years.

Mr. Marksberry served as Medical Components Plant Manager with a global healthcare company and later held several senior management and vice-president roles for the trucking products and instrumentation division of a large corporation. Following his corporate life, Mr. Marksberry managed the growth of his own startup marketing business to nearly $4,000,000 in annual sales.

He is now charged with co-leading the Company into and through a period of accelerated growth and enhanced profitability with a focus on building a strong and predictable sales process.

A graduate of The Ohio State University with close family ties to Texas A&M and Texas State, Mr. Marksberry served on Destoryers as a Gunnery, Missile, and Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, where he received the Navy Achievement Award and where his Divisions were honors with the Squadron "E"s.

Ms. Dusty Gilbert – Editor-in-Chief

Ms. Dusty Gilbert holds extensive experience in print publication, the non-profit sector, radio programming, website development, public relations, media production and the real estate industry. Coupled with her unique understanding of popular culture and consumer trends, she enthusiastically stands out as an internationally published writer, editor and columnist, Editor of skirt! Houston (houston.skirt.com), spirit behind bareCommunication and head of the editorial staff.

Experienced in writing, editing, launching, promoting and coordinating all aspects of editorial production, Dusty is technically inclined with various “new media” skills and has expertise in website development, blogging, social networking and graphic design.
Dusty sits on the Board of Directors for Fashion Group International, Pink Door Nonprofit, Fast Forward - Intown's Organization of Young Professionals, the Alumni Marketing Board of the University of St. Thomas and Literacy Advance of Houston Young Professionals.
Dusty is a Cum Laude graduate of International Studies, Business Administration and Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas.

 Laura J. La Rue – Public Relations & Marketing Director

Laura J. La Rue maintains longstanding experience in the areas of public relations, marketing, event planning and writing.  Due to her exceptional attention to detail and efficient implementation of innovative thought, she achieves the highest levels of notoriety and recognition. She has a proven track record for successfully releasing new products, concepts and events to the public, her methods ensure the message reaches the most strategic and targeted range of editorial and promotional venues available.

Ms. La Rue is the Communication & Public Relations Director for bareCommunication. She also sits on the board as Public Relations Director for Pink Door Non-Profit Organization and on the committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition.

In addition to her role as PR & Marketing Director for absolutely! IN THE LOOP, Laura writes an article about one of her favorite hobbies - fitness!  Laura is a Communication Studies graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX.