About Us

Lisl Liang is a story engineer, brand strategist and entrepreneur who contributes her expertise in media communications, marketing integration and business development Liang co-founded SRQ MEDIA in 1997 to craft and launch a hyper-local portfolio of print and digital publications that capture the spirit of the Sarasota-Bradenton Area region on the West Coast of Florida with its award-winning flagship city-regional publication SRQ Magazine.

Liang directs the strategic operations and management of the company by identifying new market growth, managing shifts in innovation, developing audience resonance, curating storytelling brands and developing revenue opportunities. As Editor In Chief, she is also the senior strategic content director across the company's verticals. Liang currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County and has previously served as the Chair of The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  In the past she has chaired the Sarasota Young Professionals Group and has served on the following boards of directors and advisory groups: SCOPE (Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence), SCTI (Sarasota County Technical Institute), The Artists Series, The Art Center of Sarasota and The Downtown Partnership of Sarasota. She was also selected to participate in the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute (2014) and the Florida Executive Leadership Program (2014).

In 2017, Liang was recognized by Folio Magazine as an honoree in an Entrepreneur in the national media arena. Liang was recognized Liang received the Chairman’s Cup for community and business leadership in October of 2007 from The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, The Downtown Partnership of Sarasota bestowed upon her their top honor, The Bob Richardson Award for Community Service for her leadership contributing to the economic health and vibrancy of Downtown Sarasota. She was recognized as a “40 Under 40” business leader in 2004 by The Gulfcoast Business Review. Liang earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communications and Environmental Policy from The American University in Washington D.C.

Wes Roberts oversees the advertising sales and business development operations for SRQ Media's portfolio of publications. As a co-founder of the business Roberts has worked to grow client businesses over the past 15 years by engaging and reaching viable regional audiences. Roberts serves on several boards and marketing committees locally including the board of the Sarasota Film Festival and the State College of Florida Foundation.  He holds a BA in Film and Literature from the American University in Washington D.C. and an MFA in Film from Florida State University. A native of Sarasota, Roberts went to Out-of-Door Academy and Pine View while growing up on Siesta Key. In his free time, he spends time with his two gorgeous children Griffin and Piper, reading about nutrition and traveling.

Working across multiple platforms, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, Ashley Grant handles strategic relationship development and directs initiatives that facilitate collaboration between SRQ MEDIA and local and national businesses, non-profits, and arts and culture organizations. Ashley produces our dynamic Women in Business Hear Me Roar community platform and has been making a positive impact through all of the SRQ Gives Back programs since 2004. After graduating from Rollins College with a BA in English/Business, Ashley directed marketing and PR campaigns in New York for Reebok International Limited, American Express Publishing, The Body Shop International, and Conde Nast Publications, before returning to her hometown of Sarasota. Out of the office, Ashley does yoga, goes horseback riding, and likes to swing by Starbucks. 

Suzanne Munroe is a Sales and Business Development Associate at SRQ MEDIA responsible for helping businesses increase brand awareness through advertising and special marketing from our portfolio of publications. Suzanne is a graduate from the School of Hospitality at Florida State University (Go Noles!). Her hospitality career, including hotel sales and management stints, has afforded her the opportunity to work with clients from several regions of the country.  Suzanne’s broad experience with national, military, government and local clientele have built a strong foundation for relationship building and focused customer service, her principal strengths. A native Sarasotan, Suzanne grew up on Siesta Key and attended school at The Out-of-Door Academy before moving to Tampa and finishing high school. To relax, Suzanne loves boating, playing tennis and spending time with her family.

Rob is a native of Garden City, NY and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining SRQ Media, Rob was an account executive with Publishers Weekly and then Gulfshore Business magazine where he worked directly with clients and agencies to create innovative advertising and marketing plans that helped to build their businesses. You will find Rob participating in numerous 5k and 10k charity road races around town and he and his wife love to travel, as well as experience all the great things to see and do in Sarasota.

Nichole Knutson is a 'new local' originally from Madison, Wisconsin. Growing up her family would drive down each spring to spend time with her grandmother in Siesta Key. Prior to joining SRQ Media, Nichole worked for the University of Wisconsin System and brought a wealth of media knowledge with her from her roles at Tampa Bay Times, the Wisconsin State Journal, the CapTimes and InBusiness Magazine. She received her bachelors of business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and later pursued a Graduate certificate in Entrepreneurship from Boston University as well as a Capstone in User Experience from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In her free time, Nichole enjoys going to local markets, trying new local coffee shops and exploring the Sunshine State.

In his role, Robinson helps the publication's new and existing clients grow and benefit from the full spectrum of services offered by SRQ Magazine while fully embracing the "live local" mentality. While an undergrad at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Robinson studied history, and dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but upon realizing how much paperwork was involved, he decided that it wasn’t the path for him. In December 2021, despite never having stepped foot on campus, Robinson graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a Master of Legal Studies degree. Robinson's past employment includes serving as a job coach for adults with disabilities, and working for an affiliate marketing agency based in Lakewood Ranch. In the seventh grade, Robinson won the first and only National Geographic Geography Bee held by his middle school, and therefore remains the reigning champion.

Starting with the company as an intern back in 2020, Gabriella continued her way up to becoming a full time SRQ employee after graduating from the University of South Florida, May of 2022 studying Advertising and Public Relations. She now serves as SRQ’s Client Marketing and Digital Programs Manager engaging primarily with the client side of marketing and production. Moving to the Bradenton/Sarasota area from a very young age, Gabriella has enjoyed seeing both of these cities expand in their communities and is excited to watch the continuance of this growth through the “living local” eyes.  

A native to Sarasota, a rare breed in itself, Megan found herself loving SRQ Magazine throughout her formative years. While studying digital media and communication at Florida State University, she uncovered her passion for videography. Megan began working for a student-run editorial fashion magazine, CLUTCH, directing and editing behind-the-scenes videos of photoshoots. Upon graduating, she began her search for a career in social media landing at a local marketing agency. Through trials and tribulations, Megan found herself at SRQ MEDIA in a position that challenges, stimulates, and excites her. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her friends, being in the sun or simply by the water, and spending time with her four-legged daughter, Loki. No, she isn’t a fan of Marvel and didn’t name her dog after the movie. If you must ask, Loki is a rescue Catahoula Leopard with an escape artist background. So, the Norse God of Mischief was only fitting for such a creature. 

Virginia spent her formative years attending and graduating from the Ringling School of Art & Design with a degree in graphic design. She has worked over 30 years at advertising agencies and marketing firms across the United States and most recently running her own business for the past two decades. After graduating, she worked in New York City, Charleston, Atlanta and Chicago, where she met her husband Jason. She spent a few years in Miami only to come full-circle back to Bradenton in 2019. She lives with three crazy, rickety cats and her dog-ter Cayman. She loves being outdoors, gardening, going to the beach and eating out —a lot! "It's good to be home and I am thrilled to be working with such a talented and committed group at SRQ MEDIA."

A children's book writer and editor originally from New York, Barbie and her wife moved to Sarasota two years ago. When she is not writing and editing at SRQ, she can be found in the gym, working as a personal trainer and barre fitness instructor.  She is the very proud mom of two sets of twins (two girls and two boys) and three adorable pups.

Wyatt Kostygan is the VP of Photography and Video at SRQ Media with senior roles in videography and photography. Born and raised on the east coast of Florida in a sleepy little town, he ventured to Sarasota to attend New College. Having been long captivated by movies and film, his penchant for photography began in college when he looked for a hobby to take him outside and explore the constantly evolving world of digital photography technology. With the purchase of his first camera, he was hooked and the rest is history. Upon graduation, Wyatt answered the call to big city life and moved to New York City to rub elbows and train under talented photographers and filmmakers. But as it often happens, home came calling back by way of an opportunity with SRQ MEDIA and he relocated back to the sunshine state. Since his return to Sarasota, Wyatt has enjoyed seeing the changes that the city has gone through, and is finding more and more reasons to love this perfect mix of city and country life. When he’s not snapping photos in the SRQ Studio or around town scouting the perfect image for a story, you can spot Wyatt enjoying his motorcycle and spending time with his “wonderful, beautiful and intelligent girlfriend.” 

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dylan graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Writing for Film, Television, and Emerging Media. Although he onced harbored dreams of being a screenwriter, a desire to interact with others and tell relevant stories steered him to the editorial world. A rampant Philadelphia Phillies fan, Dylan has enjoyed travelling to the Sarasota area to attend Spring Training games.

Sarasota-born, Eliana is a college senior majoring in Art and Performance Communications at Florida International University. While writing for The Venice Gondolier, Eliana discovered her passion for community connection, and how it translates through Sarasota’s art scene. In college, she writes for the magazine Her Campus, and looks forward to assuming an editorial position in the Fall. Finally back in her hometown, Eliana is ecstatic to continue developing an integrated cultural perspective only Sarasota could provide. 

Storytelling has always been a way for Paula Rodriguez-Saenz to write her dreams into existence. Born in Colombia, Paula moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas where she first realized the power of her written words through the struggles she faced as an immigrant. Since moving to Florida, she has focused her time on combining her passion for writing with her passion for politics. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Creative Writing. There, she participated in Student Government as the Vice Chair of the Student Life committee and was also the Writing Executive for Project Patriarchy–a student-run, nonpartisan political platform focused on educating the youth on current events. After graduating, she moved to D.C. where she interned with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute as a press intern on the hill. In Spring 2024, she completed her writing internship at the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence. Paula is excited to learn from the experienced staff at SRQ MEDIA  and hopes this experience will open the doors to more opportunities.

Vanessa Tasé Sueiro, a self-proclaimed friend of a friend, is an artist from Cuba based in New York City and (occasionally) Sarasota. First and foremost, she is a poet and, when you are not looking, a musician. Her creative work focuses on revealing the ways in which truth should be thrown out entirely in order to tell true stories. Her professional work has centered around philanthropy, working in grant writing and event production at various non-profits during her college years. A recent graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University (where she was knighted as a ‘campus character’ thanks to a feature in a school publication), Vanessa hopes to return to New York City, where she feels most herself. On her best days as a person, she is a child. Her boldest dreams include being a genius, writing fables, and flying a plane. 

Keeping with our motto, “Love Local,” Solymar Estrella has learned that all roads lead back to Sarasota. While studying Editing, Writing, and Media at Florida State University, she always felt a pullback to the only place where she does not need a GPS to get around. Now nearing the end of her collegiate career, Solymar serves as a Content Director for the Askew Student Life Center, both writing and designing advertisements. Loving locally also means finding a sense of belonging in a place you call home. For Solymar, that place from a very early age was The Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Here, she was given a set of tools that shaped her into who she is today. In hopes of giving back a fraction of what the Club has instilled in her, she spent last summer as their Marketing Intern, where she truly found her passion for fostering the community through communication and creativity. With every adventure Solymar takes, and with every mile she strays beyond her home, she will always belong to Sarasota: where the sun and sea meet and where her curls feel complete.

Jacob Ogles, SRQ Media Group's Senior Editor, was born in Illinois but moved to Florida at the age of 3, which we're pretty sure counts him as a native Sunshine Stater. When he studied magazine journalism at the University of South Florida, he dreamed of covering rock'n'roll all night while partying everyday, but was convinced during the Clinton administration that politicians lead just as interesting lives while holding the fate of the world in their hands. He has lived in Southwest for eight years and worked at SRQ since 2008. When he isn't huddled over his keyboard ensuring high quality product is delivered through your mailboxes, inboxes and web browsers, Jacob raises three children—Logan, Chloe and Nolan—with his wife Jennifer.

As a Contributing Senior Editor Phil Lederer covers arts and culture, profiles and features for SRQ MEDIA's portfolio of publications. Born in Texas but raised in Louisville, Kentucky, he graduated from Centre College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. From there, Phil earned 1.75 master’s degrees from Morehead State University: one in public administration with a focus in political philosophy and the other in government. An avid reader, Phil enjoys and is inspired by the works of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Cormac McCarthy and James Ellroy.