Vicki Estes
Director of Communications and Editor
Everyone has a story to tell. Don’t believe it? Spend 15 minutes with Vicki as she fires off questions to discover the story within that you may not believe is worth telling. She says it’s the seemingly mundane, the run-of-the-mill events that people relate to. A transplant to Topeka from Chicago at a young age, Vicki’s goal was to be a newspaper columnist, which she achieved in 2001 by winning a writing contest sponsored by the Topeka Capital-Journal. For nearly 20 years of column writing, her self-deprecating humor focused on everyday obstacles mostly those associated with juggling a career, motherhood and wifedom. Vicki credits her Washburn University education and professors for landing her first job out of college at the Kansas Press Association, and from there her love for the written word, information and storytelling was born.
Director of Communications and Editor
Everyone has a story to tell. Don’t believe it? Spend 15 minutes with Vicki as she fires off questions to discover the story within that you may not believe is worth telling. She says it’s the seemingly mundane, the run-of-the-mill events that people relate to. A transplant to Topeka from Chicago at a young age, Vicki’s goal was to be a newspaper columnist, which she achieved in 2001 by winning a writing contest sponsored by the Topeka Capital-Journal. For nearly 20 years of column writing, her self-deprecating humor focused on everyday obstacles mostly those associated with juggling a career, motherhood and wifedom. Vicki credits her Washburn University education and professors for landing her first job out of college at the Kansas Press Association, and from there her love for the written word, information and storytelling was born.
Carrie Kimberlin
Manager of Creative Solutions
Faster than a speeding bullet at PhotoShop. Even more powerful at using InDesign. Unable to leap tall buildings, but has zip-lined and climbed many a fence to get that perfect cover shot. Carrie Kimberlin is our not-so-mild mannered designer for Kansas Country Living magazine. She also disguises herself as a salesperson, selling advertising for the magazine. No strange visitor from another planet, she grew up in rural-Kansas on cooperative lines. Her powers of design were earned from Kansas State University in 2005. Each month, she fights a never-ending battle of combining text and photos to design the magazine and coordinates 23 cooperative local pages. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, target shooting and watching her kiddos play sports.
Manager of Creative Solutions
Faster than a speeding bullet at PhotoShop. Even more powerful at using InDesign. Unable to leap tall buildings, but has zip-lined and climbed many a fence to get that perfect cover shot. Carrie Kimberlin is our not-so-mild mannered designer for Kansas Country Living magazine. She also disguises herself as a salesperson, selling advertising for the magazine. No strange visitor from another planet, she grew up in rural-Kansas on cooperative lines. Her powers of design were earned from Kansas State University in 2005. Each month, she fights a never-ending battle of combining text and photos to design the magazine and coordinates 23 cooperative local pages. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, target shooting and watching her kiddos play sports.
Shaylee Arpin
Multimedia Communications Specialist
When not walking, training or playing with Fern, her adorable and well-behaved corgi, Shaylee’s busy with do-it-yourself home projects and spending time with family. A co-op girl at heart, her college internships included stints at Land O’ Lakes, Inc. and Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC), where she learned the cooperative difference can truly transform communities. She is a 2018 graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in agricultural communications and journalism and a minor in animal sciences and industry. Before joining Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KEC) and the staff of Kansas Country Living (KCL), she worked for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. She completed Leadership KFB, a year-long program focusing on creating influential, thought leaders who engage in issues in rural communities across Kansas. Shaylee’s the clever messenger behind the messaging for KEC and KCL social media channels.
Multimedia Communications Specialist
When not walking, training or playing with Fern, her adorable and well-behaved corgi, Shaylee’s busy with do-it-yourself home projects and spending time with family. A co-op girl at heart, her college internships included stints at Land O’ Lakes, Inc. and Mid Kansas Cooperative (MKC), where she learned the cooperative difference can truly transform communities. She is a 2018 graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in agricultural communications and journalism and a minor in animal sciences and industry. Before joining Kansas Electric Cooperatives (KEC) and the staff of Kansas Country Living (KCL), she worked for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce. She completed Leadership KFB, a year-long program focusing on creating influential, thought leaders who engage in issues in rural communities across Kansas. Shaylee’s the clever messenger behind the messaging for KEC and KCL social media channels.