THE POWER OF TEAM
When you work with Journey Sixty6, you get the collective strengths of a team of experts. We’re not a single free-lancer.
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Our deep experience includes script writing, ghostwriting, storytelling, creative direction, production, and publishing—our diverse team ensures your project is handled with originality and professionalism.
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Our business was founded by both a male and female, providing a balance in perspective necessary when working with families.
DAVE GOETZ
Dave Goetz is co-founder of Journey Sixty6 and president of CZ Strategy, a strategic marketing agency. He is a former magazine and book editor and the author of the critically acclaimed Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul (HarperOne). He is also a passionate fly fisher, podcaster (2 Guys and a River), and author of The Fly Fisher's Book of Lists: Life is short. Catch more fish.
Dave has coached hundreds of writers and served as editor for books in the area of family business, philanthropy, leadership, spirituality and religion, and legacy memoirs.
MELISSA PARKS
Melissa Parks is co-founder of Journey Sixty6 and managing director of publishing at CZ Strategy, a strategic marketing agency. She is an Instagram expert, having built a large IG following (Megillicutti).
Over the past 25 years, Melissa has coached numerous authors through the publishing journey, from idea formation to publication. She has also ghostwritten books for thought leaders.
She is a speaker and a writer, contributing to online shelter publications. She and her co-founder, Dave Goetz, started working together more than twenty years ago at a publishing company. She holds an M.A. in English Literature from Loyola University Chicago.
KIRSTEN TANGEROS
Kirsten is Journey Sixty6's director of design, overseeing the visual creation of the Family Keepsake—from concept to completion. With her eye for detail, she ensures each project aligns with the client’s vision. She collaborates with the client, manages production schedules, and provides creative direction as she works closely with book designers, animators, and video editors.
Her design sensibility transcends to her personal life. Her home has been featured in home decor magazines and books. If she's not managing client work, she is likely planning a trip abroad with her family.
ROB LEWIS
Rob Lewis is a writing coach, developmental editor, and ghostwriter for Journey Sixty6. Rob has decades of experience working with family businesses and family business consultants. He has a proven track record of writing narratives that illuminate the complexities of family dynamics, succession planning, and business strategy. Whether he’s working on founder memoirs, family histories, or thought leader nonfiction, Rob’s writing resonates with clarity and insight, helping family businesses and family business consultants navigate their unique stories and challenges with confidence.Â
ALLISON PARKS
Allison Parks is the editorial manager for Journey Sixty6. She also serves as one of Journey Sixty6’s writing coaches and ghostwriters. Beyond her writing talents, Allison plays a pivotal role in managing the company’s website and blog, ensuring that content is engaging, informative, and reflective of Journey Sixty6’s brand. Her multifaceted skill set and unwavering dedication make her an essential asset to the team.Â
GARY GNIDOVIC
Gary Gnidovic brings decades of experience in book design, publication design, and brand identity to the Journey Sixty6 team. Guided by the maxim “let the problem define the solution,” Gary approaches every project with a keen sense of purpose and flexibility, ensuring that design serves the content—and not the other way around.
In addition to his design practice, Gary has shared his expertise internationally, teaching design and photography to students around the world.
A self-described Bob Dylan freak, Gary believes great design—like great music—tells a story that sticks.
OUR VALUES
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COMMITTED TO THE CRAFT OF WRITING
We’re passionate about the art of great writing. Good storytelling isn’t cliché; it’s crafted. Up front, we create a winsome idea and sturdy structure, the rudder of any creative project. When we write, we commit to developing a style that reflects your voice and engages your audience. Our writing respects the nuances of your story, gets at the deeper truths, and takes the reader on a journey.
CURIOSITY FUELS OUR WORK
We believe the best stories come from asking the right questions and then truly listening. Our curiosity drives us to explore ideas deeply. Our clients often say, “I’ve never been asked that before.” And the rising gen often says, “I never knew that!” They’re surprised by the stories and truths that have not been explored. Our digging gets below the surface of the story.
ROOTED IN RELATIONSHIP
Our engagements are rooted in human connection. Your story matters to us because you matter to us. In fact, we like to say, “Our clients become our friends.” We dread when our engagements end, because we become so invested in your story – and thus you and your family legacy.
BLAZING NEW TRAILS
We value and respect tradition, though we don’t view ourselves as traditionalists. We think more like the pioneers of the American West who kept moving to new frontiers. We’re unafraid to venture into uncharted storytelling territory. Whether it’s tackling complex themes, breaking the mold of conventional publishing, or charting a new path for your book, we embrace the tough stuff. We’re westward in spirit, Midwestern in warmth. We are grounded, resilient, and ready to push boundaries with you.
