The business office is responsible for managing the financial and administrative aspects of Cascadia Daily News. Under the direction of the publisher and general manager, the business office team oversees CDN’s financial planning and budgeting, advertising sales, circulation and distribution, customer service, marketing and promotions, public relations, business development, and strategic planning.
The business team strives to respond to all calls and emails within one business day. If you call or email us during the weekend, we will respond within two business days.
While CDN is committed to growing and expanding our local, independent news operation in the Pacific Northwest, the business office does not participate in editorial decisions regarding news content. For any news-related tips or ideas, please contact the newsroom.
Meet the business office team
Publisher — Cynthia Pope
P.O. Box 2833
Bellingham, WA 98227
As publisher of Cascadia Daily News, Cynthia is responsible for overseeing all operations. She was instrumental in launching the newspaper in 2021 and now manages the news organization, providing guidance to the newsroom and business office staff.
Cynthia has been a business attorney since 1984, and she is the longtime counsel of Cascadia Daily News owner, David R. Syre. Bellingham, Washington has been her home since 1992.
General manager — Staci Baird
360-922-3090 (Ext. 117)
Before joining CDN, Staci was the journalism advisor at Whatcom Community College. She has worked in higher education at several public and private institutions as a professor of communications and journalist in practice.
Staci is a veteran digital content producer who previously worked at MSN Money, E.W. Scripps Newspaper Interactive, CBS Interactive, Lucasfilm and Stanford University. She is passionate about local journalism, digital storytelling, and user experience.
In her free time, Staci likes to travel with her family, especially to Disneyland and Disney World. Her partner is a technical manager for Disney Parks and Experiences. On the weekends, the Baird family enjoys spending time outdoors in the PNW with their dogs Bo and Spark.
Director of Business Development and Sales — Lisa McCoy
360-922-3090 (Ext. 113)
Lisa joined CDN in 2023 as the primary point of contact for advertising sales. With nearly three decades of consultative selling and assisting with family businesses, Lisa enjoys connecting local businesses with the community through events, advertising and new publications. Interacting with community members, the many organizations and businesses in Whatcom and Skagit counties are the best aspects of her role at CDN.
Born and raised in Bothell, Washington, Lisa moved to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University where she earned a journalism degree with a minor in business administration. She spends most of her free time adventuring with her husband, three daughters and dear friends.
Her guilty pleasures are sushi, pizza and wine. When home, you will always find Lisa playing or snuggled up with her Aussiedoodle, Kona, or one of her three cats: Mr. T, Skippy Jon Jones or Rocky.
Learn about advertising opportunities.
Sales, Production & Events Coordinator – Nina Claflin
360-922-3090 (Ext. 125)
Nina works as the sales, production and events coordinator at CDN, bringing a passion for community engagement to her role. She grew up in Seattle, Washington, before heading north to Bellingham to attend Western Washington University, where she earned a journalism degree in public relations with a minor in French. She worked as the editor-in-chief of Klipsun Magazine and as an intern in WWU’s Office of University Communications before graduating in June of 2023.
At CDN, she works closely with local businesses and strives to establish connections between CDN and the community. Her responsibilities span coordinating print distribution, event planning, and involvement in advertising operations.
Outside of work, Nina enjoys Bellingham’s scenery through runs, explores local cafes with her twin sister Taylor, and attends trivia nights at local breweries.
Graphic Design & Ad Production Coordinator – Taylor Claflin
360-922-3090 (Ext. 126)
taylorclaflin@cascadiadaily.com
Taylor works as the graphic designer and advertising production coordinator at CDN.
Despite being labeled the “artsy kid” her whole life, Taylor didn’t quite know what she wanted to pursue career-wise until she joined her high school’s yearbook staff during her junior year. Finding she had a passion for organizing information on a page, she applied to the design program at Western Washington University. Along with a B.A. in design, she earned a minor in French, where one day she will move to Paris to master her skills.
While at WWU, she worked as a graphic designer and marketing assistant at Wade King Student Recreation Center and as an editorial designer at Klipsun Magazine. When not in the office, you can find Taylor hunched over at her desk making jewelry while watching Gilmore Girls, trying out local breweries and coffee shops, or watching the sunset on her porch with her roommates.
Customer Service Manager — Marina Sanders
360-922-3090 (Ext. 116)
marinasanders@cascadiadaily.com
Marina started as a CDN intern in spring 2023. Soon after, she transitioned to working as regular member of the business office team.
In the role of customer service manager, Marina ensures that our community can access local news, whether it’s on a screen or in print.
She values sharing fact-based information that includes verifiable sources and believes in a level of transparency where one can admit when they are wrong.
When not working to share CDN with Bellingham and its surrounding communities, you’ll find Marina hiking with her dog, crafting at home, reading comics or gaming with her family.
Customer Service Representative — Ryan Marinelli
360-922-3090 (Ext. 114)
ryanmarinelli@cascadiadailynews.com
Ryan provides support to CDN’s subscribers where he takes great pride in cultivating transparency and trust between the newspaper and the people who read it.
Born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, Ryan moved to Whatcom County in 2020 to attend Western Washington University. He started working in CDN’s business office as an intern in early 2023.
Upon completion of the internship, Ryan joined the business office team part-time, where he continues to enjoy interacting with members of our community on the phone and in person.
In his free time, Ryan enjoys running, reading and crafting. He is studying cultural anthropology at Western Washington University with the aim of expanding his public relations skills and applying techniques that allow office spaces to be used more efficiently.