Wildflowers, istockphoto

Our Story & Meet the Team

It all began over 25 years ago. Co-Founders Jennifer Bryerton and Robin Johnson-Bethke were new mothers. They needed recommendations for local doctors, boutiques, schools, and home services. There was no resource like that for moms and dads in Charlottesville. We were inspired to develop our website to connect parents to the people and places that make our community special. In 2000, we debuted our print publications, CharlottesvilleFamily Life & Home magazine and the annual CharlottesvilleFamily Ultimate Go-To Guide.

Our award-winning stories are always positive, uplifting and engaging celebrations of local. Our creative team added the beautiful Wine & Country publications and many special projects over the years. And we’re still loving every minute of our work. We truly enjoy coming up with great ideas for readers and our advertising partners. Our hope is that the research and storytelling we do will “Help Make Parenting Easier & Growing Up Fun” for local families!

In 2024, the dynamic duo ventured into a new era of working to serve our community better by dividing the Wine & Country Life brand and the CharlottesvilleFamily brand into two companies. This new model lets the partners focus on each brand’s needs. Today, Wine & Country Life and Wine & Country Weddings is led by Robin Johnson-Bethke as Wine & Country Media. CharlottesvilleFamily is led by Jennifer Bryerton as Zinnia Communications. Both women continue to enjoy their longtime friendship and work with many of the same terrific team members. We welcome you to enjoy our brands and the great media services both companies provide. We credit our success as a trusted community resource to our attention to quality and our team’s uncommon talents. They are uncommonly gracious, curious, smart, and passionate about their work.

We hope you enjoy the read!

CF Covers (final editions)

Our Team

Jennifer Bryerton

Jennifer Bryerton, Ma.Ed.
Co-Founder & Publisher

Co-Founder Robin Johnson-Bethke

Robin Johnson-Bethke
Co-Founder

Beth Bryerton
Social Media & Design

Jennifer Carroll Martin
Home & Garden Editor

Jody Hobbs Hesler

Jody Hobbs Hesler
Copy Editor

Ellen Sewell
Associate Editor

Sarah Short
Editorial Assistant

Sarah Richards

Sarah Richards
Marketing Consultant

Barbara Tompkins
Graphic Designer

Emily Seldon
Managing Editor

Katharine Paljug
Health Editor

Our Professional Affiliations

At Zinnia Communications, LLC a SWAM-certified (Small, Women & Minority Owned-business) business, we’re inspired by the belief that by utilizing technology, working efficiently and attending to quality, we create publications that honor the reader and build a real connection with our local businesses. This belief has led to prosperous and long-standing relationships with our clients, who entrust us with their advertising and have enjoyed great success utilizing our niche publications to effectively reach their target markets since 1998.

We are members of the Parenting Media Associations, American Marketing Association, FastCompany and the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce in order to grow our skills and collaborations. We are also proud to sponsor community organizations and events such as the ARC of the Piedmont, Paramount Theater, Virginia Discovery Museum, Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, ReadyKids and Virginia’s Historic Garden Week among others.

Press Releases

Our dedication to products that reach out to local readers extends well into our commitment to our community. In addition to sharing the stories of inspiring locals who are making a difference through their volunteerism and work, we are also pleased to be able to sponsor and support many area events and charities serving our family of readers. Take a ride in our virtual time machine by reading a summary of our press releases over the years to see how our company has developed.

click here to Read our press releases

CF Advisory Panel

At CharlottesvilleFamily, we are proud to work with a dedicated group of local experts and community leaders who guide and inspire our content. These advisors include educators, healthcare professionals, and family advocates who bring invaluable knowledge to topics like child development, health, and parenting. Their insights help us create meaningful, family-centered articles and events that support parents in the Charlottesville area. Together, we share a mission to empower and connect local families while fostering a strong sense of community. We are grateful for their ongoing contributions to making CharlottesvilleFamily a trusted resource for families.

click here to Meet our Advisory Panel

OUR PROJECTS

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