Executive Team
Chris Neklason
Co-founder, CEO, Director of Product Development
Chris has over four decades of experience as a full stack developer. As co-founder of Cruzio in 1989, one of the first local independent Internet Service Providers on the planet, he’s accumulated three decades of experience as a manager and corporate executive. As a home owner and business owner in a small town, he’s developed a keen appreciation of the local civic fabric and a passion to promote local journalism as a means of getting citizens more active in their communities.
Eric Johnson
Co-founder, Editorial Director
Eric has been involved in local journalism since 1991, when he co-founded the Missoula Independent, which served Western Montana until 2018. After selling the Independent in 1997, he returned to California to serve as news editor of Metro Silicon Valley and Metro Santa Cruz; he was the founding general manager of the Silicon Valley Newspaper Group; and editorial director of Boulevard’s New Media, a national network of city guides including San Jose.com and Los Angeles.com. He co-founded Hilltromper, “The nature-worshipping, fun-loving everyday adventure guide.”
Sharan Street
Managing Editor
Sharan Street majored in journalism at UC Santa Cruz, spending as much time at the student newspaper as she did in class. She has written and edited for alternative newsweeklies, community newspapers, trade publications and websites, including Metro in San Jose and the LA Weekly. A California local herself, Sharan cherishes her home state’s natural beauty and is excited to work on a platform that celebrates it.
Michael Gelbman
Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer
With three decades of media experience, our Publisher Mike knows what it takes to get the job done. In addition to managing the day to day operations, Mike is passionate about serving the communities he has worked in. An example of this is the Give Back Tahoe program that he co-created with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. It is this passion for the community that has brought him to California Local. Mike’s career has taken him across the country, logging more than 11,000 miles in the process.
