Sandie McCune
By Les Conklin
Many things have changed since Sandie McCune began working on The Peak magazine in the 1990s. One thing has remained constant; come rain or shine, The Peak has counted on her talent and reliability. Sandie’s had different titles over the years and worked with a variety editors, but she’s always done an outstanding job designing and laying out the magazine, no matter where she lived or what personal challenges she faced.
Recently, I sent Sandie a series of questions about her career with The Peak.
Les: “I first met you in June, 2003 when you and Nancy Lucas were showing me the ropes of being the editor of The Peak . When did you first begin working on The Peak?”
Cover, A Peek at the Peak magazine, February, 1996 Issue
Sandie: “I started working on The Peak when I was at Kwik Kopy. After, my husband and I moved to Scottsdale in 1995, I began working there. Kwik Kopy had been printing the magazine for a long time before I arrived.
” At first, I didn’t work on The Peak, another employee was responsible for it. After she quit, I began working with The Peak‘s editors, Bill and Norma Warren, who came to Kwik Kopy to do the layout. My responsibilities evolved. At first the Warrens did most of the work, but as time passed I did more.
“After the Warrens, it was Don Schoenau who came to Kwik Kopy to work on The Peak. In 1999, I told Don that I was changing jobs. Don asked me to continue doing The Peak free-lance and that’s what I did. I bought a 11”x17″ black & white laser printer and then took all the flats to Kwik Kopy to be printed.”
Les: “Don was a terrific guy and the person who encouraged me to submit articles for Peak publication in the mid-1990s. You obviously enjoyed working with him, too.
“The first issue that has you listed as The Peak‘s Art Director is September, 1999. Don Schoenau is listed as the publisher and Nancy Lucas as editor. The Warrens were editors back in 1996, 1997 time frame, so that must have been when you were introduced to The Peak. After the Warrens, but before Nancy Lucas, Carol Schatt and Ellen Rendahl served separate stints as editors. They probably gathered the articles, photographs, and advertisements and Don brought them to Kwik Kopy.”
Cover, A Peek at the Peak, September, 1999 Issue
Sandie: “I don’t remember the year Nancy Lucas took over, but I sure remember the long hours working at home after I got back from my full-time graphics job. I usually worked from 6 p.m. to about 10 p.m. At first, The Peak wasn’t proof read prior to my getting the copy so there were many corrections to be made. I know the magazine was black & white and in the neighborhood of 64 to 72 pages back then. It took me a week to do the layout. When Nancy got Marilyn Schletzer proof reading the articles that helped.”
Les: “What were some of the biggest changes in The Peak?”
Cover, A Peek at the Peak magazine, January, 2005 Issue, First Full Color Cover. Cover design by Tony Nelssen.
Sandie: “The most significant changes were first going to just a color cover and then to the full color magazine. Some of the other changes were the articles evolving from just local homeowner interest stories to wonderful articles about the history of north Scottsdale and the people that were instrumental in the development of the area that we know today. I’ve always thought that The Peak‘s articles were so much more interesting than those in other local publications because they pertained to the area we all love so much. Even though I had to move away, I’ll always love the desert.
“Another big change was using email rather than meeting with the editor (you) face-to-face during the layout and proofing process. It saved a lot of time and driving. I really appreciate The Peak letting me work from my daughter’s in California when she was sick with cancer, and since I’ve moved to California.”
Les: “Were you originally from California?”
Cover, A Peek at the Peak magazine, November, 2010 Issue, First Full Color Issue. Cover design by Frank Biondo.
Sandie: “No. I was born in Port Arthur, Texas. I lived in various places in Texas until I was about eight and lived in three different places in Colorado before my family moved to California in 1955. I lived in California until 1995 when my husband and I moved to Arizona. As you know, we moved back to Santa Maria in 2010 after my daughter passed away.
“My kids names are Kerry & Stefanie (deceased), and son Jim. I also have a step-daughter named Christie and five grandchildren; Chloe, Garrison, Madelyn, Tyler and Melanie.”
Les: “What happened to Kwik Kopy?”
Sandie: “I don’t know. Look in the old issues and you’ll find an advertisement with their address.”
Les: “I found an advertisement in The Peak, Googled the address, and found:
BANKRUPTCY AUCTION
Ranch Kwik Kopy
9393 N. 90th St., Suite 119, Scottsdale, AZ
Wednesday, November 19, 2003, 10:00 AM
VERY NICE PRINTING AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Printing Equipment: Ryobi 3200 two color printer w/T-51 head, A.B. Dick 9870 two color printer w/T-head, Ideal paper cutter w/micro cut, Baum folder, Challenger paper drill, electric jogger,
Magnum 281 plate maker, AGFA Gevert Repromaster 310, Itek 1218 camera plate master, Sandmar light table, Rotatrim laminate trimmer, GBC laminator 568LM, Ibico table top laminator, Xerox ASF 135
finisher, Velobind Mdl. 750 electric binding system, GBC electric binding machine, GBC electric punch machine, Spiral-O-Wire binding punch, Bubble lite, Daige waxer, AC Cell-A-Writer 8200 Xante printer, drafting table, Salco Rapid 106 stapler, COPIERS: CLC Canon 700 color copier, Canon Image Runner 600, Canon Colorpass 3000, Canon NP 2120, Canon NP 4035, Panasonic table top copier Office Furniture and Equipment: (6) desks, (3) rolltop desks, chairs, metal file cabinets, HP Fax machine, Xerox Fax machine Pro 665, (4) PC computers w/monitors and keyboards, Apple computer w/monitor and keyboard, folding tables, cash register, Amano Pix 10 timeclock, Toshiba microwave, Frigidaire refrigerator, work tables, qty. copieour paper and more’.”
Advertisement from A Peek at the Peak magazine, September, 1999
Sandie: Gee. One of those desks must have been the one I worked at. I’m glad I left when times were better.”
Les. “You’ve worked with The Peak during an interesting time in printing and publishing. Do you remember how many copy places there were before PCs and home printers became the rage? Now, it’s the Internet, electronic publishing, tablets and cell phones that are accelerating change.”
Sandie. “There have been many changes and I’m sure they will continue. Learning about a new place or way of doing things keeps life interesting.”
Les: “Amen. From Peak readers everywhere, including GPPA-Friends of the Scenic Drive members and volunteers, THANK YOU for all that you’ve done and will do for The Peak.
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