Staff

Leslie David, Executive Director

Email: lesliedavid@benitolink.com
Phone: (831) 801-1356

Leslie David is a founding board member and is currently BenitoLink executive director. She is an independent reporter/producer and has produced for radio, television, newspaper and magazines in both California and Wyoming. She was with KRON-TV News in San Francisco as camera-woman, editor and field producer, where she and Linda Yee won the Commonwealth Club Thomas Storke Award for their series on the Aids Epidemic and England’s needle exchange program. Leslie started as a small market news reporter/photographer at KEYT-TV in Santa Barbara, Ca. Leslie lives on a ranch with her family in San Benito County.

Noe Magaña, Reporter

Email: noemagana@benitolink.com
Phone: (831) 801-5846

Noe Magaña is Lead reporter and Content Manager for BenitoLink. He also enjoys experimenting with videography and photography. He is a San Benito High School graduate with a bachelor’s in journalism from San Jose State and a Liberal Arts Associate’s Degree from Gavilan College. Noe also attended San Jose City College and was the managing editor for the City College Times, the school’s newspaper. In addition, he was a reporter and later a copy editor for San Jose State’s Spartan Daily.

Mo Ismail, Marketing/Development Coordinator

Email: moismail@benitolink.com
Phone: 408-659-4999

Mo Ismail is a marketer and a designer. He strongly believes in community engagement, and that marketing outreach and design are the first step in bringing the community together. He previously volunteered for several non profit organizations. He also has several years of work experience in the marketing field. Mo has a vast knowledge of design, with additional interests in photography and illustration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in design from the University of San Francisco.

Liz Smith, Bookkeeper

Email: lizsmith@benitolink.com

Liz Recalde Smith was raised in Panoche Valley in the rural, south-eastern part of San Benito County. She is a bookkeeper and also a great reference for what is authentic San Benito County.


Jenny Mendolla Arbizu, Features Reporter

Email: jennymendollaarbizu@benitolink.com

Jenny is a Hollister native who resides in her hometown with her husband and son. She attended Hollister schools, graduated from San Benito High School, and earned her bachelor’s degree in literature from UC Santa Cruz and master’s degree in education from San Jose State University. Jenny has written for the Hollister Freelance, South Valley and San Benito magazines, and enjoys spotlighting the people and businesses in San Benito County. When not writing, she can be found on the theatrical stage, singing with the Hollister VFW or doing the occasional CrossFit WOD.

Reporter / photographer

Kirti Bassendine, Reporter/Photographer

Email: kirtibassendine@benitolink.com

Kirti Bassendine is a photographer, storyteller and journalist. She graduated with BA Honors in Fine Art Photography from Derby University, England. Following several exhibitions focusing on cultural identity that toured the United Kingdom, she settled in the United States and spent 30+ years combining professional photography with fine art projects. Over the last six years, her artwork has focused on cultural storytelling through still photography and videography. As an artist she has always been intrigued by human relationships and how they interweave within social and cultural contexts – especially women’s sense of identity and belonging within their culture and the wider world; how homelessness and nomadic ways of life are perceived; and how its subcultures integrate or conflict with modern society.

Adam Bell, Photographer/Reporter

Email: adambellphotographer@gmail.com

I am a lifetime resident of Hollister and was born in San Jose. I have a passion for photography and reporting in San Benito County. Since 2019, I have been working for a successful non-profit, Growing Hearts, which works with people with special needs. I paved my own road to success by networking with community members and naturally integrating myself with community partners. I cover local events for BenitoLink by photographing and interviewing participants. I also have my own photography business landscape, wildlife, events, sports and occasional portraits. You can follow me on Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.

Carmel de Bertaut, Reporter

Email: carmeldebertaut@benitolink.com

Carmel has a BA in Natural Sciences/Biodiversity Stewardship from San Jose State University and an AA in Communications Studies from West Valley Community College. She reports on science and the environment, arts and human interest pieces. Carmel has worked in the ecological and communication fields and is an avid creative writer and hiker. She has been reporting for BenitoLink since May, 2018.

Robert Eliason, Reporter/Photographer

Email: roberteliason@benitolink.com

I got my start as a photographer when my dad stuck a camera in my hand on the evening of my First Grade Open House. He taught me to observe, empathize, then finally compose the shot. The editors at BenitoLink approached me as a photographer and have since encouraged me to write stories about things that interest me, turning me into a reporter as well. BenitoLink is a great creative family that cares deeply about the San Benito community and I have been pleased to be a part of it.

Juan Pablo Perez Burgos, Reporter

Email: juanpabloperez@benitolink.com

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John Chadwell, Reporter

Email: johnchadwell@benitolink.com

John Chadwell works as a feature, news and investigative reporter for BenitoLink on a freelance basis.
Chadwell first entered the U.S. Navy right out of high school in 1964, serving as a radioman aboard USS Estes. He took part in three deployments to the South Pacific and Vietnam. Discharged in 1968, he went to college for a short time and became a disc-jockey at Radio KONG in Visalia. In 1973, he reenlisted in the Navy as a Journalist and later with American Forces Radio and Television. The Navy sent him to USC Cinema School for a year, after which Chadwell produced TV news stories and took on the duties of a combat photojournalist with the Atlantic Fleet Audio-visual Command in Norfolk, VA. He retired in 1989 as a Senior Chief Journalist. Since that time, he has worked as a freelance reporter and wrote screenplays and novels.