Staff
Barry Friedman, Founder & Editor-at-Large
Lkldnow.com was founded in 2015 by Barry Friedman after spending the previous 32 years providing news for Polk County residents as an editor at The Ledger and the founder of theledger.com. A University of Florida journalism graduate, he is married to Sharon Hodges, a retired University of South Florida research professor. Their daughters are both educators: Laurel at USF and Amelia at Lakeland High School. His current passion is figuring out how to preserve engaging and impactful community journalism in the age of social media.
barry@lkldnow.com
Trinity Laurino, Executive Director
Originally from Tampa, Trinity is a first-generation college graduate with a BA in electronic media from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. As executive director, she is responsible for the business side of LkldNow and is our chief development officer, including sponsorships, grants, donations and memberships. She has worked with several large news/information nonprofits, including PBS, National Geographic and the BBC. Trinity is married to Michael Laurino, an actor most recently seen as Will Gaines on Nickelodeon’s “I Am Frankie.” They have a daughter, Olivia.
trinity@lkldnow.com
Cindy Glover, Editor
Cindy Glover moved to Lakeland in 2021 after spending two decades in South Florida. Her career has included journalism, education, digital marketing and public relations. She worked for the Albuquerque Journal and South Florida Sun-Sentinel and spent a year as a community engagement coordinator for the City of Lakeland before joining LkldNow. As a high school social studies teacher, she helped thousands of teenagers understand government, economics, and how news events directly affect them. She continues to empower young people as a licensed foster parent and volunteer with Heartland for Children.
cindy@lkldnow.com
Kimberly C. Moore, Reporter
Kimberly C. Moore, who grew up in Lakeland, has been a print, broadcast and multimedia journalist for more than 30 years. Before coming to LkldNow in the spring of 2022, she was a reporter for four years with The Ledger, first covering Lakeland City Hall and then Polk County schools. She is the author of “Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak,” published by University Press of Florida.
kimberly@lkldnow.com
Current correspondents include Stephanie Claytor, David Dickey, Donna Renfroe, Suzie Schottelkotte and Michael Wilson. Jennifer Audette assists with editing. Amy Dobson assists with graphics and web design.
Board members
LkldNow is a project of Linking Community Now, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization. Board members include:
Erin Hollenkamp, chair: account executive at MADE Brands
Natalya Clemens, caregiver support specialist at Heartland for Children and visual storyteller.
Katherine Fitzwater, vice president of marketing at the United Way of Central Florida
William (Will) Link, a partner with the law firm of Reed Mawhinney & Link
LaTrice Moore, entrepreneurship program coordinator and business administration professor at Polk State College
Mike Trice, journalism professor at Florida Southern College.
Also, John Fitzwater, retired publisher of The Ledger and executive director of the GiveWell Community Foundation, is a board member emeritus.