City Faces in Different Places
By Michelle Duez on June 05, 2016 from City Faces
Please take a moment to meet this week’s City Face Katie Hanlon, sponsored by Higinbotham and Higinbotham:
How long have you lived in Bridgeport: Katie is a life-long Bridgeportian. She’s the daughter of Gerald and Cindy Frederick. Gerald is a local contractor and Cindy is retired educator who taught many of this city’s best and brightest at Simpson Elementary. She is a 2001 BHS graduate. She graduated from Shepherd University in 2005 and later obtained her Master’s Degree in Journalism from WVU.
Are you married? Katie is married to Eric, an Account Executive with WDTV. They met at WVU and were married in Morgantown in 2008.
Children? Katie and Eric have two children, Charlie Rose (4) and Howard (18 months). 
What is your favorite color? Orange
Where do you work? Katie owns a boutique media company called Tiny Mountain Creative. Growing up in Bridgeport, she’s always been a champion of small business. Her goal is to bring older businesses into a modern marketing age and get new businesses started off on the right foot with targeted graphic design, web design, commercial photography, and social media management.
Favorite Bridgeport spot? Her favorite spot in Bridgeport has to be the City Park. She feels it's a great resource for families.
Favorite WV spot outside of Bridgeport? Her heart lies in Tucker County. She’s been going to Canaan Valley since she was very young, and her family still has a cabin in Timberline.
Favorite place outside of WV? Katie and her family spend a lot of time in Pittsburgh where Eric grew up. The Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates are VERY important to the harmony of her household. She loves going to unique restaurants in the city and shopping (especially during the holidays) in the Strip District. The kids are regulars at the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum.
Favorite restaurant? She loves all the local restaurants, but when she was away at college, she craved Twin Oaks pizza the most.
Best childhood memory? The Fredericks and their camping trailer made it to so many campgrounds in the state during the warm months. Almost every weekend, they’d be at Cedar Creek, Holly River, Bulltown, or Blackwater Falls hiking, fishing, and of course, cooking up a storm over the fire.
Favorite musical group? Katie would be remiss if she didn’t say she’s currently inspired by and in love with her brother’s original tunes, especially “Listen to the Music.” If he sounds familiar it's because he's the local singer/songwriter, Nat Frederick.
Pets? none
Hobbies? Katie plays several instruments and sings (but only at home). She’s also an avid photographer and has shot since the age of 14 when she took Mrs. Rowe’s Photo I class (back in the dark ages when there was no Photoshop, only darkrooms). The Hanlon Family are sports fans and cheer on Pittsburgh teams every chance they get. Katie also loves to cook (but, never with a recipe).
Katie’s really been able to turn most of her creative hobbies into a budding business at Tiny Mountain Creative. She does graphic Design, commercial photography, website design, and social media management with a focus on small business also keep her busy. She has a slight obsession with reading memoirs and historical fiction.
Interesting fact about you? Katie’s photos have been published in Food Network Magazine, Whirl Magazine, and O Magazine (Oprah’s signature publication). She always loved to write, and in Mrs. Jeffers’ fourth grade class at Simpson Elementary, she was the only kid in the entire county to score a perfect four. The principal, Mr. Harki made a big deal and surprised her with a certificate.
Katie’s first real job was a dream – she was Assistant Editor on the ground floor at New South Media, the publisher of WV LIVING, WV WEDDINGS, Morgantown Magazine, among many others. New South Media’s owner, Clay County native Nikki Bowman, is Katie’s mentor and inspiration as a professional woman changing the image and rulebooks of the Mountain State. She catches a lot of flack for being an outspoken feminist, but promises to always shave her legs.
Photos provided by Katie Hanlon
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