Allyson Proske aka “Dining Companion”—Contributing Writer
Allyson Proske leveraged a burgeoning college love affair with wine into a life-long adventure and career. A 15-year veteran of the wine industry, she spent a decade in Napa Valley immersed in all aspects of the industry. Her first five years were spent working in the cellar during harvest—filling barrels, sampling grapes, running lab analyses, and learning from some incredible winemaker mentors. Her next five years were spent running a wine club and managing events for a well-known Napa Cabernet Sauvignon producer. Now she can be found in Dundee, working remotely for a winery software company supporting and training wineries across the world. When not working, she loves sharing a cocktail or her favorite wines with friends and neighbors over a beautiful meal, sweating it out in a hot yoga class, finding the perfect vintage handbag, and watching horror movies snuggled up to her sweet partner, pup, and two cats. She loves Russian River Pinot Noirs, brambly Howell Mountain, or cheerful Oakville Cabs, and she strongly feels Champagne should be served with every meal.
Renee Ludwick—Senior Graphic Designer
Graphic designer Renee Ludwick is an integral part of Omaha Magazine’s art department. In addition to designing multiple stories in Omaha Magazine, she also handles design for publications such as B2B and ONYX Magazine, among other key projects. A born-and-raised Omaha native, Renee graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, with her degree in graphic design. When not putting her creative spin on Omaha Publications, she enjoys playing guitar, gaming, and needle felting. (Her mini felted animals are in high demand!). While Renee is known in the office for her graphic t-shirts and eclectic playlists, her two dogs, Alice and Ariel, keep her in check.
Samantha Ingersoll—Contributing Writer
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Samantha moved to Sacramento, California, where she attended California State University at Sacramento and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in journalism in 2009. She moved to Omaha with her husband in 2013 to pursue a better way of life. They share a 7-year-old son together. Samantha currently works in banking and has more than 15 years of experience in the industry. When she isn’t working, she enjoys photography, writing, painting, and reading, but her real passion is gardening, as evident from her snapdragons. Being blessed with the gift of having a “green thumb,” she and her husband spend a lot of time growing and harvesting their own produce. One of her favorite things to make with her cucumbers at the end of the season is her home-made spicy pickles to give as gifts to family and friends.
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
