About Us.

Founded in the fall of 2010, Estrella Publishing began with a single community publication, Up The Hill Magazine, serving the residents of Estrella Mountain Ranch with a monthly circulation of approximately 3,500 copies. What started as a simple idea shared over dinner among friends has grown into one of the West Valley’s leading hyper-local publishing companies.

Today, Estrella Publishing proudly produces nine premier community magazines throughout Arizona’s West Valley, distributing more than 60,000 copies each month and reaching a readership of over 150,000 residents. Our mission has remained the same: to strengthen local communities by connecting residents with the businesses, organizations, and people who make their neighborhoods unique.

Our success has been built on the support of local businesses, community leaders, and loyal readers. Through our publications, we provide businesses with a trusted platform to share their stories, promote their services, and build meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. This mutually beneficial model has helped foster economic growth while creating engaging, relevant content for our readers.

Estrella Publishing was founded by Catherine and Albert Uretsky in 2010. Catherine brought a background in photography, writing, and the creative arts, while Albert contributed decades of experience in business operations, strategic planning, and business development. Together, their complementary talents laid the foundation for a company dedicated to excellence in community publishing. Estrella Publishing is now locally owned by a local Arizona based private equity firm, bringing fresh perspectives, modern communication expertise, and a passion for community engagement that continues to enhance the value we provide to our readers and advertising partners.

As we continue to grow, our commitment remains firmly rooted in supporting local residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and municipal partners. We look forward to expanding our reach, serving additional communities throughout Arizona, and continuing to tell the stories that bring neighborhoods together.

Editor In Chief

Catherine Uretsky

Originally from England, Catherine has lived and studied around the world, including in the Middle East, at The New School in New York, and at Manchester University in the United Kingdom. A lifelong learner, she continues to expand her knowledge through virtual studies with The Open University in the UK.

Catherine serves as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Estrella Publishing, where she has overseen the creative direction, editorial content, design, photography, and overall quality control of nine monthly magazines for the past 16 years. Her role includes managing layouts, graphics, written content, contributing writers, and production standards across the company’s publications.

In addition to leading the editorial vision, Catherine identifies, interviews, writes, and photographs cover stories for Estrella Publishing’s magazines. She is highly skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign and remains committed to continually developing her creative abilities to meet the evolving needs of a dynamic publishing industry.

With her international background, editorial expertise, and dedication to storytelling, Catherine plays a central role in connecting Estrella Publishing’s readers, businesses, and communities.

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Business Development Leader

Albert Uretsky

Albert is a graduate of New York University, where he studied Information Technology, International Business with an emphasis in Japanese Management, and Communications. He holds professional certifications in Project and Program Management and is also a certified business coach. Albert is a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.

With more than 35 years of consulting and executive leadership experience, Albert has built a distinguished career helping organizations achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. He has held leadership and advisory roles with globally recognized firms, including Ernst & Young, Fujitsu Consulting, and IBM Global Services, serving clients across a wide range of industries including banking and financial services, healthcare, entertainment, education, hospitality, publishing, and more.

Throughout his career, Albert has been recognized for his expertise in business development, strategic planning, organizational transformation, and process improvement. His accomplishments include establishing and leading program management offices, developing innovative consulting services, and driving significant revenue growth through strategic initiatives. He is committed to helping organizations align their vision, values, and goals with practical, results-oriented solutions. Albert has also been featured in numerous regional and national publications for his insights on business and leadership.

An entrepreneur and investor, Albert is the founder and owner of several companies, including Estrella Partners Group and Estrella Publishing. Beyond his professional endeavors, he has a longstanding commitment to public service and community involvement. As a former elected official and active philanthropist, Albert has dedicated his time and resources to supporting a variety of local and national nonprofit organizations, reflecting his passion for strengthening the communities he serves.

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Assistant Editor & Director of Graphic Design

Talia Ebert

Talia is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where she earned a degree in Strategic Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Psychology. She is also a proud member of the Chi Omega sorority.

Known for her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence, Talia represents the next generation of leadership at Estrella Publishing. She is driven by a passion for effective communication and a dedication to achieving meaningful results that foster both personal and professional growth.

Talia brings a diverse skill set and hands-on experience in communications, community outreach, public relations, marketing, graphic design, and social media management. Her professional background includes developing advertising campaigns, designing websites, writing press releases, crafting media pitches, and creating editorial content for organizations across a variety of industries, including the nonprofit sector.

With her creativity, professionalism, and community-focused mindset, Talia plays an important role in helping Estrella Publishing connect with readers, businesses, and local organizations.

Advertising Sales Representatives

John McNamara

John McNamara has spent his career helping businesses connect with the people they want to reach. With decades of experience in marketing, advertising, and business development, John brings a wealth of knowledge and a relationship-focused approach to his role as an Advertising Sales Representative.

Through his own full-service marketing agency, John has provided print and online advertising, sponsorship sales, and marketing support to businesses and organizations for many years. His extensive background in business-to-business marketing has taught him that the best results come from understanding each client’s goals and finding the right opportunities to help them succeed.

John enjoys getting to know local business owners, learning what makes their businesses special, and helping them build stronger connections within the community. He looks forward to developing lasting relationships and helping our advertising partners share their stories with the readers they serve.

Mike Midkiff

Mike Midkiff has a passion for bringing people and local businesses together. With decades of experience in sales, business ownership, and community publishing, Mike understands the value of strong relationships and the important role local businesses play in making a community thrive.

Having owned and published multiple community publications, Mike brings firsthand experience helping businesses connect with local residents and build meaningful, lasting relationships. His approach to advertising is simple: listen, understand each business’s goals, and find opportunities that create a genuine win-win.

Known for his friendly personality, consistent follow-up, and commitment to treating people with dignity and respect, Mike believes great business starts with trust. He looks forward to getting to know the people behind our local businesses and helping them share their stories with the community.