Who Writes for High Gear Media?
High Gear Media produces some of the highest quality, most shareable automotive content on the Web today. Across all of our key brands, we publish a mix of industry leading car reviews, 24/7 news coverage as well as helpful tips and guides for car shoppers. Take a look at some of the faces you’ll see writing on our sites.
Marty Padgett
Editorial Director
Marty Padgett
Editorial Director
Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations. Born in 1969, Marty is a native of Washington, D.C., an honors graduate of Duke University, and a former editor at Car and Driver. Marty is a 20-year veteran journalist, with other writing credits at AutoTrader, Stuff, Outside and BusinessWeek. In addition to his work at High Gear Media, Marty is a juror for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards and is the author of three books. While you're reading this, he’s on a computer or his iPhone to keep track of what's going on in the car world.See full profile...
Bengt Halvorson
Deputy Editor
Bengt Halvorson
Deputy Editor
Bengt Halvorson is Deputy Editor of High Gear Media's portfolio of car sites, overseeing the production of reviews, evaluating vehicles firsthand, and reporting on consumer, safety, and environmental issues and in-car technology. Halvorson is a Michigan native and started to hone his car-connoisseur chops (if you don't count the teenage muscle-car ownership) at Car and Driver while still attending the University of Michigan—and driving a too-sensible Ford Festiva. He then lived briefly in London and wrote for the British enthusiast magazine Autocar before becoming an editor at Automobile Magazine. For most of this decade Halvorson has lived on the West Coast, and now calls evergreen Portland home. In addition to being a longtime contributor to The Car Connection, he's also consulted on powertrain technology; managed special issues and tracked collector-car prices at Sports Car Market; and written for Cargo, Time, Forbes.com, Forbes Autos, and several other major business, enthusiast, and in-flight magazines.See full profile...
John Voelcker
Senior Editor
John Voelcker
Senior Editor
@johnvoelcker
John is Senior Editor for High Gear Media. In addition to news coverage and new car reviews, John creates and oversees all editorial for High Gear's green site GreenCarReports.com.
John has covered advanced auto technologies and energy policy for various print, online, and radio outlets, including Wired, Popular Science, Tech Review, IEEE Spectrum, HybridCars.com, and Portfolio.com. He is a regular guest on Fox Car Report Live, and provides occasional car commentary for National Public Radio shows and Sirius Satellite Radio. In 2011, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Motor Press Association.
Voelcker has driven plug-in cars from more than a dozen automakers, and alt-fuel vehicles from almost as many. He has held editorial jobs at many magazines, including This Old House, Metropolis, Psychology Today, Exposure, Mother Earth News, Budget Living, and IEEE Spectrum.
John received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and splits his time among the Catskill Mountains, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area. He still has hopes of one day becoming an international man of mystery.See full profile...
Nelson Ireson
Senior Editor
Nelson Ireson
Senior Editor
Nelson is an Editor at High Gear Media focusing on reviewing cars and covering the hottest topics in luxury and performance cars, car culture, and breaking news primarily on High Gear's luxury destination, MotorAuthority.com. Born and raised in California but now transplanted to Arkansas, Ireson has a law degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and is accredited to practice in the state, though he’s voluntarily inactive. Nelson also holds a degree in Speech Communication from Arkansas State University. His path to the automotive world wasn't a direct one, but his love of cars, speed, and driving ultimately won out. When he manages to come up for air, Ireson is reviewing cars, driving them fast at road courses and autocrosses, navigating rallies, or working on making himself and his car faster.See full profile...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Editor
Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Editor
@vikneshvijay
Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of Motor Authority and is one of High Gear Media's experts on performance and luxury cars. After studying in the field of software engineering, it was an unlikely move for him to dive into a career built on a passion for cars, but it was one that led to the formation of one of the most popular car sites on the Web. Vik covers around-the-clock news for High Gear Media, and is currently based in Cologne, Germany, though hopes to return one day to his native Australia. See full profile...
Joel Feder
Social Media Manager
Joel Feder
Social Media Manager
@JoelFeder
Joel oversees High Gear Media's social media channels, video, and OEM outreach, while also reporting the latest automotive news. A Minnesota native with a marketing degree from Drake University, Joel was the car critic for the Times Delphic in college and went on to start his own automotive blog (Accelerate Mpls) late in 2009. Prior to joining HGM, Joel worked at SMCpros, a small social media consulting agency in Minneapolis. While you are reading this Joel is probably checking Twitter or posting a picture of some car to Facebook.See full profile...
Richard Read
Reporter
Richard Read covers technology, social media, advertising, legal issues, and other auto industry topics for High Gear Media. With a background in marketing and development, he's particularly interested in branding, public relations, and new media, as well as pop culture and, of course, cars. He's written for Gawker, Fodors, and other outlets, both on the web and in print. In his spare time, Richard is a marketing consultant, with a focus on small companies and nonprofits. Born in Laurel, Mississippi, he holds degrees from Millsaps College, Tulane University, and the University of New Orleans. He lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.See full profile...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Contributing Writer
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield
Contributing Writer
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield is a self-confessed petrol head. She grew up in a carless family but was able at a very early age to name cars passing her on the street while other girls her age were more interested in Barbie Dolls. Although she trained as a classical musician she’s now a full-time broadcaster and journalist, covering green fuels and tech.
After passing her driving test she’s owned a wide selection of cars, including a 1962 Morris Minor Woodie Hotrod; a single seat electric bubble car; a ’92 Honda Prelude; a ’91 Volvo 240; a ’04 Toyota Prius Plug in Hybrid (which she converted herself); an ’85 VW electric factory built rabbit; and a ’09 Smart ForTwo CDI
Nikki specializes in electric vehicles, but also enjoys clandestine gas-guzzling, working on the rule that the larger and noisier the better.
She is also loves riding motorcycles, but currently doesn't own one.
Nikki also hosts the TransportEvolved podcast.
She lives in Bristol UK with her wife, their two daughters and their Border Collie.See full profile...
Suzanne Kane
Contributing Writer
Suzanne Kane
Contributing Writer
Suzanne Kane is an editor at High Gear Media focusing on covering the latest product
and other auto-related information for Family Car Guide. Originally from Michigan, with
automotive roots going back through the family for decades with the original Big Three –
GM, Ford, and Chrysler – Suzanne has always loved cars. You name it, and she’s either
owned or driven it. Raising a family, safety was a key priority in the choice of a vehicle –
as it is for most American families. But styling, comfort, performance and handling, techno goodies and lots more are also important. Suzanne aims to showcase the best of what’s
new in FCG, along with personal stories, a dash of wit, and a never-ending curiosity and
enthusiasm for all things automotive.See full profile...
Kurt Ernst
Contributor
Kurt has been fascinated by anything with wheels and a motor for a long time. Growing up, he spent his spare time turning wrenches and pumping gas in the family garage, back when hand tools were used to tune cars. After college, he spent a year racing cars, only to learn that he was neither fast enough to get rich nor rich enough to get fast. These days, he spends his time as an automotive writer and a self proclaimed "Cro-Magnon Renaissance Man".See full profile...