MEET THE PUBLISHERS
WENDY WHITE KNIFFEN is the founder of Publishing Partners, Inc., and has published The Restaurant Times and St. Augustine Marketplace for more than 26 years, ushering the publication through many changes and challenges. Her publishing background includes serving as editor-in-chief of the American Culinary Federation’s national monthly magazine for professional chefs for more than 8 years. In that role, she honed her own editing, writing, graphics, layout and publication planning skills, while managing a small staff and hiring and supervising writers and photographers from around the country. Responsible for all editorial planning, she reported to a board of advisers that included top executive chefs working in every facet of the culinary industry, culinary instructors and food industry leaders. Her primary advisor and mentor—Dr. Tim Ryan, CMC (Certified Master Chef)—now serves as president of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, the most prestigious culinary school in the United States.
Wendy also has a passion for the arts and kicked off her career working for Jacksonville’s Cultural Council. Following that, she had a unique opportunity to live in Tuscany for a year where she worked for the Italian buying agency that assisted Crate & Barrel and other leading retailers purchase wares throughout Italy. More recently, she served as marking manager for The Limelight Theatre of St. Augustine, helping this vibrant community theatre revamp its entire marketing program as part of its 20th season celebration. In all of these roles, Wendy has cultivated expertise in public relations, marketing, event planning, publication development and fundraising. As a Jacksonville native and graduate of University of North Florida, Wendy knows the area well where she lives and works. In 2018, she and her husband Richard purchased a 40-acre horse property in St. Augustine and have been lovingly rehabbing what they now call “White Horse Ranch”—home to their two Appaloosa Mustangs, Mohawk and Hakan. They are also farmers! They have planted 22,500 long leaf pine seedlings on the surrounding acreage and are exploring ways to utilize the property an an event venue or retreat center.
Wendy also has a passion for the arts and kicked off her career working for Jacksonville’s Cultural Council. Following that, she had a unique opportunity to live in Tuscany for a year where she worked for the Italian buying agency that assisted Crate & Barrel and other leading retailers purchase wares throughout Italy. More recently, she served as marking manager for The Limelight Theatre of St. Augustine, helping this vibrant community theatre revamp its entire marketing program as part of its 20th season celebration. In all of these roles, Wendy has cultivated expertise in public relations, marketing, event planning, publication development and fundraising. As a Jacksonville native and graduate of University of North Florida, Wendy knows the area well where she lives and works. In 2018, she and her husband Richard purchased a 40-acre horse property in St. Augustine and have been lovingly rehabbing what they now call “White Horse Ranch”—home to their two Appaloosa Mustangs, Mohawk and Hakan. They are also farmers! They have planted 22,500 long leaf pine seedlings on the surrounding acreage and are exploring ways to utilize the property an an event venue or retreat center.
RICHARD KNIFFEN is also a Florida native (born and raised in Gainesville—Go Gators!) and joined the team in 2018 officially when he and Wendy tied the knot! Richard retired in 2014 from a career with the federal government that spanned more than 22 years and took him to more than 36 different countries. His fluency with language and other cultures set him up well for interacting with the diverse group of restaurant owners represented in St. Augustine. One of his favorite things to do is learn how to say something nice to everyone he meets in their own language! In the time he has worked as a publisher of The Restaurant Times, he has had a tremendous impact. He singlehandedly developed the robust Social Media marketing program that has added a valuable dimension to the reach of the publication through The Restaurant Times' Facebook and Instagram feeds in particular.
Richard is a lifelong musician. He loves all genres of rock and popular music and enjoys supporting and promoting the area's talented local musicians as part of his social media outreach. A graduate from University of Florida with a BS in political science, he earned his master's degree in international affairs at Florida State University. It was while attending FSU's study abroad program in Florence, Italy that he met Wendy for the first time in 1987. They became fast friends during a spring semester but did not maintain contact after that. The two ran into each other again on May 14, 2015 at The Oasis Restaurant. Wendy was working on photos for the magazine, and Richard was coming in for an early dinner, as he had moved to St. Augustine Beach upon his retirement. The pair re-connected and was married on May 14, 2018. They celebrated that special day and date with dinner at a place very special and symbolic to them—The Oasis, of course!
Richard is a lifelong musician. He loves all genres of rock and popular music and enjoys supporting and promoting the area's talented local musicians as part of his social media outreach. A graduate from University of Florida with a BS in political science, he earned his master's degree in international affairs at Florida State University. It was while attending FSU's study abroad program in Florence, Italy that he met Wendy for the first time in 1987. They became fast friends during a spring semester but did not maintain contact after that. The two ran into each other again on May 14, 2015 at The Oasis Restaurant. Wendy was working on photos for the magazine, and Richard was coming in for an early dinner, as he had moved to St. Augustine Beach upon his retirement. The pair re-connected and was married on May 14, 2018. They celebrated that special day and date with dinner at a place very special and symbolic to them—The Oasis, of course!