He also has 38 years of experience in the newspaper industry before retiring in 2001. At the time of his retirement he was the managing editor at the Star-Banner in Ocala, Florida, where he was responsible for managing a staff of 65 newsroom employees and overseeing a multi-million dollar budget. Jay was also recruiter for the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group.

McKenzie’s interest in photography began when he got a camera at age 9. His interest continued as he served as paid student staff photographer while attending Central Florida Community College (CFCC) taking photographs for the college newspaper and annual.After graduating from CFCC he transferred to the University of Florida pursuing a degree in journalism.

McKenzie is the past President of the CFCC Alumni Association and serves on the Board of Directors of CFCC Alumni Association. He was a founding member of the board of directors of the Marion Cultural Alliance. This organization launched the very popular “Horse Fever” project and raised more than $1 million for the arts in Marion County. He served two terms as a Regent with the Leadership Ocala program affiliated with the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of commerce and is a graduate of Leadership Ocala, Class XII. He was one of the founders of the Community with a Heart Fund and was the chairman of that board. He helped raise records amounts of money to assist Marion County’s most needy residents.

He has been married for more than 40 years and has two adult children and one small dog.

He has been a member of: Society of Newspaper Design; Associated Press Managing Editors; National Press Photographers Association;Florida Society of Newspaper Editors;Florida Press Club;Wedding Photographers International;Marion Cultural Association;Marion County Historical Society.

He is presently a member of Florida Professional Photographers Association; Southeastern Professional Photographers Association.

Cherie Foster

Cherie Foster brings a unique mixture of applied creatity and business to Foster-McKenzie.

She is a former editor and art center director who has travelled the world collecting photography and perspective.

Cherie was an award-winning writer and designer in the newspaper industry. she started her career in California shooting photographs in the morning, covering city council meetings in the afternoon and photographing and reporting high school football in the evenings. She moved to Florida in 1981 and began working as a reporter and editor at the Star-Banner, eventually serving as the first woman editor. She was also a national diversity recruiter and participated in many national diversity initiatives.

After 25 years, she left the newspaper industry for the non-profit world, where she served as the executive director of Marion Cultural Alliance. While there the organization obtained the lease for Brick City Center for the Arts, which it operates as a public gallery and art center. Today, Cherie is happily married and the mother of a three-year-old. She and her husband remain active in the community and their church. She is happy to be continuing her life-long love of photography.

She has been member of: Society of Newspaper Design; American Society of Newspaper Editors; National Association of Black Jounalists; United Way of Marion County -- Success by 6; United Way of Marion County Women of Worth; Leadership Ocala Class Frazier; Women for Ocala; Board of Community With a Heart. She has served on many advisory and steering committees.

She is currently a member of Florida Professional Photographers Association; Southeastern Professional Photographers Association and serves as a member of the Marketing Committee of the Tourism Development Commission of Marion County,and is a council member of her church as well as volunteering her efforts in the community.

Florida Professional Photographers
The Association of Professional Photographers in Florida.