About Us

Like all good things, St. Louis Sprout & About was created from a simple idea. As a local mother with three children of varying ages, the website's founder found it challenging to not only find an activity that everyone in her family would enjoy, but to find the biggest selection of events on one website. And wouldn't it be helpful to have detailed information and objective reviews about the event? With that in mind, St. Louis Sprout & About set out to be the defining resource for families looking for a comprehensive calendar of events and activities for the St. Louis metro area, complete with staff and reader reviews to determine a good fit for your family.

Meet the Sprout & About Staff

Beckie Maislin, Founder and CEO

Sprout & About founder Beckie Maislin and her family have called St. Louis their home for six years. With a background in marketing and advertising in the parenting field and the experience of raising three children, Beckie hopes you enjoy this much needed resource as much as she's enjoyed creating it. Beckie and her family love City Museum and exploring the many beautiful parks our city offers. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Jessica Pupillo, Editorial Director

A mom of three boys, Jessica Pupillo knows the trick to household harmony is keeping her kids busy. Jessica is an award-winning writer, and her work has been published in more than a dozen magazines and newspapers. When she's not working on a deadline, Jessica and her family love going to the Saint Louis Zoo, the Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad, and Powder Valley Nature Center. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Liz Behan, Calendar Manager

As calendar manager, Liz Behan has the hefty task of seeking out events, entering events in our comprehensive calendar and helping Sprout members upload their events. A lifelong St. Louisan, Liz Behan loves taking her family to the same places she enjoyed as a child, including Suson Park, Purina Farms and the Magic House. Liz, her husband and two children live in Ballwin. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

David Maislin, Technical Director

Working in the technology space for over 20 years, David, Beckie's husband, was inspired by his wife's idea to build a resource for families in the St. Louis area. Leveraging his extensive background in Internet technologies and guided by Beckie, David is the web designer and technical support behind Sprout & About. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Senior Writers

Jeff Konkel believes the key to raising interesting kids is taking them interesting places around the globe and–on occasion–making them try food they would rather avoid. Jeff has written for dozens of print and online publications. He also is an award-winning music and film producer. When he and his wife are not taking their children to far-off lands, they can be found exploring the nooks and crannies of St. Louis. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kathy Deters has a background in politics and public relations and continues to do freelance writing and editing, everything from magazine articles to screenplays. Originally from Jefferson City, Kathy is a transplant to St. Charles County and has enjoyed discovering all that St. Louis has to offer through the eyes of her three children. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

St. Louis Sprout also relies on a group of talented, dependable local freelance writers who are experts in their coverage areas.

Write for St. Louis Sprout & About

St. Louis Sprout & About is always looking for talented, experienced freelance writers to enhance our online publication. We are currently accepting queries for our columns about interesting places and activities for families. We welcome queries and submissions, especially from local freelancers. Before querying St. Louis Sprout, please read through our website to get a feel for our tone and the stories we tend to cover. Pitches may be emailed to Editorial Director Jessica Pupillo at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We may not be able to respond to all pitches, and if you haven't heard from us within a month, it is safe to assume that we have decided to pass.