We started PV Pulse with the goal of making a community site that encompasses all that Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay represent. Our mission is to portray our hometown with the most accurate, detailed information about its history, culture, residents, and visitors, and to show how all of these things come together to make the beat of Banderas Bay.
Mariano Montes de Oca, General Manager
Mariano Montes de Oca studied Computer Engineering at the University of California Santa Cruz. Shortly after that, he worked for FriendFinder network in Palo Alto, California, where he was a site manager for www.amigos.com and www.germanfriendfinder.com. Next, he worked in education, where he taught high school mathematics including A.P. courses and engineering. Mariano is the founder of M.D.I., a differentiated instruction model based on MAP scores. (www.mapdirectedinstruction.com) Currently, Mariano is the director of www.pvpulse.com, where he strives to maintain its status as the most reliable and accurate community-based online guide to the beautiful destination of Puerto Vallarta.
Shelby Karns, Chief Photographer/Content Developer
Shelby Karns was born in Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Edinboro and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in History. He first became seriously interested in photography while taking a photo class as an elective during his final year of university. After graduating, Shelby and his wife moved to China, where they taught English in a university. It was here that photography and writing when from being hobbies to passions for Shelby. After moving to Puerto Vallarta in 2008, he worked in education before joining the PV Pulse team.
Katy Montes de Oca, Creative Director
Katy Montes de Oca studied Photography at the Academy of Art in San Francisco after retiring from a successful career in tourism, in which she worked for Tauck Tours for over eight years. As creative director at PV Pulse, Katy ensures that the site maintains a high level of aesthetics. Katy networks with the arts community of Puerto Vallarta in order to provide the artistic pulse that has contributed to the site’s success.
