About
Your resource for all communications
Good News & Design is a creative collaboration between Susan Flansburg, writer and strategist, and Chris Mandle, graphic designer.
We work with an extraordinary group of professionals in all areas of communication, from videography to photography and web development to printing/mailing. This allows us to offer you a one-stop shop for all your communications needs.
Susan served the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery as communications director for 17 years. She was a department of one, innovating and creating publications, websites, email newsletters, social media, photography, and every other communication task.
Since leaving the Benedictine community to pursue other paths in 2019, Susan has worked with Catholic Sisters from a range of congregations and communities.
Her published work includes articles in Vision Vocation, Horizon, and many congregational and higher education publications.
Catholic Media Association awarded her Best Feature Article for her 2022 story, "A Zigzagging Road to the Convent," calling it "breezy and conversational, deep and personal." The article forms a chapter in her book on vocations, "Feels Like Home."
Susan and Chris's collaboration allows women religious the option of partnering with an outside agency for communications that isn't really "outside." Her experience with Catholic Sisters is, to borrow Catholic Media Association's description, deep and personal. She is committed to reflecting the values, spirituality, mission and vision of each congregation with whom she works.
Good News & Design's menu of offerings ranges from functioning as your personal communications department to a per-project ala carte option. It also includes department-specific work to support vocations, development, retreats, associates, and a general audience. Susan and Chris adhere to updated best practices for all online and print platforms.
Our portfolio includes magazines, fundraising communications, websites, blogs and more for a wide variety of Catholic religious communities, parishes, health care centers and schools. Our work reflects our deep understanding of both the Catholic Church and the challenges and opportunities facing today’s members.