ABOUT ME
There’s a reason I’m in this business. I like to be first. To know all about the big story.
To dig for news no one else has, and explain it to a diverse audience.
All of our experiences make us different and important. Mine allow me to view the world with an open mind and a nose for the truth.
I’m from Saginaw, Michigan, a blue-collar city linked to Detroit’s automaking glory, its well-documented decline and its future comeback. My hometown has had a hard time dealing with issues of economic hardship, race and crime. But where I’m from, people respect a hard day’s work in any profession or trade. One of my favorite quotes comes from Abraham Lincoln: “Whatever you are, be a good one.” I believe everyone is important. And everyone has a story.
Right now, I’m a multi-media reporter for WISC-TV, the CBS affiliate in Madison, Wis. Since joining the station in July 2011, I’ve helped give viewers an in-depth look at the historic recall of Wisconsin’s governor. And when it appeared job creation legislation would take a backseat to recall campaigns, I got answers from leading lawmakers. The politician in this story didn’t appreciate it, but our viewers did.
My other favorite beat is the economy. My work uncovered a disturbing statistic that one out of every four area stores had been caught overcharging their customers at checkout. And when the state started tracking down people who made online purchases years earlier in order to collect sales tax, I explained what our viewers needed to do. Many people say they fear the economy because they don’t understand the jargon that our leaders throw around. I look to break down those complex stories and hold officials accountable.
The other responsibility we have is to truly care about people. That’s why one of my favorite stories in Madison came when I got a phone call — a homeless family whose plight I had covered months earlier had settled into a home with financial help from our thoughtful viewers.
Before joining WISC, I spent two years at KOMU-TV, the NBC affiliate in Columbia, Mo. There, I started and led a state Capitol bureau, anchored weekend newscasts, and produced a weekly business news segment. My work included two investigations into Gov. Jay Nixon’s travel records, leading the state legislature to limit Nixon’s power. I also covered the Missouri statehouse for KMOX, the CBS owned-and-operated radio station in St. Louis. The job required working on tight deadlines to beat major-market competition and serve 250,000 listeners.
Part of being a multi-media reporter means having the technical skills to shoot, write and edit my stories. It also means working across media platforms — because the news isn’t just at 6 p.m. anymore. Every day, I aim to beat the competition during spot news via mobile video updates and Twitter, then provide a more detailed online story than even the local newspaper.
But I’ve got so much to learn, many more people to meet, and plenty of stories to tell in my career. If you’d like to share, connect with me by using the links below!