“You better get out of the Turtle Pond!” I yelled from my doorway at the swimmers in the man-made pond at the center of Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. “You’re not allowed to swim there, and if you do my dad’s going to make you get out!” To my amazement, they quickly took off. This was the third time that week people obeyed my passionate and resolute command. It was then and there that I fell in love with informing the public and telling stories. I was three.
Since moving to San Diego, and receiving two Emmy awards, I’ve reported on many critical stories including the wildfires of 2007. There is no load so heavy yet so rewarding as informing people during crisis situation.
Before heading West, I worked for Fox 10 News in Mobile, AL, for nearly 5 years. My coverage of Hurricane Katrina won an Edward R. Murrow award. I was also honored with an Associated Press Alabama Reporter of the Year award.
My first television job was at WBBJ in Jackson, TN. I worked as a "one-man-band" shooting, editing, producing, and writing my own stories.
I graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina with a degree in Communications Studies. I was born the daughter of an Air Force pilot, so I spent the first 12 years of my life moving. If you catch a hint of a southern accent, it's because my family finally settled in South Carolina.
What keeps me going? Passion, pure and simple.
If I wasn’t in TV news, I would… I'd either be a full time mom or a professional food critic. Traveling around and eating delicious meals is my kind of job!
What is something no one knows about me? I worked at a Fudgery in Myrtle Beach for a summer in college. Yeah, we made fudge and sang and danced at the same time. We'd put on "fudge shows" each hour for our customers. I have an entire repertoire of classic songs turned fudge songs including, "Stop in the name of fudge" and "Isn't fudge lovely" from the great Stevie Wonder. My dad has all the home videos archived. Do NOT contact him for that footage!
If I had free time, I would… Paint and make crafts more frequently.
Dinner for 5 who’s invited? My grand-mother, Steve Carell, Abraham Lincoln, The Apostle Paul, Dolly Parton (I know that’s six, but we’d make room!)
